Race for More Spectral Resolution for Earth Observation Satellites Is On

The race in space for commercial earth observation satellites was primarily for ever increasing spatial resolution. From the early days of Landsat’s 80 meter spatial resolution till today’s sub-meter accuracy on GeoEye and DigitalGlobe satellites, the demand for seeing objects on the ground more clearly was tantamount. Higher spectral resolution, however, took a back seat. But the next generation of satellites could change the perspective of users. While sub-meter spatial resolution will help you identify the class of ground-based objects, sub-classification can only be achieved by adding more spectral bands with narrower band widths.

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DigitalGlobe Publishes Image of Damage to Homs, Syria

Hims (Homs), Syria-February 25, 2012: This is a satellite image of the Baba Amr district of Hims (Homs), Syria where activity between the Free Syrian Army and the Syria military have been reported. Providing a virtual presence is what DigitalGlobe does best, by rapidly delivering shareable, high-resolution imagery of places like Syria that are unreachable by troops or first-responders on the ground. (credit: DigitalGlobe)

DigitalGlobe, GeoEye on Rollercoaster Stock Ride

Yesterday I noticed that DigitalGlobe's (DGI) stock was getting creamed but couldn't find any reason why. And concurrently, GeoEye (GEOY) took it on the chin as well. Both were down yesterday, yo-yoing between 10-20%. Today both have rebounded up 6%-7%. The bad news is already out there about the defense budgets and EnhancedView programs. But, leave it to the Motley Fool, which seems to have a bead on these stocks, to get the answer.

Analysts at Wall Street firm Dougherty & Co. may have a bullish buy rating on DigitalGlobe shares, but it looks like they helped drive today's less-than-bullish action. Dougherty left the buy rating in place, but dropped its price target on DigitalGlobe's shares nearly 40%, from $38 to $23.

EnhancedView Could Take $50 Million Hit - Aviation Week

Aviation Week is reporting that the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) may be forced to renegotiate the EnhanceView contract with GeoEye and DigitalGlobe due to an expected $50 Million cut to the agency's 2012 fiscal year budget with the prospect of more cuts in fiscal 2013. The original EnhancedView contract was $7.3 billion over 10 years and was signed in 2010. The contract was roughly split between the two commercial satellite providers. According to a source cited by Aviation Week:

“You’re going to have to find a way to probably restructure the current service-level agreements with both companies if they’re going to take $50 million out,” says one geospatial-intelligence industry official familiar with EnhancedView. “Any reduction in the budget on the service-level agreement means you’re changing the scope of the contract and you have to renegotiate.”

Last week we reported that NGA was going to procure less imagery in 2013 but that Pentagon investments in new spacecraft would continue.

Motley Fool, Barron’s Weigh in on DigitalGlobe, GeoEye

The Motley Fool, the finance and stock watching publication, has been watching the commercial, earth observing satellite providers GeoEye (GEOY) and DigitalGlobe (DGI). So has that other financial publication, Barrons.

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