The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA], through its commercial launch business, today successfully the WorldView-1 satellite for DigitalGlobe aboard a Delta II rocket.
Lift-off occurred yesterday at 11:35 a.m. Pacific time from Pad SLC-2W at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The Delta II rocket deployed the spacecraft approximately 73 minutes after lift-off.
The WorldView-1 satellite will provide commercial, high-resolution images of Earth, and is capable of collecting, storing and down-linking more frequently updated imagery than any other commercial imaging satellite in orbit.
„Today’s launch of WorldView-1 marks our second successful commercial launch for Boeing Launch Services in 2007 and puts us on track for a very successful year with two of our three scheduled launches completed,“ said Ken Heinly, vice president of Boeing Launch Services.
The launch also marks the 75th consecutive successful launch of a Delta II rocket. Boeing designed the „workhorse“ launch vehicle and operated it until Dec. 1, 2006, when the United Launch Alliance joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin was formed to support the U.S. government. Boeing Launch Services purchased the launch vehicle and associated support services from United Launch Alliance.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world’s largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32.4 billion business with 72,000 employees worldwide.
