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DigitalGlobe, a high-resolution Earth imagery provider, has selected Raytheon to develop the capability and mission planning for the former’s WorldView-4 satellite, prior to its launch in September next year.

The satellite will be launched from Vandenberg Air Force base in California.

Under the deal, Raytheon will support DigitalGlobe’s WorldView-4 satellite with the company’s geospatial Constellation Scheduling system (CSS).

CSS provides automated costs and resource competence, as well as increases the use and imagery yield of satellite.

Raytheon will also provide its space launch range services to the WorldView-4 satellite launch.

DigitalGlobe is currently planning to establish its next generation ground system, Platform 20/20. The new contract aims to prepare the ground station for WorldView-4, and is also the first phase of DigitalGlobe’s upcoming Platform 20/20.

"Raytheon’s CSS has a proven record of maximising the capture of usable imagery."

Raytheon global intelligence solutions vice-president Jane Chappell said: "Raytheon’s CSS has a proven record of maximising the capture of usable imagery.

"DigitalGlobe’s trust in Raytheon to expand their commercial constellation is confirmation of our reliable ground station automation services valued by satellite operators and commercial data providers."

DigitalGlobe’s WorldView-4 is a commercial satellite, which is capable of providing imageries of 30cm resolution. It is said to be highest resolution imagery currently available commercially.

Raytheon’s CSS runs routine planning and scheduling automatically. These features help to create more efficient schedules and specific imagery, under the requirements of customers.

In 2014, DigitalGlobe announced to launch of WorldView-4, which was earlier named GeoEye-2, in order to focus the company’s direct access and other commercial customers.

The company received US Department of Commerce’s permission that allowed the sale of imagery with resolution of up to 25cm, following which DigitalGlobe decided to launch WorldView-4.

Image: Earth imagery provided by DigitalGlobe. Photo courtesy of DigitalGlobe.