World Defense Show 2024: Maxar on course to have six observation satellites in orbit this year

14th February 2024 - 18:00 GMT | by Damian Kemp in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

RSS

Maxar will launch six satellites this year. (Image: Maxar)

WorldView Legion, a fleet of high-performance satellites, will expand Maxar’s ability to revisit the most rapidly changing areas on Earth to better inform critical, time-sensitive decisions.

Technology and satellite company Maxar has said it expects to launch two Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) observation satellites within the next four months with another four in the second half of the year to create its WorldView Legion constellation.

The first two satellite to be launched will be sun-synchronous to replace existing satellites the company already has in the same orbit and the following four will be in a mid-inclination orbit providing surveillance of areas most wanted by customers, as opposed to the polar route of the first two satellites.

WorldView Legion has been designed to provide an improved level of continuity for existing missions and will, according to the company, dramatically expand its ability to “revisit high-interest areas and inform critical, time-sensitive decisions.”

The satellites will provide very high-resolution imagery to 30cm class and eight-band VNIR multispectral imagery for a variety of applications with precision geolocation accuracy.

The constellation will provide different product levels, with the most basic being mono and stereo imagery, and the next-level mpa projected with uniform pixel spacing for manipulation and analysis. The most advanced level has been described as ortho products designed for image viewing with high-positional accuracy.

The satellites will orbit at 450km, each measuring 3mx2mx2m without solar array and weighing approximately 625kg, with an expected lifespan of 10 years. The constellation will provide up to 15 revisits per day with a daily collection capacity of five million square kilometres.

Shephard's World Defense Show 2024 coverage is sponsored by:

Author

Damian Kemp

Damian Kemp has worked in the defence media for 25 years covering military aircraft, defence …

Read full bio

More from World Defense Show 2024 | View all news

World Defense Show 2024: The show’s second iteration adapts to a changing world

Saudi Arabia’s welcomed the return of the World Defense Show with the event’s heavy focus on vehicles and CUS systems reflecting ongoing conflicts and the priorities of many national programmes.
World Defense Show 2024: Advanced Protection Systems unveils new CUAS jamming system

Advanced Protection Systems (APS) has history in the radar and CUAS areas with systems in service in Ukraine. It has a family of SKYctrl systems ranging from a comprehensive system to lightweight portable, mobile, containerised and Skid which includes a hard-kill gun.
World Defense Show 2024: New version of Jais Mk2 unveiled

A new version of the Jais mine-resistant armoured protected (MRAP) vehicle, was unveiled at World Defense Show 2024.
World Defense Show 2024: L3Harris MissionOps set for first deployment by mid-year

L3Harris’s MissionOps is a tactical network management suite which is designed to consolidate core capabilities and deliver them in a single software package.
World Defense Show 2024: Alakran mobile mortar system to be made in Saudi Arabia

NTGS has developed the Alakran 120mm mortar for customers requiring a highly mobile, lightweight self-propelled system to equip rapid reaction units. It is designed to be mounted without reinforcement on any light utility vehicle able to carry a 1,500kg payload.
World Defense Show 2024: UAE’s Edge looks beyond Middle East and steps into the CUAS and protection fight

Edge has experienced large growth, both organically and through acquisition and partnerships in the past few years, as the UAE company has brought together varying technologies and skill sets. It now faces the challenge of using these acquired capabilities effectively to meet customer requirements and enhance its bottom line.