Goodbye IKONOS and SPOT 5!

Images taken by IKONOS (Source: European Space Imaging)

IKONOS Decommissioned
After 15-plus years of successful service, DigitalGlobe made the decision to end the IKONOS mission. IKONOS was the world’s first sub-meter commercial earth imaging satellite, kick-starting what would become a multi-billion dollar industry for high resolution satellite imagery and geospatial products and services.

Airbus Defence and Space Announces Skynet 5 Satellite Move to Deliver Military Satcom Over Asia-Pacific Region

Skynet 5 (Source: Airbus Defence and Space)

Airbus Defence and Space announced during Satellite 2015 the forthcoming move of its Skynet 5A satellite. The move of Skynet 5A will enable delivery of protected and secure satcom services in the new coverage footprint from mid-2015.

Airbus Defence and Space owns and operates the hardened Skynet X-band satellite constellation of 8 satellites and the ground network to provide all Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communications to the UK Ministry of Defence. The contract also allows other NATO and allied governments to use the Skynet system to augment their existing services. Airbus Defence and Space also leases the X-band hosted payload on Telesat’s Anik G1 satellite which covers the Americas and parts of the Pacific including Hawaii and Easter Island.