Following its launch in November 2016, DigitalGlobe’s WorldView-4 satellite has successfully completed in-orbit testing and calibration and began serving its first direct access customer. Additional access to direct and archived WorldView-4 imagery will be provided throughout 2017.

Last year WorldView-4 became the fifth active satellite in DigitalGlobe’s high-resolution remote sensing imagery constellation. Its performance meets the quality standards of the WorldView fleet, and it joins WorldView-3 as the world’s only commercial satellites capable of achieving 30 centimetre resolution.

DigitalGlobe says the quality of the imagery enables users to reliably read street markings, distinguish between cars, trucks, and vans, and confidently understand activities of significance.

DigitalGlobe’s recently launched WorldView-4 is perhaps the most advanced imagery satellite there is. From 2017 it will provide comprehensive coverage of 30cm imagery the world over.

WorldView-4 tasking and archive orders are expected to be made available to all DigitalGlobe customers in the second half of 2017.

DigitalGlobe says the satellite more than doubles the constellation’s capacity to collect 30 cm imagery, leading to the creation of high-quality imagery-derived products such as high-resolution 3D models and near-seamless, country-scale basemaps.

Tim Hascall, DigitalGlobe’s EVP and Chief Operations Officer said that the success of the platform is a critical step for the company.

“Meeting our commitment to delivering WorldView-4 access on time for our customers is a tremendous achievement,” Hascall said “We look forward to making WorldView-4’s capabilities available to all of our customers, helping them to make critical decisions with confidence for many years to come.”