The WorldView-2 satellite built by Ball aerospace for DigitalGlobe has arrived at the Vandenberg Air Force Base for launch into a sun-synchronous orbit aboard a Delta 2 rocket.

The WorldView-2 offers high spatial resolution, multi-spectral satellite imagery for civil government mapping, land-use planning, disaster relief, exploration, defence, intelligence and visualisation and simulation environments.

The satellite will carry the BCP 5000 spacecraft bus for next-generation optical and synthetic aperture radar remote sensing payloads.

On-site testing will begin following the satellite’s arrival at the launch site. The spacecraft will be integrated with the launch vehicle in the coming weeks and intensive testing will then be carried out to ensure a successful launch.

Ball Aerospace recently completed the environmental testing phase for the satellite.

WorldView-2 is due for lift-off on 6 October 2009.