- Note - This was to be the first privately
owned and operated satellite capable of taking pictures with resolution
down to about the size of a car. Since the project was announced four years
ago, many have suggested the goverment and military weren't about to allow
the public and private sector to have the technology to peer down from
above and photograph anything, and anywhere, on the globe...for rather
obvious reasons.
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- VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.-(BUSINESS WIRE) -Space Imaging and Lockheed
Martin Astronautics have not successfully acquired telemetry signals from
the IKONOS 1 satellite following its launch this morning by a Lockheed
Martin Athena II rocket. The Athena was launched at 11:22 a.m. PDT from
Space Launch Complex 6 (SLC-6) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Weather
conditions for the launch were good and the countdown was normal.
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- ``We are gravely disappointed that we
have not established contact with the IKONOS satellite as of this time,''
said John Copple, Space Imaging's chief executive officer. ``We are working
through the anomaly with Lockheed Martin. Space Imaging had established
contingency plans in case something like this happened,'' he said. ``Although
our business plan will be delayed, we are confident that with the launch
of IKONOS 2 we will achieve our goals.''
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- Space Imaging and its prime contractor,
Lockheed Martin Corporation, have begun an investigation into the anomaly
and will determine as quickly as possible the appropriate corrective actions.
IKONOS 2, an identical twin to IKONOS 1, has already been built as a backup
in case of an anomaly such as this. No launch date has been set.
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- Lockheed Martin Astronautics built the
Athena II launch vehicle. Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space built the
satellite for Denver-based Space Imaging.
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