DigitalGlobe has received a $500 million NextView contract from the US Department of Defense's National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) to assure the availability of imagery from the next generation of high-resolution imaging satellites. The Longmont, Colorado-based company plans to launch the first of its Ball Aerospace &Technologies-built WorldView satellites, with resolutions down to 0.25m (10in), late in 2005. NIMA hopes to award a similar NextView contract to competitor Space Imaging.
Source: Flight International