Maxar Space Systems-built Satellites are Ready for Launch

Ibadan, 19 March 2024. – Two Maxar Space Systems-built WorldView Legion satellites for Maxar Intelligence have arrived and are preparing for launch at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. These satellites will ride a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket into orbit as soon as April.

These are the first two of six tentative WorldView Legion satellites, which will enhance Maxar Intelligence’s constellation by delivering industry-leading resolution and accuracy. When all six WorldView Legion satellites launch, it will triple Maxar Intelligence’s capacity to collect 30 cm-class and multispectral imagery. Furthermore, the full Maxar constellation of 10 electro-optical satellites will image the most rapidly changing areas on Earth as frequently as every 20 to 30 minutes, from sunup to sundown.

These Maxar Space Systems-built satellites are the first MAXAR 500™ SERIES BUSES to complete production at the company’s satellite manufacturing locations in Palo Alto and San Jose, California. The Maxar 500 series bus is a mid-size platform that can be tailored for multiple missions and orbits. In addition, as part of the WorldView Legion program, Maxar invested in creating a bus with better stability, agility and pointing accuracy; future Maxar 500 customers can benefit from this technology for their missions.

Dan Smoot, Maxar Intelligence CEO, said, “WorldView Legion will extend the quality and capability of our industry-leading constellation, redefining Earth observation constellation performance and providing customers with unprecedented access to timely, actionable insights that help drive mission success.”

Likewise, Chris Johnson, Maxar Space Systems CEO, added, “WorldView Legion and the Maxar 500 series platform is the culmination of decades of experience in building satellites for customer missions, We are excited to reach this important program milestone and look forward to continued partnership on the program.”