Weekly GEOINT Community News

DigitalGlobe Receives Early Commitment for WorldView-4 Satellite Capacity

DigitalGlobe announced its third customer commitment for direct access capacity on the WorldView-4 satellite. WorldView-4 is expected to begin commercial operations in early 2017 following a September launch. The company has received contracts and letters of intent from international defense and intelligence customers.

Airbus and OneWeb Launch OneWeb Satellites

Airbus Defence and Space and OneWeb announced the creation of OneWeb Satellites. This joint venture will design and build the 900 satellites in OneWeb’s constellation, which aims to provide global coverage of high-speed Internet. OneWeb Satellites will also build satellites, platforms, and equipment to be marketed by Airbus to other operators of future constellations. The satellite constellation will include satellites weighing less than 150 kilograms and will operate in low Earth orbit. The companies expect to launch the satellites in 2018.

60 Agencies to Coordinate Super Bowl 50

In preparation for Super Bowl 50, Feb. 7 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., 60 federal, state, and local agencies are working together to coordinate surveillance and security for the biggest national security event of the year, reports Wired. With the Department of Homeland Security leading the effort, agencies will be using surveillance efforts such as facial recognition, automated license plate readers, social media monitoring software, and more to observe the millions of people circulating the stadium the week leading up to the big game. Read in trajectory’s 2014 Q2 feature how location data was instrumental at Super Bowl 48.

Leidos and Lockheed Martin IS&GS to Combine

Leidos and Lockheed Martin announced a $5 billion deal in which Leidos will merge with Lockheed’s realigned Information Systems and Global Solutions business segment. This combination adds large IT implementation and operation experience, and additional federal and international IT solutions and services work to the Leidos portfolio, while allowing Lockheed Martin to refocus on its core defense and aerospace business.According to a press release, the transaction is expected to close later this year.

Photo Credit: Ric Tapia/AP