The GeoEye-1 spacecraft is among the world’s highest resolution imaging satellites. Owned and operated by GeoEye of Dulles, Virginia, GeoEye-1 produces 0.41 meter resolution panchromatic (black & white) and 1.65 meter multispectral (color) images, for civil, commercial and government applications.
General Dynamics AIS (acquired by Orbital in April 2010) was the prime contractor for GeoEye-1 spacecraft bus, procured the high resolution camera and optical telescope, and performed integration and testing of the satellite. The spacecraft design is based on the SA-200HP standard modular bus, with design heritage from the General Dynamics-built Coriolis, Swift, and Fermi spacecraft. The fully redundant GeoEye-1 spacecraft has a design life of seven years and a sophisticated attitude control system to provide a highly stable and highly agile imaging system.
Performance:
Orbit: 681 km, sun synchronous
Launch mass: 1,955 kg
Solar Arrays: 3862 W, seven-panel GaAs
Stabilization: 3-axis
Status:
Launched September 6, 2008
Customer:
GeoEye
Mission:
High-resolution Earth imaging
Quick Facts:
GeoEye-1 produces 0.41 meter resolution panchromatic (black & white) and 1.65 meter multispectral (color) images, among the highest resolution space-based images available
GeoEye-1 makes 15 orbits per day flying at an altitude of 681 kilometers or 423 miles with an orbital velocity of about 7.5 km/sec or 16,800 mi/hr
