IKONOS Has Arrived
Worlds first high-resolution commercial Earth image reveals remarkable detail

On 12 October 1999, Space Imaging released the world's first high-resolution commercial satellite image of the Earth. The 1-meter (m) resolution black-and-white image of Washington, D.C., collected by Space Imaging's IKONOS satellite, has unprecedented clarity and detail for commercial space imagery. The image showcases part of the Mall area in the heart Washington, D.C.
      The Washington, D.C., image is an example of the IKONOS satellite's collection capabilities. The image has not been processed to have a map-accuracy quality. The IKONOS satellite also has a sensor that collects 4m multispectral (color) imagery. As satellite calibration and check-out continue, imagery from the multispectral sensor will be released. IKONOS imagery and products, marketed under Space Imaging's CARTERRA brand name, will be available for sale to customers by the end of this year.
      The IKONOS satellite orbits the Earth in a sun-synchronous orbit-meaning it simply follows the sun as it travels around the globe-and its Eastman Kodak built camera is an optical imaging device. The near-perfect optical sharpness of Kodak's telescope has never been achieved in any commercial space camera. The satellite circles the globe 14 times per day, or once every 98 minutes. The imagery is stored in Space Imaging's digital CARTERRA archive and can be made available to customers very quickly-in as little as a few hours or days.
     "The launch was perfect and was itself a major milestone. Just 3 days after the launch, we were able to activate systems and start testing the collection capabilities of IKONOS-bringing us even closer to providing this new source of information to our customers. This is a remarkable achievement that would only have been possible with the heritage technology of Lockheed Martin and Raytheon," says John Copple, Space Imaging's chief executive officer. "The CARTERRA image of Washington, D.C., taken 30 September, validated that the satellite was in perfect working order. Although we will have to calibrate the system to further improve and characterize the imagery, we are very pleased with the results so far."
      Images from the IKONOS satellite will have unlimited utility in a number of markets including state and local government, mapping, agriculture, forestry, emergency response, utilities, telecommunications, real estate, environment, national security, transportation, insurance, and risk management. Highly detailed maps of entire counties can be made for the first time. Farmers can more precisely monitor the health of crops and estimate yields. Scientists can look at environmentally sensitive areas and predict trends. Government officials can monitor and plan enlightened land use policies. City planners can further the development of new housing communities. New and emerging uses include measuring and mapping damage to properties after natural disasters, planning for emergency response, mapping transportation networks, developing in-vehicle navigation systems, and planning and developing real estate.
      The name IKONOS is derived from the Greek work for "image." The name is pronounced "Eye-KOH-nos."
      Investors in Space Imaging's IKONOS system include Lockheed Martin Corp., Raytheon Company, Mitsubishi Corporation, Singapore's Van Der Horst, Ltd., Korea's Hyundai Space & Aircraft, Europe's Remote Sensing Affiliates, Swedish Space Corporation, and Thailand's Loxley Public Company, Ltd.

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