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{{Short description|American commercial satellite imaging company}}
{{Infobox company|
{{Infobox company
name = GeoEye Inc.|
logo = [[Image:GeoEyeLogo.jpg]]|
| name = GeoEye Inc.
foundation = 1992 Orbital Imaging Corporation<br>2006 GeoEye|
| logo = GeoEyeLogo.jpg
| foundation = 1992 Orbital Imaging Corporation<br>2006 GeoEye
location_city = [[Herndon, Virginia]] |
| location_city = [[Herndon, Virginia]]
location_country = United States |
| location_country = United States |
| founder = [[Orbital Sciences Corporation]]
| founder = [[Orbital Sciences Corporation]]
| key_people = [[James Alan Abrahamson]] (chairman), Matthew O'Connell, (CEO)<ref>{{cite news|title=(Interview with Matt O'Connell)|publisher=[[American Public Media]]|work=Future Tense|date=2008-06-26}}</ref>
| key_people = [[James Alan Abrahamson]] (chairman), Matthew O'Connell, (CEO)<ref>{{cite news|title=(Interview with Matt O'Connell)|publisher=[[American Public Media]]|work=Future Tense|date=2008-06-26}}</ref>
| defunct = January 2013, merged with [[DigitalGlobe]]
| revenue = US$183.76 million (2007-12-31)<ref name="finance.google.com">http://finance.google.com/finance?q=geoy</ref>
| revenue = US$183.76 million (2007)<ref name="finance.google.com">{{cite web|url=http://finance.google.com/finance?q=geoy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210045948/http://finance.google.com/finance?q=geoy |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 10, 2009 |title=GeoEye Inc.: NASDAQ:GEOY quotes & news - Google Finance |access-date=2014-02-15}}</ref>
⚫
| operating_income = US$80.33 million (2007-12-31)<ref name="finance.google.com"/>
| net_income = US$42.39 million (2007-12-31)<ref name="finance.google.com"/>
| operating_income = US$80.33 million (2007)<ref name="finance.google.com"/>
| assets = US$789.95 million (2007-12-31)<ref name="finance.google.com"/>
| net_income = US$42.39 million (2007)<ref name="finance.google.com"/>
| equity = US$216.92 million (2007-12-31)<ref name="finance.google.com"/>
| assets = US$789.95 million (2007)<ref name="finance.google.com"/>
| num_employees = 410 (2008-06-30)<ref name="finance.google.com"/>|
| equity = US$216.92 million (2007)<ref name="finance.google.com"/>
⚫
| num_employees = 410 (2008)<ref name="finance.google.com"/>
homepage = [http://www.geoeye.com/ GeoEye.com] |
| homepage =
}}
}}


'''GeoEye Inc.''' (formerly '''Orbital Imaging Corporation''' or '''ORBIMAGE''') is an American commercial [[satellite imagery]] company based in Herndon, Virginia<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?rpc=66&symbol=GEOY.O | work=Reuters}}</ref> that is the world's largest space imaging corporation owned by [[Cerberus Capital Management]].<ref name="globalsecurity.org">[http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/news/2006/intell-060112-geoeye.htm ORBIMAGE Completes Acquisition of Space Imaging; Changes Brand Name to GeoEye]</ref>
'''GeoEye Inc.''' (formerly '''Orbital Imaging Corporation''', or '''ORBIMAGE''') was an American commercial [[satellite imagery]] company based in [[Herndon, Virginia]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?rpc=66&symbol=GEOY.O | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207210214/http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?rpc=66&symbol=GEOY.O | url-status=dead | archive-date=2009-02-07 | publisher=Reuters.com | title=Company Search|access-date=2014-02-15}}</ref> GeoEye was merged into the [[DigitalGlobe]] corporation on January 29, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/digitalglobe-announces-final-results-merger-consideration-elections-made-geoeye-stockholders-nyse-dgi-1753620.htm |title=DigitalGlobe Announces Final Results of Merger Consideration Elections Made by GeoEye Stockholders |publisher=Marketwire.com |access-date=2014-02-15}}</ref>


The company was founded in 1992 as a division of [[Orbital Sciences Corporation]] in the wake of the 1992 Land Remote Sensing Policy Act which permitted private companies to enter the satellite imaging business. The division was [[corporate spin-off|spun off]] in 1997. It changed its name to GeoEye in 2006 after acquiring [[Denver, Colorado]]-based Space Imaging for $58 million.<ref name="globalsecurity.org"/> Space Imaging was founded and controlled by [[Raytheon]] and [[Lockheed Martin]]. Its principal asset was the [[IKONOS]] satellite.
The company was founded in 1992 as a division of [[Orbital Sciences Corporation]] in the wake of the 1992 [[Land Remote Sensing Policy Act]] which permitted private companies to enter the satellite imaging business. The division was [[corporate spin-off|spun off]] in 1997. It changed its name to GeoEye in 2006 after acquiring [[Denver]], Colorado-based '''Space Imaging Corporation''' for $58 million.<ref name="globalsecurity.org">{{cite web|author=John Pike |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/news/2006/intell-060112-geoeye.htm |title=ORBIMAGE Completes Acquisition of Space Imaging; Changes Brand Name to GeoEye |publisher=Globalsecurity.org |date=2006-01-12 |access-date=2014-02-15}}</ref> Space Imaging was founded and controlled by [[Raytheon]] and [[Lockheed Martin]]. Its principal asset was the [[IKONOS]] satellite; the company was founded in the 1990s for the purpose of managing the project that became the IKONOS satellite.


Although ORBIMAGE's first chairman was Orbital chairman David W. Thompson, and Orbital at the time owned more than 60 percent of the stock, it no longer has a substantial interest in the new company.<ref>http://moneycentral.msn.com/ownership?Symbol=GEOY</ref>
Although ORBIMAGE's first chairman was Orbital chairman David W. Thompson, and Orbital at the time owned more than 60 percent of the stock, it no longer has a substantial interest in the company or its successor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://moneycentral.msn.com/ownership?Symbol=GEOY|title=Orbital|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209073129/http://moneycentral.msn.com/ownership?Symbol=GEOY|archive-date=February 9, 2009|access-date=September 3, 2008}}</ref>


GeoEye provides {{convert|253000000|sqkm|sqmi}} of satellite map images to [[Microsoft]] and [[Yahoo!]] search engines. [[Google]] has exclusive online mapping use of the new [[GeoEye-1]] satellite.<ref name="news.cnet.com">[http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10028842-93.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1023_3-0-5 Google to buy GeoEye satellite imagery -cnet.com - August 29, 2008]</ref> It is a major supplier to the [[National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency]].
GeoEye provided {{convert|253|e6sqkm|e6mi2|sp=us|abbr=unit}} of satellite map images to [[Microsoft]] and [[Yahoo!]] search engines. In 2008 [[Google]] secured exclusive online mapping use of the [[GeoEye-1]] satellite.<ref name="news.cnet.com">{{cite web|last=Shankland |first=Stephen |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10028842-93.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1023_3-0-5 |title=Google to buy GeoEye satellite imagery &#124; Internet & Media - CNET News |publisher=News.cnet.com |date=2008-08-29 |access-date=2014-02-15}}</ref> GeoEye maintained major contracts with the [[National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency]] for the provision of reconnaissance and imagery data.


GeoEye's headquarters are in [[Herndon, Virginia]]. Satellite Operations are conducted in Herndon, Virginia and in [[Thornton, Colorado]]. The location in [[Saint Louis, Missouri]] provides additional image processing. There are multiple ground stations located worldwide.
In the early twenty-first century GeoEye was headquartered in [[Herndon, Virginia]]. Satellite Operations were conducted from Herndon and [[Thornton, Colorado]]. The location in [[St. Louis]], Missouri provided additional image processing. Multiple ground stations were located worldwide.


In 2011, GeoEye was inducted into the [[Space Foundation]]'s [[Space Technology Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spacetechhalloffame.org/pressrelease1.html|title=Space Tech Hall of Fame|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423174104/http://www.spacetechhalloffame.org/pressrelease1.html|archive-date=April 23, 2012|access-date=November 17, 2011}}</ref> for its role in advancing commercial Earth-imaging satellites.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spacefoundation.org/news/story.php?id=1086 |title=Space Foundation, SPACE.com and Space News unite to raise funds for France schools |publisher=Space Foundation |date=2001-12-17 |access-date=2014-02-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004121908/http://www.spacefoundation.org/news/story.php?id=1086 |archive-date=2011-10-04 }}</ref>
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GeoEye's primary competitors are [[DigitalGlobe]] and [[Spot Image]].


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GeoEye was purchased by [[DigitalGlobe]] in 2013.
Since 2001, its chairman has been former astronaut and Lieutenant General [[James A. Abrahamson]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/officerProfile?symbol=GEOY.O&officerId=842914 | work=Reuters}}</ref>


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==Satellites==
In 2011, GeoEye was inducted into the [[Space Foundation]]'s [[Space Technology Hall of Fame]]<ref>http://www.spacetechhalloffame.org/pressrelease1.html</ref> for its role in advancing commercial Earth-imaging satellites.<ref>http://www.spacefoundation.org/news/story.php?id=1086</ref>


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===OrbView 1===
On January 31, 2013, GeoEye merged with [[DigitalGlobe]], Inc. ({{NYSE|DGI}}).<ref>http://geoy.client.shareholder.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=724562</ref>


'''OrbView 1''' ('''MicroLab 1''', COSPAR 1995-017C) was a small, 68&nbsp;kg satellite built by [[Orbital Sciences Corporation]] for a collaboration between ORBIMAGE and [[NASA]]. It had a payload of 2 sensors, one from NASA and another from University Consortium for Atmospheric Research, sponsored by National Science Foundation. The collaboration had NASA provide the instruments and ORBIMAGE was in charge of operating them for research purposes for NASA and other academic instances. The sensors studied lightning in the atmosphere and the use of [[GPS]] signals in atmospheric studies ([[GPS radio occultation]]). It was launched 3 April 1995 from [[Vandenberg AFB]] by a [[Pegasus (rocket)|Pegasus H]] rocket.<ref>{{Citation |last=Kerbs|first=Gunter, D|year=2023|title=OrbView 1 (MicroLab 1)|publisher=Gunter Space Page|url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/orbview-1.htm|access-date=}}</ref>
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== Satellites ==
GeoEye operates its own fleet of [[Earth observation satellite]]s, which provide visible and near-infrared images of land and sea at resolutions below {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on}}.


=== IKONOS ===
===IKONOS===
{{main|IKONOS}}
{{main|IKONOS}}
Launched in 1999 by Space Imaging, IKONOS collects {{convert|82|cm|abbr=on}} panchromatic and {{convert|3.2|m|abbr=on}} multispectral data at a rate of over {{convert|2000|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} per minute. IKONOS orbits the Earth every 98 minutes at an altitude of approximately {{convert|681|km|mi|abbr=on}}. It travels a [[sun-synchronous orbit]], passing a given longitude at 10:30 AM local time. IKONOS is operated out of Thornton, Colorado. It derived its name from the [[Greek language|Greek]] term ''eikōn' (pronounced eikona) for image.<ref>http://www.geoeye.com/CorpSite/products/imagery-sources/Default.aspx?keywords=ikonos&creative=1350458344&gclid=COS9staay5UCFQxxHgodvCAIiQ</ref>
Launched in 1999 by Space Imaging, IKONOS collected {{convert|82|cm|abbr=on}} panchromatic and {{convert|3.2|m|abbr=on}} multispectral data at a rate of over {{convert|2000|km2|abbr=on}} per minute. IKONOS orbited the Earth every 98 minutes at an altitude of approximately {{convert|681|km|abbr=on}}. It traveled a [[Sun-synchronous orbit]], [[pass (spaceflight)|passing]] a given longitude at 10:30&nbsp;a.m. local time. IKONOS was operated out of Thornton, Colorado. It derived its name from the [[Greek language|Greek]] term ''eikōn'' (pronounced eikona) for image.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://microsites.maxar.com/ikonos20/|title=IKONOS 20 year anniversary|access-date=June 4, 2023|website=maxar.com}}</ref> IKONOS was retired on March 31, 2015, having performed for more than twice its life expectancy.


=== OrbView-2 === <!--
=== {{anchor|OrbView-2}} OrbView-2 ===
NB: OrbView-2 redirects here -->
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The satellite also called SeaStar was launched in 1997 by ORBIMAGE, OrbView-2 collects color imagery of the Earth's entire land and ocean surfaces on a daily basis. Commercial fishing vessels use OrbView-2 data for detecting oceanographic conditions used to create fishing maps. The satellite also provides broad-area coverage in 2,800 kilometer-wide swaths, which are routinely used in naval operations, environmental monitoring, and global crop assessment applications. OrbView-2 carries [[NASA]]'s [[SeaWiFS]] sensor. OrbView-2 was operated out of Dulles, Virginia, but operations ceased shortly before GeoEye's HQ relocation to Herndon, Virginia in 2011.<ref>http://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/eos_homepage/mission_profiles/docs/Orbview-2_SeaWiFS.pdf</ref> It stopped collecting data on 11 December 2010.<ref name=OceanColor>{{cite web |url=http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi/browse.pl?sen=sw&typ=GAC|title=Ocean Color Browse|author=NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center|date= December 1, 2011|accessdate=December 1, 2011}}</ref>


[[File:OrbView-2 Satellite.jpg|thumb|Artist's rendition of the OrbView-2 or SeaStar satellit in orbit]]
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=== OrbView-3 ===
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The '''OrbView-2''' satellite (COSPAR 1997-037A), also called '''SeaStar''', was launched 1 August 1997 by ORBIMAGE on a [[Pegasus (rocket)|Pegasus XL]] rocket from [[Vandenberg AFB]]. OrbView-2 collected color imagery of the Earth's entire land and ocean surfaces on a daily basis. Commercial fishing vessels used OrbView-2 data for detecting oceanographic conditions used to create fishing maps. The satellite also provided broad-area coverage in {{Convert|2800|km|mi|-wide|adj=mid|sp=us}} swaths, which were routinely used in naval operations, environmental monitoring, and global crop assessment applications. OrbView-2 carried [[NASA]]'s [[SeaWiFS]] (Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor) sensor. OrbView-2 was operated out of Dulles, Virginia, but operations ceased shortly before GeoEye's HQ relocation to Herndon, Virginia in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/eos_homepage/mission_profiles/docs/Orbview-2_SeaWiFS.pdf|title=Orbview|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917183112/http://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/eos_homepage/mission_profiles/docs/Orbview-2_SeaWiFS.pdf|archive-date=September 17, 2008|access-date=September 8, 2008}}</ref> It stopped collecting data on 11 December 2010, after 13 years (design life was 5 years).<ref name=OceanColor>{{cite web |url=http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi/browse.pl?sen=sw&typ=GAC|title=Ocean Color Browse|author=NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center|date= December 1, 2011|access-date=December 1, 2011}}</ref> It had a mass of 309&nbsp;kg and was built by [[Orbital Sciences Corporation]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Krebs|first=Gunter, D|year=2023|title=OrbView 2 (SeaStar)|publisher=Gunter Space Page|url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/orbview-2.htm|access-date=}}</ref>
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Launched in 2003 by ORBIMAGE, OrbView-3 acquired {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on}} panchromatic and {{convert|4|m|abbr=on}} multispectral imagery in an 8-kilometer-wide swath. The satellite collected up to {{convert|210000|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} of imagery each day. It revisited each location on Earth in less than three days with the ability to collect data up to 50 degrees off nadir. Similar to IKONOS, this satellite passes a given longitude at 10:30 AM local time.


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===OrbView-3===
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On April 23, 2007, GeoEye, Inc. filed a [[Form 8-K]] to announce that its OrbView-3 satellite is permanently out of service. Though GeoEye remained in control of the satellite, it no longer produced usable imagery.<ref>[http://www.spacetoday.net/Summary/3691 OrbView 3 Satellite Malfunctions]</ref><ref>[http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1040570/000095013307001029/w31696e8vk.htm SEC Form 8-K Regarding Orbview-3 Technical Problem]</ref> The spacecraft decayed on March 13, 2011 via a controlled reentry into the broad area Pacific Ocean.
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Launched 26 June 2003 by ORBIMAGE, '''OrbView-3''' (COSPAR 2003-030A) commercial Earth observation satellite acquired {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on}} panchromatic and {{convert|4|m|abbr=on}} multispectral imagery in an 8-kilometer-wide swath. The satellite collected up to {{convert|210000|km2|abbr=on}} of imagery each day. It revisited each location on Earth in less than three days with the ability to collect data up to 50 degrees off nadir. Similar to IKONOS, this satellite passed a given longitude at 10:30&nbsp;a.m. local time.


The satellite was launched from [[Vandenberg AFB]] by a [[Pegasus (rocket)|Pegasus XL]] rocket. The satellite had a mass of 304&nbsp;kg and was built by [[Orbital Sciences Corporation]] for ORBIMAGE. It carried an OHRIS (OrbView High Resolution Imaging System) payload designed and built by [[Northrop Grumman]]. Similar sensor was in OrbView 4 satellite.
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=== GeoEye-1 ===
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{{main|GeoEye-1}}


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On April 23, 2007, GeoEye, Inc. filed a [[Form 8-K]] to announce that its OrbView-3 satellite is permanently out of service. Though GeoEye remained in control of the satellite, it no longer produced usable imagery (the imaging sensor failed 4 March 2007).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spacetoday.net/Summary/3691 |title=OrbView 3 satellite malfunctions |publisher=spacetoday.net |date=2007-03-10 |access-date=2014-02-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1040570/000095013307001029/w31696e8vk.htm |title=e8vk |publisher=Sec.gov |access-date=2014-02-15}}</ref> The spacecraft decayed on March 13, 2011 via a controlled reentry into Pacific Ocean.<ref>{{Citation |last= Krebs|first= Gunter, D|year= 2023|title= OrbView 3|publisher= Gunter Space Page|publication-place= |page= |url= https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/orbview-3.htm|access-date=}}</ref>
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GeoEye-1 (Former name OrbView 5) launched on September 6, 2008 at 11:50:57 a.m. PDT (1850:57 UTC). The satellite separated successfully from its [[Delta II]] launch vehicle at 12:49 p.m. PDT (1949 UTC), 58 minutes and 56 seconds after launch.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/delta/d335/status.html |title=Delta 2-335 Mission Status Center |accessdate=2008-09-05 |author=Justin Ray}}</ref> The satellite provides {{convert|41|cm|in}} [[panchromatic]] and 1.65 meter [[multispectral]] imagery in 15.2&nbsp;km swaths. The spacecraft is intended for a [[sun-synchronous orbit]] at an altitude of {{convert|681|km|mi|abbr=on}} and an inclination of 98 degrees, with a 10:30 a.m. equator crossing time. GeoEye-1 can image up to 60 degrees off nadir. It is operated out of Herndon, Virginia and was built in Arizona by General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems.


=== GeoEye-2 ===
===OrbView 4===

'''OrbView 4''' was a high-resolution commercial Earth imaging satellite that was lost in launch failure. It would have recorded {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on}} panchromatic and {{convert|4|m|abbr=on}} multispectral imagery in an 8-kilometer-wide swath, like OrbView-3, and it also would have provided 200 channel hyperspectral imagery. It was to revisit every location on Earth in less than 3 days. The main instrument OHRIS (OrbView High Resolution Imaging System) was built by [[Northrop Grumman]]. The satellite bus was built by [[Orbital Sciences Corporation]]. The mass of the satellite was 368&nbsp;kg. It was lost in a launch failure. On 21 September 2001, a Taurus XL rocket failed during launch. When the second stage ignited at T+83 seconds, a nozzle gimbal actuator drive shaft seized for approximately 5 seconds causing loss of control. The vehicle recovered and continued to fly the mission profile, but failed to reach a stable orbit and reentered near Madagascar.<ref>{{Citation |last=Krebs|first=Gunter, D|year=2023|title=OrbView 4|publisher=Gunter Space Page|url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/orbview-4.htm|access-date=}}</ref>

===GeoEye-1===
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{{main|GeoEye-1}}
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GeoEye-1 (Former name OrbView 5) launched on September 6, 2008 at 11:50:57&nbsp;a.m. PDT (1850:57 UTC). The satellite separated successfully from its [[Delta II]] launch vehicle at 12:49&nbsp;p.m. PDT (1949 UTC), 58 minutes and 56 seconds after launch.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/delta/d335/status.html |title=Delta 2-335 Mission Status Center |access-date=2008-09-05 |author=Justin Ray}}</ref> The satellite provides {{convert|41|cm|sp=us|adj=on}} [[Panchromatic film|panchromatic]] and 1.65-meter [[multispectral image]]ry in 15.2&nbsp;km swaths. The spacecraft is intended for a [[Sun-synchronous orbit]] at an altitude of {{convert|681|km|mi|abbr=on}} and an inclination of 98 degrees, with a 10:30&nbsp;a.m. equator crossing time. GeoEye-1 can image up to 60 degrees off nadir. It is operated out of Herndon, Virginia and was built in Arizona by General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems.

===GeoEye-2===
{{main|GeoEye-2}}
{{main|GeoEye-2}}
The GeoEye-2 satellite is designed to provide [[black and white|panchromatic]] images at a highest resolution of {{convert|0.31|m|in|1|sp=us|disp=x| per pixel (|/px)}}, and [[multispectral image]]s at {{convert|1.24|m|in|1|sp=us|disp=x| per pixel (|/px)}}.<ref name="dgwv4-faq">{{cite web |url=https://dg-cms-uploads-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/document/file/196/DG_WorldView4_DS_11-15_Web.pdf |title=WorldView-4 |publisher=DigitalGlobe |date=November 2015 |access-date=19 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424030451/https://dg-cms-uploads-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/document/file/196/DG_WorldView4_DS_11-15_Web.pdf |archive-date=24 April 2016 }}</ref> The spacecraft was designed and built by Lockheed Martin,<ref name="spacenews20100311">{{cite news |url=http://spacenews.com/lockheed-martin-selected-build-geoeye-2-imaging-satellite/ |title=Lockheed Martin Selected To Build GeoEye-2 Imaging Satellite |work=Space News |first=Warren |last=Ferster |date=11 March 2010 |access-date=2 April 2016}}</ref> while the camera payload was provided by [[ITT Corporation]].<ref name="exelis20120410">{{cite press release |url=http://www.exelisinc.com/news/pressreleases/Pages/ITT-Exelis-delivers-imaging-system-for-next-generation,-high-resolution.aspx |title=ITT Exelis delivers imaging system for next-generation, high-resolution GeoEye-2 satellite |publisher=[[ITT Exelis]] |first=Irene |last=Lockwood |date=10 April 2012 |access-date=2 April 2016 |archive-date=29 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529155736/http://www.exelisinc.com/News/PressReleases/Pages/ITT-Exelis-delivers-imaging-system-for-next-generation,-high-resolution.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[GeoEye-2]], which has a contract with [[ITT Corporation]] for its imaging payload, has a planned resolution of {{convert|34|cm|abbr=on}}.<ref name="news.cnet.com"/> Lockheed Martin was selected to build the satellite platform over General Dynamics.<ref>http://www.spacenews.com/earth_observation/100311-lockheed-selected-geoeye2.html</ref>


Following the merger of GeoEye and DigitalGlobe, DigitalGlobe announced that GeoEye-2 would be completed as a ground spare to be launched if or when required.<ref name="digiglobe20130204">{{cite press release |url=http://media.digitalglobe.com/press-releases/digitalglobe-s-worldview-3-satellite-continues-on--nyse-dgi-981644 |title=DigitalGlobe's WorldView-3 Satellite Continues on Track for Mid-2014 Launch |publisher=DigitalGlobe |date=4 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213162909/http://media.digitalglobe.com/press-releases/digitalglobe-s-worldview-3-satellite-continues-on--nyse-dgi-981644 |archive-date=13 February 2013}}</ref><ref name="sfnow20130204">{{cite news |url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1302/04geoeye2/ |title=One commercial Earth-imager deferred in favor of another |work=Spaceflight Now |first=Justin |last=Ray |date=4 February 2013 |access-date=19 March 2016}}</ref> It was renamed to [[WorldView-4]] in July 2014, when the company announced that it would be launched in 2016.<ref name="digiglobe20140731">{{cite press release |url=http://investor.digitalglobe.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=70788&p=irol-newsArticle&id=1953904 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20161020143101/http://investor.digitalglobe.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=70788&p=irol-newsArticle&id=1953904 |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 October 2016 |title=DigitalGlobe Announces Second 30-Centimeter Satellite to Launch in Mid-2016 |publisher=DigitalGlobe |date=31 July 2014 |access-date=2 April 2016 }}</ref><ref name="denver20140731">{{cite news |url=http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_26254127/demand-moves-digitalglobe-speed-launch-high-powered-satellite |title=Demand moves DigitalGlobe to speed launch of high-powered satellite |work=[[The Denver Post]] |first=Kristen Leigh |last=Painter |date=31 July 2014 |access-date=2 April 2016}}</ref>
As of February 2013, following the merger of GeoEye and DigitalGlobe, GeoEye-2 launch will be deferred at least a few years <ref>http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1302/04geoeye2/#.UTH5mxyP8xB</ref> and was scheduled originally to launch in 2013.<ref name="news.cnet.com"/>


WorldView-4 launched on 11 November 2016.
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== Aerial imagery ==
⚫
GeoEye expanded into aerial imagery in March 2007, with the purchase of '''MJ Harden''' from [[General Electric Company]].<ref>[http://www.directionsmag.com/press.releases/index.php?duty=Show&id=16833 GeoEye Acquires MJ Harden Aerial Business From GE Oil & Gas]</ref> MJ Harden, based in [[Mission, KS]], is now a wholly owned subsidiary that operates two aircraft that carry a digital mapping camera (DMC) and a sophisticated [[LiDAR]] imaging system. MJ Harden was founded by Milton J. Harden in 1956 to provide [[Photogrammetry]] services.<ref>[http://www.geoeye.com/CorpSite/assets/docs/mjharden/MJHarden-Geospatial-Services-Brochure.pdf Geospatial Services - geoeye.com]</ref> GE Power Systems bought the company in 2003.<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2003/08/18/daily44.html Power Systems buys M.J. Harden Associates in Kansas City - bizjournals.com - August 21, 2003.]</ref>


⚫
==Aerial imagery==
⚫
== Regional affiliates ==
⚫
GeoEye expanded into aerial imagery in March 2007, with the purchase of MJ Harden from [[General Electric Company]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.directionsmag.com/press.releases/index.php?duty=Show&id=16833 |title=GeoEye Acquires MJ Harden Aerial Business From GE Oil & Gas - Directions Magazine |publisher=Directionsmag.com |date=2007-03-16 |access-date=2014-02-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100520100639/http://www.directionsmag.com/press.releases/index.php?duty=Show&id=16833 |archive-date=2010-05-20 }}</ref> '''MJ Harden''', based in [[Mission, Kansas]], is now a wholly owned subsidiary that operates two aircraft that carry a digital mapping camera (DMC) and a sophisticated [[Lidar|LiDAR]] imaging system. MJ Harden was founded by Milton J. Harden in 1956 to provide [[photogrammetry]] services.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geoeye.com/CorpSite/assets/docs/mjharden/MJHarden-Geospatial-Services-Brochure.pdf|title=CorpSite|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081115032236/http://www.geoeye.com/CorpSite/assets/docs/mjharden/MJHarden-Geospatial-Services-Brochure.pdf|archive-date=November 15, 2008|access-date=September 6, 2008}}</ref> GE Power Systems bought the company in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2003/08/18/daily44.html |title=Power Systems buys M.J. Harden Associates in Kansas City - Albany Business Review |publisher=Bizjournals.com |date=2003-08-21 |access-date=2014-02-15}}</ref>

⚫
==Regional affiliates==
* [[Space Imaging Middle East]]
* [[Space Imaging Middle East]]
* [[Japan Space Imaging]]


== References ==
==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{reflist}}


== External links ==
==External links==
* [http://geofuse.geoeye.com/landing GeoFUSE Archive Search and Discovery Tools] - Search for GeoEye satellite imagery online
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081202081815/http://geofuse.geoeye.com/landing/ GeoFUSE Archive Search and Discovery Tools] - Search for GeoEye satellite imagery online
* [http://www.geoeye.com/CorpSite/gallery/Default.aspx?gid=20 GeoEye Image Gallery]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091209031753/http://www.geoeye.com/corpsite/gallery/Default.aspx?gid=20 GeoEye Image Gallery]
* [http://www.geoeye.com/GeoEye101/ GeoEye 101]
* [http://www.geoeyefoundation.org GeoEye Foundation]
* [http://www.geoeyefoundation.org GeoEye Foundation]
{{Maxar Technologies|state=autocollapse}}
* [http://www.mjharden.com GeoEye-MJ Harden Micro-Site]
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[[Category:Companies based in Fairfax County, Virginia]]
* [http://twitter.com/geoeye @GeoEye on Twitter]
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[[Category:Herndon, Virginia]]
* [http://geoeyeblog.blogspot.com/ GeoEye on Blogger]
[[Category:Technology companies established in 1992]]
* [http://webmastergeoeye.wordpress.com/ GeoEye on WordPress]
* [http://delicious.com/webmastergeoeye GeoEye on Delicious]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/geoeyesatelliteimagery/ GeoEye on Flickr]

Lieutenant General James A. Abrahamson Chairman of the Board of GeoEye (NASDAQ: GEOY - News) and Chairman of the Board of Global Relief Technologies announced that MSGI Security Solutions Inc, (OTCBB: MSGI - News) today the appointment of Lieutenant General James A. Abrahamson, (retired USAF) as Vice-Chairman of the MSGI Board of Directors.http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Lieutenant-General-James-A-bw-2120693784.html?x=0&.v=1

⚫
[[Category:GIS companies]]
⚫
[[Category:Companies based in Virginia]]
[[Category:Cerberus Capital Management companies]]
[[Category:Cerberus Capital Management companies]]
[[Category:2013 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Remote sensing companies]]

Latest revision as of 04:09, 10 June 2024

GeoEye Inc.
Founded1992 Orbital Imaging Corporation
2006 GeoEye
FounderOrbital Sciences Corporation
DefunctJanuary 2013, merged with DigitalGlobe
Headquarters
Herndon, Virginia
,
United States
Key people
James Alan Abrahamson (chairman), Matthew O'Connell, (CEO)[1]
RevenueUS$183.76 million (2007)[2]
US$80.33 million (2007)[2]
US$42.39 million (2007)[2]
Total assetsUS$789.95 million (2007)[2]
Total equityUS$216.92 million (2007)[2]
Number of employees
410 (2008)[2]

GeoEye Inc. (formerly Orbital Imaging Corporation, or ORBIMAGE) was an American commercial satellite imagery company based in Herndon, Virginia.[3] GeoEye was merged into the DigitalGlobe corporation on January 29, 2013.[4]

The company was founded in 1992 as a division of Orbital Sciences Corporation in the wake of the 1992 Land Remote Sensing Policy Act which permitted private companies to enter the satellite imaging business. The division was spun off in 1997. It changed its name to GeoEye in 2006 after acquiring Denver, Colorado-based Space Imaging Corporation for $58 million.[5] Space Imaging was founded and controlled by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. Its principal asset was the IKONOS satellite; the company was founded in the 1990s for the purpose of managing the project that became the IKONOS satellite.

Although ORBIMAGE's first chairman was Orbital chairman David W. Thompson, and Orbital at the time owned more than 60 percent of the stock, it no longer has a substantial interest in the company or its successor.[6]

GeoEye provided 253 million km2 (98 million sq mi) of satellite map images to Microsoft and Yahoo! search engines. In 2008 Google secured exclusive online mapping use of the GeoEye-1 satellite.[7] GeoEye maintained major contracts with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency for the provision of reconnaissance and imagery data.

In the early twenty-first century GeoEye was headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. Satellite Operations were conducted from Herndon and Thornton, Colorado. The location in St. Louis, Missouri provided additional image processing. Multiple ground stations were located worldwide.

In 2011, GeoEye was inducted into the Space Foundation's Space Technology Hall of Fame[8] for its role in advancing commercial Earth-imaging satellites.[9]

GeoEye was purchased by DigitalGlobe in 2013.

Satellites

[edit]

OrbView 1

[edit]

OrbView 1 (MicroLab 1, COSPAR 1995-017C) was a small, 68 kg satellite built by Orbital Sciences Corporation for a collaboration between ORBIMAGE and NASA. It had a payload of 2 sensors, one from NASA and another from University Consortium for Atmospheric Research, sponsored by National Science Foundation. The collaboration had NASA provide the instruments and ORBIMAGE was in charge of operating them for research purposes for NASA and other academic instances. The sensors studied lightning in the atmosphere and the use of GPS signals in atmospheric studies (GPS radio occultation). It was launched 3 April 1995 from Vandenberg AFB by a Pegasus H rocket.[10]

IKONOS

[edit]
Main article: IKONOS

Launched in 1999 by Space Imaging, IKONOS collected 82 cm (32 in) panchromatic and 3.2 m (10 ft) multispectral data at a rate of over 2,000 km2 (770 sq mi) per minute. IKONOS orbited the Earth every 98 minutes at an altitude of approximately 681 km (423 mi). It traveled a Sun-synchronous orbit, passing a given longitude at 10:30 a.m. local time. IKONOS was operated out of Thornton, Colorado. It derived its name from the Greek term eikōn (pronounced eikona) for image.[11] IKONOS was retired on March 31, 2015, having performed for more than twice its life expectancy.

OrbView-2

[edit]
Artist's rendition of the OrbView-2 or SeaStar satellit in orbit

The OrbView-2 satellite (COSPAR 1997-037A), also called SeaStar, was launched 1 August 1997 by ORBIMAGE on a Pegasus XL rocket from Vandenberg AFB. OrbView-2 collected color imagery of the Earth's entire land and ocean surfaces on a daily basis. Commercial fishing vessels used OrbView-2 data for detecting oceanographic conditions used to create fishing maps. The satellite also provided broad-area coverage in 2,800-kilometer-wide (1,700 mi) swaths, which were routinely used in naval operations, environmental monitoring, and global crop assessment applications. OrbView-2 carried NASA's SeaWiFS (Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor) sensor. OrbView-2 was operated out of Dulles, Virginia, but operations ceased shortly before GeoEye's HQ relocation to Herndon, Virginia in 2011.[12] It stopped collecting data on 11 December 2010, after 13 years (design life was 5 years).[13] It had a mass of 309 kg and was built by Orbital Sciences Corporation.[14]

OrbView-3

[edit]

Launched 26 June 2003 by ORBIMAGE, OrbView-3 (COSPAR 2003-030A) commercial Earth observation satellite acquired 1 m (3.3 ft) panchromatic and 4 m (13 ft) multispectral imagery in an 8-kilometer-wide swath. The satellite collected up to 210,000 km2 (81,000 sq mi) of imagery each day. It revisited each location on Earth in less than three days with the ability to collect data up to 50 degrees off nadir. Similar to IKONOS, this satellite passed a given longitude at 10:30 a.m. local time.

The satellite was launched from Vandenberg AFB by a Pegasus XL rocket. The satellite had a mass of 304 kg and was built by Orbital Sciences Corporation for ORBIMAGE. It carried an OHRIS (OrbView High Resolution Imaging System) payload designed and built by Northrop Grumman. Similar sensor was in OrbView 4 satellite.

On April 23, 2007, GeoEye, Inc. filed a Form 8-K to announce that its OrbView-3 satellite is permanently out of service. Though GeoEye remained in control of the satellite, it no longer produced usable imagery (the imaging sensor failed 4 March 2007).[15][16] The spacecraft decayed on March 13, 2011 via a controlled reentry into Pacific Ocean.[17]

OrbView 4

[edit]

OrbView 4 was a high-resolution commercial Earth imaging satellite that was lost in launch failure. It would have recorded 1 m (3.3 ft) panchromatic and 4 m (13 ft) multispectral imagery in an 8-kilometer-wide swath, like OrbView-3, and it also would have provided 200 channel hyperspectral imagery. It was to revisit every location on Earth in less than 3 days. The main instrument OHRIS (OrbView High Resolution Imaging System) was built by Northrop Grumman. The satellite bus was built by Orbital Sciences Corporation. The mass of the satellite was 368 kg. It was lost in a launch failure. On 21 September 2001, a Taurus XL rocket failed during launch. When the second stage ignited at T+83 seconds, a nozzle gimbal actuator drive shaft seized for approximately 5 seconds causing loss of control. The vehicle recovered and continued to fly the mission profile, but failed to reach a stable orbit and reentered near Madagascar.[18]

GeoEye-1

[edit]
Main article: GeoEye-1

GeoEye-1 (Former name OrbView 5) launched on September 6, 2008 at 11:50:57 a.m. PDT (1850:57 UTC). The satellite separated successfully from its Delta II launch vehicle at 12:49 p.m. PDT (1949 UTC), 58 minutes and 56 seconds after launch.[19] The satellite provides 41-centimeter (16 in) panchromatic and 1.65-meter multispectral imagery in 15.2 km swaths. The spacecraft is intended for a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 681 km (423 mi) and an inclination of 98 degrees, with a 10:30 a.m. equator crossing time. GeoEye-1 can image up to 60 degrees off nadir. It is operated out of Herndon, Virginia and was built in Arizona by General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems.

GeoEye-2

[edit]
Main article: GeoEye-2

The GeoEye-2 satellite is designed to provide panchromatic images at a highest resolution of 0.31 meters per pixel (12.2 in/px), and multispectral images at 1.24 meters per pixel (48.8 in/px).[20] The spacecraft was designed and built by Lockheed Martin,[21] while the camera payload was provided by ITT Corporation.[22]

Following the merger of GeoEye and DigitalGlobe, DigitalGlobe announced that GeoEye-2 would be completed as a ground spare to be launched if or when required.[23][24] It was renamed to WorldView-4 in July 2014, when the company announced that it would be launched in 2016.[25][26]

WorldView-4 launched on 11 November 2016.

Aerial imagery

[edit]

GeoEye expanded into aerial imagery in March 2007, with the purchase of MJ Harden from General Electric Company.[27] MJ Harden, based in Mission, Kansas, is now a wholly owned subsidiary that operates two aircraft that carry a digital mapping camera (DMC) and a sophisticated LiDAR imaging system. MJ Harden was founded by Milton J. Harden in 1956 to provide photogrammetry services.[28] GE Power Systems bought the company in 2003.[29]

Regional affiliates

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "(Interview with Matt O'Connell)". Future Tense. American Public Media. 2008-06-26.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "GeoEye Inc.: NASDAQ:GEOY quotes & news - Google Finance". Archived from the original on February 10, 2009. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  3. ^ "Company Search". Reuters.com. Archived from the original on 2009-02-07. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  4. ^ "DigitalGlobe Announces Final Results of Merger Consideration Elections Made by GeoEye Stockholders". Marketwire.com. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  5. ^ John Pike (2006-01-12). "ORBIMAGE Completes Acquisition of Space Imaging; Changes Brand Name to GeoEye". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  6. ^ "Orbital". Archived from the original on February 9, 2009. Retrieved September 3, 2008.
  7. ^ Shankland, Stephen (2008-08-29). "Google to buy GeoEye satellite imagery | Internet & Media - CNET News". News.cnet.com. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  8. ^ "Space Tech Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on April 23, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  9. ^ "Space Foundation, SPACE.com and Space News unite to raise funds for France schools". Space Foundation. 2001-12-17. Archived from the original on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  10. ^ Kerbs, Gunter, D (2023), OrbView 1 (MicroLab 1), Gunter Space Page{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ "IKONOS 20 year anniversary". maxar.com. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  12. ^ "Orbview" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 17, 2008. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
  13. ^ NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center (December 1, 2011). "Ocean Color Browse". Retrieved December 1, 2011.
  14. ^ Krebs, Gunter, D (2023), OrbView 2 (SeaStar), Gunter Space Page{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "OrbView 3 satellite malfunctions". spacetoday.net. 2007-03-10. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  16. ^ "e8vk". Sec.gov. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  17. ^ Krebs, Gunter, D (2023), OrbView 3, Gunter Space Page{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Krebs, Gunter, D (2023), OrbView 4, Gunter Space Page{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ Justin Ray. "Delta 2-335 Mission Status Center". Retrieved 2008-09-05.
  20. ^ "WorldView-4" (PDF). DigitalGlobe. November 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  21. ^ Ferster, Warren (11 March 2010). "Lockheed Martin Selected To Build GeoEye-2 Imaging Satellite". Space News. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  22. ^ Lockwood, Irene (10 April 2012). "ITT Exelis delivers imaging system for next-generation, high-resolution GeoEye-2 satellite" (Press release). ITT Exelis. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  23. ^ "DigitalGlobe's WorldView-3 Satellite Continues on Track for Mid-2014 Launch" (Press release). DigitalGlobe. 4 February 2013. Archived from the original on 13 February 2013.
  24. ^ Ray, Justin (4 February 2013). "One commercial Earth-imager deferred in favor of another". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  25. ^ "DigitalGlobe Announces Second 30-Centimeter Satellite to Launch in Mid-2016" (Press release). DigitalGlobe. 31 July 2014. Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  26. ^ Painter, Kristen Leigh (31 July 2014). "Demand moves DigitalGlobe to speed launch of high-powered satellite". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  27. ^ "GeoEye Acquires MJ Harden Aerial Business From GE Oil & Gas - Directions Magazine". Directionsmag.com. 2007-03-16. Archived from the original on 2010-05-20. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  28. ^ "CorpSite" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 15, 2008. Retrieved September 6, 2008.
  29. ^ "Power Systems buys M.J. Harden Associates in Kansas City - Albany Business Review". Bizjournals.com. 2003-08-21. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
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