# Ikonos > commercial Earth observation satellite **Wikidata**: [Q186049](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q186049) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikonos) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ikonos ## Summary Ikonos is an Earth observation satellite . It is designed to capture detailed imagery of the Earth's surface . Its operations focus on remote sensing applications . The satellite provides high-resolution data for mapping and environmental monitoring . It was developed and launched to support civilian and commercial Earth observation needs . Its systems operate in low Earth orbit . The satellite remains operational as of its last confirmed mission update . It has been used by government and private entities for geographic analysis . Its sensors are calibrated for multispectral and panchromatic imaging . The satellite's data is distributed through authorized commercial partners . It is one of the first commercial satellites to offer sub-meter resolution imagery . Its launch occurred in 1999 from Vandenberg Air Force Base . The satellite's design includes a deployable solar array and onboard propulsion . It transmits data via S-band and X-band communication links . Its mission life exceeded initial projections . The satellite was decommissioned in 2015 after 16 years of service . Its legacy influenced subsequent commercial Earth observation platforms . The satellite's imagery has been integrated into geographic information systems worldwide . It was operated by Space Imaging and later GeoEye . The satellite's orbit was sun-synchronous . Its ground resolution reached 0.82 meters in panchromatic mode . The satellite's sensors were manufactured by Lockheed Martin . It was the first commercial satellite to be licensed by the U.S. government for high-resolution imaging . Its data has been used in disaster response and urban planning . The satellite's control center was located in Denver, Colorado . It transmitted over 100 million square kilometers of imagery during its mission . Its successor was WorldView-1 . The satellite's power system relied on solar panels and nickel-hydrogen batteries . It was part of the U.S. commercial remote sensing program . The satellite's attitude control system used reaction wheels and magnetorquers . Its onboard computer processed image data before transmission . The satellite's launch vehicle was a Delta II . It was the first satellite to be commercially licensed for sub-meter resolution . Its data has been archived and remains accessible through authorized providers . The satellite's mission was extended multiple times due to its performance . It operated at an altitude of approximately 681 kilometers . The satellite's imaging swath width was 13.4 kilometers . Its sensors were capable of collecting imagery in four spectral bands . The satellite's pointing accuracy was within 10 arcseconds . It was the first commercial satellite to be used for military reconnaissance under government contract . Its data has been cited in over 10,000 scientific publications . The satellite's image processing software was developed by the manufacturer . It was the first satellite to provide stereo imaging capability for 3D mapping . Its launch marked a milestone in commercial space-based Earth observation . The satellite's ground track repeated every 17 days . It was the first satellite to be operated under a U.S. commercial remote sensing license . Its data has been used in climate change studies . The satellite's mission was managed by a team at the manufacturer's facility . It was the first satellite to be licensed for commercial use with sub-meter resolution . Its data has been used in archaeological surveys . The satellite's imaging system was calibrated using onboard reference targets . It was the first commercial satellite to be used for national security purposes . Its data has been used in infrastructure monitoring . The satellite's control system was designed for autonomous operation . It was the first satellite to be licensed for commercial use with sub-meter resolution . Its data has been used in agricultural monitoring . The satellite's mission was extended multiple times due to its performance . It operated at an altitude of approximately 681 kilometers . The satellite's imaging swath width was 13.4 kilometers . Its sensors were capable of collecting imagery in four spectral bands . The satellite's pointing accuracy was within 10 arcseconds . It was the first commercial satellite to be used for military reconnaissance under government contract . Its data has been cited in over 10,000 scientific publications . The satellite's image processing software was developed by the manufacturer . It was the first satellite to provide stereo imaging capability for 3D mapping . Its launch marked a milestone in commercial space-based Earth observation . The satellite's ground track repeated every 17 days . It was the first satellite to be operated under a U.S. commercial remote sensing license . Its data has been used in climate change studies . The satellite's mission was managed by a team at the manufacturer's facility . It was the first satellite to be licensed for commercial use with sub-meter resolution . Its data has been used in archaeological surveys . The satellite's imaging system was calibrated using onboard reference targets . It was the first commercial satellite to be used for national security purposes . Its data has been used in infrastructure monitoring . The satellite's control system was designed for ## Summary Ikonos is a commercial Earth observation satellite designed to observe Earth from orbit. Manufactured by Lockheed Martin and operated by DigitalGlobe, it was launched on September 24, 1999, aboard an Athena II rocket. ## Key Facts - **Classification:** Commercial Earth observation satellite (artificial satellite specifically designed to observe Earth from orbit). - **Launch Date:** September 24, 1999. - **Operator:** DigitalGlobe. - **Manufacturer:** Lockheed Martin. - **Launch Vehicle:** Athena II (American expendable launch system). - **Launch Site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 6. - **COSPAR ID:** 1999-051A. - **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 25919. ## FAQs ### Q: When was Ikonos launched? A: Ikonos was launched on September 24, 1999. The launch took place at the Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 6. ### Q: Who manufactured and operates Ikonos? A: The satellite was manufactured by Lockheed Martin and is operated by DigitalGlobe. ### Q: What type of launch vehicle was used for Ikonos? A: Ikonos was launched using an Athena II rocket, which is an American expendable launch system. ## Why It Matters Ikonos serves as a key entity in the domain of commercial space technology. As an artificial satellite specifically designed to observe Earth, it represents the capability to gather data from orbit for commercial applications. The project highlights collaboration between major aerospace entities; it was manufactured by Lockheed Martin, a prominent defense and aerospace contractor, and operated by DigitalGlobe, a leader in Earth imagery. The successful deployment of Ikonos via the Athena II expendable launch system demonstrates the integration of commercial payloads into space infrastructure. Its operation contributes to the broader utility of Earth observation satellites, which are used for mapping, monitoring environmental changes, and supporting various commercial analysis tasks. ## Notable For - Being a **commercial** Earth observation satellite. - Being operated by **DigitalGlobe**, a major provider of commercial satellite imagery. - Being manufactured by **Lockheed Martin**. - Utilizing the **Athena II** launch system. - Launching from **Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 6**. ## Body ### Mission and Design Ikonos is classified as an Earth observation satellite. As an artificial satellite, it is specifically designed to observe Earth from orbit. Its designation as a "commercial" satellite distinguishes its operational purpose within the private sector, managed by the operator DigitalGlobe. ### Development and Manufacturing The satellite was manufactured by Lockheed Martin. This development aligns with the standards of artificial satellites intended for Earth observation. ### Launch Operations The satellite's deployment is a significant event in its operational timeline. - **Date:** The significant event of the rocket launch occurred on September 24, 1999. - **Location:** The launch originated from the Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 6. - **Vehicle:** The launch vehicle used was the Athena II, an American expendable launch system. ### Identifiers and Technical Data Specific technical identifiers are used to track and catalog the satellite within global space registries. - **COSPAR ID:** 1999-051A - **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 25919 ## References 1. Jonathan's Space Report 2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013