Common Name: ZASAT
Satellite Type: Microsatellite
Launch Date: 30 April, 2007
Organization: AMSAT-SA
ZASAT is a project initiated and funded by the Department of Science and Technology. The department recently launched a competition to find a suitable name for the satellite but until such time as a name is chosen the project designation is ZASAT. The Winning name was SumbandilaSAT.


ZASat-002 is a pathfinder mission of the University of Stellenbosch, SunSpace (Pty) Ltd., and SAC (Satellite Application Center) of CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research), Pretoria, South Africa. In May 2005, the DST (Department of Science and Technology) of the South African Government commissioned Stellenbosch University to develop the ZASat pathfinder satellite program, a technology demonstration in conjunction with the South African industry. The ZASat program was officially announced by the SA Department of Science and Technology on October 3, 2005. ZASat is considered to be a National Space Program Initiative consisting of two parts:

1) The development of a microsatellite bus by SunSpace as prime contractor

2) The research and human resource development is largely the responsibility of Stellenbosch University over a period of 4 years (a considerable number of students will be involved in research work on various aspects of remote sensing satellites and payloads).

Jan. 19, 2007 – GeoEye, the world’s largest commercial satellite imaging company (Nasdaq: GEOY), announced today the delivery of the camera for its next-generation commercial imaging satellite to General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems in Gilbert, Arizona for integration into the satellite. When operational, GeoEye-1 will be the world’s highest resolution commercial imaging satellite.
ITT (Rochester, New York) built the sensor, optical telescope assembly, detectors and focal plane assembly, and the high-speed digital processing electronics. The sensor is the single most important component of GeoEye-1 and it is considered a major milestone when the sensor is delivered to the prime contractor. The sensor was delivered to General Dynamics earlier this week.
The major components have now been delivered and the process of integration and testing has begun in preparation for launch. However, GeoEye believes it is possible that integration and testing may not be concluded in time to support a launch this spring for which it is currently scheduled. As a result of this and the busy Delta II launch schedule, GeoEye is working towards a launch from Vandenberg AFB, Calif. during the third quarter of 2007. GeoEye-1 will be lifted into a near-polar orbit by a Delta II launch vehicle procured by Boeing Launch Services (Huntington Beach, Calif.) from United Launch Alliance, Denver, Colo. This launch vehicle is the most reliable launch vehicle in its class.

“Getting the major components in house and in good condition is a critical achievement toward the successful completion of the program,” said Bill Schuster, GeoEye’s chief operating officer. “The effort now is to bring these pieces together and to thoroughly test the fully integrated system prior to launch to ensure that GeoEye-1 will meet all program performance objectives when it is placed into service. Our goal is 100 percent mission success.

Longmont, Colo., January 8, 2007 - DigitalGlobe®, provider of the world’s highest resolution commercial satellite imagery and geospatial information products, today announced the acquisition of GlobeXplorer®, a leading geographic data integration and publishing company, from Stewart REI Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Stewart Information Services Corp. (NYSE:STC).
The combination of DigitalGlobe and GlobeXplorer creates the industry’s most complete, most current provider of high resolution digital Earth imagery and products. Together, DigitalGlobe’s industry-leading archive and high-resolution, high-capacity satellite and GlobeXplorer’s effective Web-based search and delivery applications create the commercial remote sensing (CRS) industry’s most extensive, complete and easy-to-use solution for acquiring, integrating and distributing all types of high-quality digital Earth imagery and data.
“We see the CRS industry at an inflexion point. The role of geospatial content is expanding beyond traditional markets and GIS-trained users, to include a broad range of organizations in the commercial, civil government and defense and intelligence communities who are increasingly accessing and incorporating geospatial information into their daily workflow,” said Jill Smith, CEO of DigitalGlobe. “The acquisition of GlobeXplorer will enable DigitalGlobe to provide customers with the complete, current suite of easy-to-use and integrate geospatial data and solutions derived from satellite, aerial and related sources. The integration of GlobeXplorer enables us to put more complete products and solutions more quickly and easily into the hands of a broad range of users.”
Strategic Rationale Today, as digital imagery becomes much more widely available, and competition increases between satellite imagery providers, aerial imagery providers, and geospatial content aggregators, DigitalGlobe continues to lead the market and set the standard for making high-resolution geospatial information more accessible, accurate, reliable and rapidly available for its commercial, civil, defense and intelligence clients. The combination of DigitalGlobe and GlobeXplorer: Creates the industry’s most complete, most current provider of high resolution digital Earth imagery and products with the combination of the DigitalGlobe, GlobeXplorer and AirPhotoUSA libraries. Provides an integrated Web-based delivery platform for faster, easier discovery and delivery of geospatial information and products. Enables DigitalGlobe to continue to develop and deliver the most technologically advanced, flexible geospatial products on the market to meet the evolving needs of GIS-trained and untrained customers in the commercial, civil and defense and intelligence communities. Extends and deepens DigitalGlobe’s resources for technology innovation, customer value and global reach.

“DigitalGlobe and GlobeXplorer share a common vision of offering users the ability to transact and deliver all types of geospatial content quickly and easily in a Web-based, context-centric format,” said Rob Shanks, president and CEO of GlobeXplorer. “Together, our companies will be at the forefront of distributing interactive geographic content on the Web. We’re excited at the opportunity to become a part of the DigitalGlobe team.”
GlobeXplorer is a geographic data integration and publishing company providing online access to the world’s largest commercial library of aerial photos, satellite imagery, geographic maps, and real property information. Through dynamic Web applications, Web services, APIs, Internet portals, and Internet-aware devices, GlobeXplorer distributes content via a range of business models. Prior to the acquisition, GlobeXplorer served as one of several resellers of DigitalGlobe’s satellite imagery.

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