In this guide
Maxar Satellite Constellation
Last Updated: October 3, 2023
PGC provides high-resolution imagery from Maxar Technologies (formerly DigitalGlobe). Here you will find information about the satellites’ spatial and temporal resolution, spectral capabilities, and more!
About Maxar
Maxar Technologies Inc. is a commercial satellite imagery company currently headquartered in Westminster, Colorado. DigitalGlobe and MDA Holdings Company merged to become Maxar Technologies in 2017.
Maxar operates a constellation of five electro-optical earth imaging satellites.
For more information, visit Maxar’s Constellation.
WorldView-1
WorldView-1 was Maxar’s second satellite, increasing capacity for the growing demand for commercial satellite imagery.
Launched in September 18, 2007, WorldView-1 has a single panchromatic band with a resolution of 0.5 m.
Satellite Specifications
Launched: 2007
Operational Altitude: 496 km
Spectral Characteristics: Panchromatic
Sensor Resolution: 50 cm GSD at nadir
Dynamic Range: 11-bits per pixel
Swath Width: 17.7 km at nadir
Capacity: 1.3 million km2 per day
Stereo Collection: Yes
WorldView-2
Maxar’s third satellite was launched on October 8, 2009.
WorldView-2 provides commercially available panchromatic imagery of .46 m resolution, and 8-band multispectral imagery with 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) resolution.
Satellite Specifications
Launched: 2009
Operational Altitude: 770 km
Spectral Characteristics: Panchromatic + 8 Multispectral
Sensor Resolution: 46 cm GSD at nadir
Dynamic Range: 11-bits per pixel
Swath Width: 16.4 km at nadir
Capacity: 1.0 million km2 per day
Stereo Collection: Yes
WorldView-3
Launched on August 13, 2014, WorldView-3 provides commercially available panchromatic imagery of 0.31 m (12 in) resolution, which was the highest resolution commercially available at the time.
In addition, eight-band multispectral imagery with 1.24 m (4 ft 1 in) resolution and shortwave infrared (SWIR) imagery at 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in) resolution are also available.
Satellite Specifications
Launched: 2014
Operational Altitude: 617 km
Spectral Characteristics: Panchromatic + 8 Multispectral + 8 SWIR + 12 CAVIS
Sensor Resolution: 31 cm GSD at nadir
Dynamic Range: 11-bits per pixel, 14-bits per pixel SWIR
Swath Width: 13.1 km at nadir
Capacity: 680,000 km2 per day
Stereo Collection: Yes
WorldView-4
Launched on November 11, 2016, WorldView-4 is Maxar’s newest high-resolution satellite.
Satellite Specifications
Launched: 2016
Operational Altitude: 617 km
Spectral Characteristics: Panchromatic + 4 Multispectral Bands
Sensor Resolution: Pan: 31 cm GSD at nadir; MS: 1.24 m at nadir
Dynamic Range: 11-bits per pixel
Swath Width: 13.2 km at nadir
Capacity: 680,000 km2 per day
Stereo Collection: Yes
As of 2018, WorldView-4 is not available in the NRO Electro-Optical Commercial Layer (EOCL) license.
QuickBird
Maxar’s first Earth observation satellite, QuickBird launched in October of 2011 and became the first satellite provide commercially-available sub-meter optical imagery.
QuickBird was retired in December 2014 after its mission was extended in 2011 by raising the orbital altitude from 450km to 482km.
Satellite Specifications
Launched: 2011
Operational Altitude: 400-450 km
Spectral Characteristics: Panchromatic + 4 Multispectral
Sensor Resolution: 55-61 cm GSD at nadir
Dynamic Range: 11-bits per pixel
Swath Width: 14.9-16.8 km at nadir
Capacity: 200,000 km2 per day
Stereo Collection: Yes
IKONOS
A pioneer in earth-observation satellites, IKONOS was the first to collect publicly available high-resolution imagery at 1-(panchromatic) and 4-(multispectral) meter resolution.
Launched on September 24, 1999, the satellite performed for more than twice its life expectancy when it was retired in March 2015.
Satellite Specifications
Launched: 1999
Operational Altitude: 681 km
Spectral Characteristics: Panchromatic + 4 Multispectral
Sensor Resolution: 82 cm GSD at nadir
Dynamic Range: 11-bits per pixel
Swath Width: 11.3 km at nadir
Capacity: 240,000 km2 per day
Stereo Collection: Yes
GeoEye-1
Originally owned and operated by GeoEye Inc., GeoEye-1 was launched on September 6, 2008.
GeoEye-1 offers four multispectral bands (red, green, blue and near-infrared) in addition to its panchromatic band, which has a maximum resolution of 41 cm.
Satellite Specifications
Launched: 2008
Operational Altitude: 681 km
Spectral Characteristics: Panchromatic + 4 Multispectral Bands
Sensor Resolution: Pan: 41 cm GSD at nadir; MS: 1.65 m GSD at nadir
Dynamic Range: 11-bits per pixel
Swath Width: 15.3 km at nadir
Capacity: 350,000 km2 per day
Stereo Collection: Yes
Summary
In this Guide, we’ve covered:
- History of Maxar Technologies, Inc.
- Detailed specifications of sensors