Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised May 31, 2026

WorldView-2

WorldView-2 is a commercial Earth observation satellite owned by Vantor. WorldView-2 provides commercially available panchromatic imagery of 0.46 m (18 in) resolution, and eight-band multispectral imagery with 1.84 m (72 in) resolution.

Last revised
May 31, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
408 w
Citations
15
Source
WorldView-2
Mission typeEarth observation
OperatorVantor
COSPAR ID2009-055A
SATCAT no.35946
WebsiteVantor Constellation WorldView-2
Mission durationPlanned: 7.25 years
Elapsed: 16 years, 7 months, 22 days
Spacecraft properties
BusBCP-50001
ManufacturerBall Aerospace
Launch mass2,800 kg (6,200 lb)
Power3200 watts
Start of mission
Launch date8 October 2009, 18:51:01 (2009-10-08UTC18:51:01) UTC2
RocketDelta II 7920-10C, D-3452
Launch siteVandenberg SLC-2W2
ContractorBoeing / United Launch Alliance
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeSun-synchronous
Perigee altitude772 kilometers (480 mi)3
Apogee altitude773 kilometers (480 mi)3
Inclination98.40 degrees3
Period100.16 minutes3
Epoch25 January 2015, 04:29:44 UTC3
DigitalGlobe fleet

WorldView-2 (WV 2) is a commercial Earth observation satellite owned by Vantor (formerly DigitalGlobe). WorldView-2 provides commercially available panchromatic imagery of 0.46 m (18 in) resolution, and eight-band multispectral imagery with 1.84 m (72 in) resolution.4

It was launched 8 October 2009 to become DigitalGlobe's third satellite in orbit, joining WorldView-1 which was launched in 2007 and QuickBird which was launched in 2001.5 It takes a new photograph of any place on Earth every 1.1 days.6

Design

Ball Aerospace built the spacecraft, which includes an optical telescope that can image objects 18 in (460 mm) in diameter.

Launch

WorldView-2 was launched 8 October 2009 from Vandenberg Air Force Base on a Delta II flying in the 7920 configuration. The launch vehicle was provided by the United Launch Alliance and launch services were administered by Boeing.7

History

On 19 July 2016, the Joint Space Operations Center reported a debris causing event of at least 9 observable pieces, after which DigitalGlobe demonstrated the satellite to still be functional by releasing an image of downtown Oakland, California.89

See also

See also

References

References

  1. "WorldView 2, 3 (WV 2, 3)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  2. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  3. "WORLDVIEW 2 Satellite details 2009-055A NORAD 35946". N2YO. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  4. "Worldview-2". Magazine article. Asian Surveying and Mapping. 12 October 2009. Archived from the original on 31 October 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  5. "DigitalGlobe Successfully Launches Worldview-1". DigitalGlobe. Archived from the original on 2 March 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  6. Phillips, Nicky; Grubb, Ben; Aston, Heath. "Detection of MH370 debris required a 'human eyeball operation'". Sydney Morning Herald.
  7. Ray, Justin (8 October 2009). "Satellite launched to give truer view of the world". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  8. JSpOC [@JointSpaceOps] (19 July 2016). "19 Jul: JSpOC ID'd debris causing event..." (Tweet). Retrieved 24 July 2016 – via Twitter.
  9. DigitalGlobe [@DigitalGlobe] (19 July 2016). "Collected by WorldView-2 today..." (Tweet). Retrieved 24 July 2016 – via Twitter.
External links