High-resolution satellite operator Space Imaging is to be acquired by rival Orbimage for $58.5 million, having been put up for sale after losing the NextView competition to supply the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) with imagery from next-generation 0.5m-resolution satellites. Lockheed Martin and Raytheon together own 76% of Space Imaging, which operates the 1m-resolution Ikonos satellite. The company lost out when the $500 million NextView contracts were awarded to DigitalGlobe and Orbimage, and no replacement is planned for Ikonos, which is expected to cease operations in 2008.
Source: Flight International
