WASHINGTON -- Orbital Imaging Corp. (Orbimage) will scale back its investment in Canadian Space Agency’s Radarsat 2 satellite program and surrender some of its marketing rights to the satellite’s data, Orbimage reported Feb. 14.
In early 1999, Dulles, Virginia-based Orbimage paid MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates, Richmond, British Columbia, about $60 million for the exclusive worldwide distribution rights to Radarsat 2 data. MacDonald Dettwiler is the prime contractor on the program and is responsible for distributing the satellite’s data.
Slated for launch in 2003, Radarsat 2 will collect radar images that can distinguish ground objects 9.8 feet (3 meters) across and larger.
Under the restructured arrangement, Orbimage will retain distribution rights for Radarsat 2 data to customers in the United States, according to the Orbimage statement. Distribution rights outside the United States will be returned to MacDonald Dettwiler.
advertisement
