Atlas 5 launches WorldView-3
Posted: Wed, Aug 13, 2014, 7:50 PM ET (2350 GMT)
An Atlas 5 rocket successfully launched the most powerful commercial remote sensing satellite to date on Wednesday. The Atlas 5 401 lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 2:30 pm EDT (1830 GMT) Wednesday, releasing the 2,800-kilogram WorldView-3 satellite into a Sun-synchronous orbit. The spacecraft, built by Ball Aerospace for DigitalGlobe, will be capable of producing images with resolutions as sharp as 31 centimeters; a change in national remote sensing policy will allow the company to sell imagery that sharp, after previously setting a resolution limit of 50 centimeters. the spacecraft is also equipped with shortwave infrared sensors that can take images through smoke and haze. The launch was a rare commercial mission for the Atlas 5, which primarily serves civil and military government customers.
An Atlas 5 rocket successfully launched the most powerful commercial remote sensing satellite to date on Wednesday. The Atlas 5 401 lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 2:30 pm EDT (1830 GMT) Wednesday, releasing the 2,800-kilogram WorldView-3 satellite into a Sun-synchronous orbit. The spacecraft, built by Ball Aerospace for DigitalGlobe, will be capable of producing images with resolutions as sharp as 31 centimeters; a change in national remote sensing policy will allow the company to sell imagery that sharp, after previously setting a resolution limit of 50 centimeters. the spacecraft is also equipped with shortwave infrared sensors that can take images through smoke and haze. The launch was a rare commercial mission for the Atlas 5, which primarily serves civil and military government customers.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
NASA IG cites overconfidence and unrealistic schedules for Starliner woes
Posted: Sat, Jul 4 8:11 PM ET (0011 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, July 11
Philippines looks to space for bird’s-eye view of South China Sea threats
South China Morning Post — 12:57 am ET (0457 GMT) Space Force officially has its own weapon for taking out satellites
Task & Purpose — 12:57 am ET (0457 GMT) A Jupiter-size planet that escaped its star’s death
Ars Technica — 12:50 am ET (0450 GMT) Space Force aligns for wartime footing with third tranche of PAEs
US Space Force — 12:47 am ET (0447 GMT) Parabilis tests propulsion system for maneuverable cubesats
Space News — 12:43 am ET (0443 GMT) |
