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Maxar’s Third and Fourth WorldView Legion Satellites Performing Well After Launch

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Maxar’s Third and Fourth WorldView Legion Satellites Performing Well After Launch
News

News

Maxar’s Third and Fourth WorldView Legion Satellites Performing Well After Launch

2024-08-16 00:01 Last Updated At:00:10

WESTMINSTER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 15, 2024--

Maxar Intelligence, a provider of secure, precise geospatial intelligence, today confirmed that its third and fourth WorldView Legion satellites are performing well after being launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket earlier today from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240814888288/en/

The satellites are successfully communicating with Maxar’s ground teams. They are now going through the commissioning process, with first images expected in the early fall.

These two spacecrafts were launched into mid-inclination orbit (MIO), greatly expanding the capabilities of Maxar’s industry-leading Earth imaging constellation and enabling dawn-to-dusk collection. With this successful launch, Maxar’s constellation now includes eight satellites on orbit, including four next-generation WorldView Legion satellites. The first two WorldView Legion satellites were launched in May 2024, with first images released by Maxar in July 2024.

“Maxar is on a mission to push the geospatial industry forward through secure solutions that deliver more real-time insights for our government and commercial customers, and this successful launch plays a pivotal role in that journey,” said Maxar Intelligence CEO Dan Smoot. “Having multiple WorldView Legion satellites in MIO dramatically increases our ability to collect high-resolution, 30 cm-class imagery across more times of day and gain more visibility in areas that face frequent weather events like morning fog.”

“The additional capacity will also enable us to meet growing global demand for high-resolution data and further extend our geospatial foundation advantage, collectively fueling our ability to build more advanced products that support our customers’ toughest missions,” Smoot said.

These satellites are part of a first block of six WorldView Legion spacecraft. Maxar expects to launch its fifth and six WorldView Legion satellites in the coming months. The six WorldView Legion satellites will enhance the quality and capabilities of the Maxar constellation by:

Built by Maxar Space Systems, these latest two Earth observation satellites mark the third and fourth Maxar 500™ series platforms to reach space, following the successful launch of the first two earlier this year. The WorldView Legion satellites are equipped with optical instruments from RTX’s Raytheon, delivering the high-resolution 30 cm-class imagery that Maxar Intelligence is renowned for.

“We are proud to continue partnering with Maxar Intelligence on the WorldView Legion program, which represents a robust and enhanced approach to Earth imaging,” said Maxar Space Systems CEO Chris Johnson. “With four WorldView Legion satellites now launched and performing nominally on our Maxar 500 platform, we look forward to continued collaboration with Maxar Intelligence on this innovative program, now and in the future.”

Learn more about Maxar’s next-generation WorldView Legion satellites and how they extend the capabilities of Maxar’s industry-leading Earth imaging constellation: https://www.maxar.com/worldview-legion.

About MaxarIntelligence

Maxar Intelligence is a provider of secure, precise, geospatial intelligence. We deliver disruptive value to government and commercial customers to help them monitor, understand and navigate our changing planet. Our unique approach combines decades of deep mission understanding and a proven commercial and defense foundation to deploy solutions and deliver insights with unrivaled speed, scale and cost effectiveness. For more information, visit www.maxar.com.

About Maxar Space Systems

Maxar Space Systems is a leading provider of comprehensive space technologies. We deliver innovative solutions to government and commercial customers helping them unlock the promise of space to solve problems on Earth and beyond. We address a broad spectrum of needs for our customers, including mission systems engineering, product design, spacecraft manufacturing, assembly, integration, and testing. Maxar Space Systems is a trusted partner in commercial and government missions, combining more than 60 years of deep mission understanding with reliable performance and longevity. For more information, visit www.maxar.com.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Maxar's third and fourth WorldView Legion satellites lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. (Photo: Maxar)

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Maxar's third and fourth WorldView Legion satellites lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. (Photo: Maxar)

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Maxar's third and fourth WorldView Legion satellites stands on the pad ready to launch at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. (Photo: Maxar)

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Maxar's third and fourth WorldView Legion satellites stands on the pad ready to launch at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. (Photo: Maxar)

Next Article

A 2,000-year-old statue is found abandoned in a garbage bag in Greece

2025-01-23 00:17 Last Updated At:00:20

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — A marble statue of a woman believed to be more than 2,000 years old was found abandoned in a garbage bag near the Greek city of Thessaloniki, police said Wednesday.

A resident discovered the 80-centimeter (31-inch) headless statue beside a trash bin in Neoi Epivates, outside Greece’s second-largest city. The man turned it over to local authorities, who contacted archaeologists to assess its significance.

Police said experts, following an initial evaluation, determined the piece dates to the Hellenistic era, a period roughly between 320 and 30 B.C. that was marked by a flourishing of art and culture following the conquests of Alexander the Great.

The statue was sent for further examination by archaeologists. It will ultimately be handed over to the local antiquities authority for preservation and study.

Police opened an investigation to determine who discarded the statue and briefly detained a man for questioning who was later released without charge.

Accidental archaeological discoveries are relatively common in Greece, a country renowned for its ancient heritage, and often made during building construction or public works. In December, workers installing natural gas pipelines near Athens uncovered a Roman-era statue of Hermes buried upright in a brick-lined pit near the Acropolis.

Thessaloniki weeks ago unveiled a trove of antiquities found during the decades-long construction of its metro system, which officially opened in November. Key finds, including a marble-paved Roman thoroughfare and tens of thousands of artifacts spanning the Greek, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods, are now showcased at subway stations.

This undated handout photo provided by the Greek Police and released on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 shows a marble statue of a woman believed to be more than 2,000 years old which was found abandoned in a garbage bag in the northern city of Thessaloniki, Greece. (Greek Police via AP)

This undated handout photo provided by the Greek Police and released on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 shows a marble statue of a woman believed to be more than 2,000 years old which was found abandoned in a garbage bag in the northern city of Thessaloniki, Greece. (Greek Police via AP)

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