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SpatialNews.com Press Release
Space Imaging Reacts to
New White House Remote-Sensing Policy
Teams with Lockheed Martin and Raytheon for Development of a Next-Generation Imaging Satellite
DENVER, May 13, 2003 – Space Imaging reacted today to the President’s newly released White House policy titled U.S.
Commercial Remote Sensing Space Policy (
http://www.ostp.gov/html/new.html). The policy concerns the commercial remote sensing industry and the government’s commitment to it. The Bush Administration’s new directive, under interagency review for a year, was announced by the White House on May 13, 2003. The directive strengthens the government’s long-term objective to establish domestic high-resolution satellite imagery companies as world industry leaders and states that it is in the national security interest to have a strong and competitive commercial remote sensing industry anchored on U.S. shores.
Delivering a keynote address at a U.S. Government-sponsored conference on commercial remote sensing in Washington, D.C. today, Secretary of Commerce Don Evans said, “The remote sensing industry is poised for great market penetration. At our department, we recognize the promise of the remote sensing industry.” During Operation Iraqi Freedom the industry “provided timely and accurate information.” said Secretary Evans.
“This is a forward-looking policy that confirms the government’s long-term commitment to the high-resolution commercial satellite industry,” said Robert Dalal, CEO of Space Imaging. This new directive supersedes one signed by President Clinton in March 1994 and supports the U.S. in maintaining a competitive commercial high-resolution satellite business in the worldwide market. “Nine years ago, the White House committed to enhance U.S. industrial competitiveness in the remote-sensing field. Today, the White House stated the government will rely to the maximum practical extent on U.S. commercial capabilities and ensure U.S. companies continue to lead this important emerging technology,” said Dalal.
Dalal continued, “I’m also pleased that the new policy directs many federal agencies to use commercial satellite imagery and services. The Pentagon’s National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) is already a key customer, now other agencies will have an opportunity to see the value in our imagery. Space Imaging has led this industry with double-digit growth and by being the first company in the world to launch a commercial high-resolution satellite. We are producing timely imagery at the right price, resolution and capacity needed by government users.”
Encouraged by this policy, Space Imaging also announced that it is teaming with its key investors, Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) and Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), as principal sub-contractors to bid for NextView. NextView is NIMA’s competitive contract that assures the availability of high-resolution imagery from next generation U.S. commercial imaging satellites.
“This team brings to our government the experience and strength of Space Imaging, the technical expertise of a world class satellite builder, and the extensive knowledge required to manage and process satellite imagery once it has been sent to ground receiving stations,” said Dalal. “There is a huge demand for geospatial information and products and I don’t think we could be more excited about our teaming arrangement, especially given the proven business and technological achievements and space legacies of our partners.”
The Pentagon’s proposed NextView contract and the new White House policy are part of a growing trend that demonstrates the government intends to use and rely on the commercial industry’s investment in satellite imagery technology.
In November 2002, Space Imaging applied for a .25-meter license with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This license would enable Space Imaging to build and launch an imaging system that will be able to see objects on the ground as small as a quarter meter in size. Space Imaging has a .5-meter license from NOAA approved in December 2000 and a .4-meter license approved in November 2002. For more information regarding licensing of commercial remote sensing satellite systems, see: http://www.licensing.noaa.gov.
About Space Imaging
Space Imaging is the premier provider of satellite imagery enabling businesses, governments and individuals to better map, measure, monitor and manage the world in which we live. Based near Denver, Colo., Space Imaging radically transformed the Earth information market when in 1999 it launched IKONOS, the world's first commercial high-resolution imaging satellite. Today, Space Imaging’s products are the cornerstone of the remote-sensing industry. The company supplies the highest quality, most accurate, visual information about the planet's changing natural and cultural features. Space Imaging’s customer-centric business lines include imagery from satellites and aircraft, decision-support geospatial solutions, and direct access to its satellites for corporations and governments. With expected 2003 revenues over $200 million, Space Imaging is a privately held company with partners, resellers and 13 affiliate ground stations around the world. For more information on products and services, please visit
www.spaceimaging.com.
Related Weblinks:
www.spaceimaging.com
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