GeoEye-1 Satellite Sensor

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GeoEye-1 Satellite Sensor (0.46m)

The GeoEye-1 satellite sensor was successfully launched on September 6, 2008. The satellite, which was launched at Vanderberg Air Force Base, California, provides a resolution of 0.46-meters. Watch a video of GeoEye-1 satellite launch.

GeoEye-1 Satellite Sensor (0.46m)

GeoEye-1 Satellite Sensor

GeoEye-1 is capable of acquiring image data at 0.46-meter panchromatic (B&W) and 1.84-meter multispectral resolution. It also features a revisit time of fewer than three days, as well as the ability to locate an object within just three meters of its physical location.

The GeoEye-1 satellite sensor features the most sophisticated technology ever used in a commercial remote sensing system. This sensor is optimized for large projects, as it can produce over 350,000 square kilometers of pan-sharpened multispectral satellite imagery every day.

GeoEye-1 has been flying at an altitude of about 681 kilometers and is capable of producing imagery with a ground sampling distance of 46-centimeters, meaning it can detect objects of that diameter or greater.

During the late summer of 2013, the orbit altitude of the GeoEye-1 satellite sensor was raised to 770 Km/ 478 Miles. GeoEye-1 new nadir ground sample distance (GSD) is 46cm compared to the previous GSD of 41cm.

Sample Images

Bora Bora

French Polynesia

Doha, Qatar

2m 3D Urban Terrain Model

Marcona, Peru

Mining Operations

Atmospheric Compensation - DigitalGlobe AComp Pre-Processing

GeoEye-1 Satellite Image Gallery

GeoEye-1 Satellite Sensor Specifications

Launch Date

September 6, 2008

Camera Modes

Simultaneous panchromatic and multispectral (pan-sharpened)
Panchromatic only
Multispectral only

Resolution

0.46 m / 1.51 ft* panchromatic (nominal at Nadir)
1.84 m / 6.04 ft* multispectral (nominal at Nadir)

Spectral Range

Panchromatic: 450 - 800 nm
Blue: 450 - 510 nm
Green: 510 - 580 nm
Red: 655 - 690 nm
Near Infra Red: 780 - 920 nm

Metric Accuracy/Geolocation

5 m CE90, 3 m CE90 (measured)

Swath Widths & Representative Area Sizes

Nominal swath width - 15.2 km / 9.44 mi at Nadir
Single-point scene - 225 sq km (15x15 km)
Contiguous large area - 15,000 sq km (300x50 km)
Contiguous 1° cell size areas - 10,000 sq km
(100x100 km)
Contiguous stereo area - 6,270 sq km (224x28 km)
(Area assumes pan mode at highest line rate)

Imaging Angle

Capable of imaging in any direction

Revisit Frequency at 770 km Altitude (40° Latitude Target)

Max Pan GSD (m)	Off Nadir Look Angle (deg)	Average Revisit (days)
0.42	10	8.3
0.50	28	2.8
0.59	35	2.1

Daily Monoscopic Area Collection Capacity

Up to 700,000 sq km/day (270,271 sq mi/day) of pan area (about the size of Texas). Up to 350,000 sq km/day (135,135 sq mi/day) of pan-sharpened multispectral area (about the size of New Mexico)

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Launch Vehicle	Delta II
Launch Vehicle Manufacturer	Boeing Corporation
Launch Location	Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Satellite Weight	1955 kg / 4310 lbs
Satellite Storage and Downlink	1 Terabit recorder; X-band downlink (at 740 mb/sec or 150 mb/sec)
Operational Life	Fully redundant 7+ year design life; fuel for 15 years
Satellite Modes of Operation	Store and forward Real-time image and downlink Direct uplink with real-time downlink
Orbital Altitude	770 km / 478 miles
Orbital Velocity	About 7.5 km/sec or 17,000 mi/hr
Inclination/Equator Crossing Time	98 degrees / 10:30am
Orbit type/period	Sun-synchronous / 98 minutes