Maxar Launches Final Two WorldView Legion Satellites: The Fifth and Sixth

Maxar's Last Set Of Worldview Legion Satellites Successfully Launched.
Source: Spaceinsider.tech

Maxar Technologies has successfully launched its final two WorldView Legion satellites, marking a major step forward in Earth observation capabilities. The launch of the WorldView Legion 5 and 6 satellites occurred on February 4, 2025, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with SpaceX's Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket carrying them into orbit. This release completes Maxar’s six-satellite WorldView Legion constellation, significantly improving the frequency and resolution of satellite imagery for commercial, environmental, and defense applications.

The WorldView Legion satellites are designed to capture high-resolution images with increased revisit rates, allowing them to monitor changes on the Earth's surface 15 times a day. Equipped with advanced optical sensors and eight spectral bands, including Red Edge and Near InfraRed, they provide critical insights for a wide range of industries. These capabilities are particularly useful in environmental monitoring, where they assist in tracking deforestation, monitoring crop health, and assessing water quality. The satellites also play a crucial role in disaster response, helping authorities evaluate damage from floods, wildfires, and other natural disasters in near real-time.

With the latest additions, the WorldView Legion constellation now covers 5 million square kilometers per day, offering improved orbital coverage over mid-latitude regions. These areas, which include major economic and industrial hubs, benefit from more precise geographic data for urban development, infrastructure planning, and climate research. The satellites provide 30 cm resolution for panchromatic images (grayscale, capturing broad wavelengths) and 50 cm resolution for multispectral images (color, capturing specific wavelength bands), making them one of the most advanced optical imaging systems in the commercial market.

Beyond commercial and environmental uses, the WorldView Legion satellites enhance defense and intelligence capabilities by providing real-time surveillance of strategic locations. The system allows for the tracking of troop movements, border monitoring, and early detection of potential conflicts. Governments and security agencies can use this high-resolution imagery to support national security efforts, aiding in military planning and crisis response.

The growing demand for timely and accurate satellite data has intensified competition in the Earth observation industry. Maxar’s WorldView Legion constellation competes with Airbus’s Pléiades and SPOT satellites, Planet Labs’ Dove satellites, and Canada’s RADARSAT Constellation, which specializes in radar imaging under all weather conditions. But Maxar’s latest launch strengthens its position in this competitive sector by offering higher revisit rates and enhanced imaging capabilities.

Looking ahead, Maxar Technologies plans to expand its satellite fleet further with the launch of WorldView Legion 7 and 8 in 2027 from Cape Canaveral. These additional satellites will further increase imaging capacity and coverage, ensuring that Maxar remains at the forefront of satellite-based Earth observation.