Skybox Imaging

Skybox Imaging
Subsidiary
Industry Information Services
Founded January 2009
Headquarters Mountain View, California
Area served
 Worldwide
Services Satellite imagery, video, and analytics of Earth
Number of employees
 125
Website www.skybox.com

Skybox Imaging is a Google subsidiary providing commercial high-resolution Earth observation satellite imagery, high-definition video and analytics services. The Mountain View, California-based company was founded in 2009 by Dan Berkenstock, Julian Mann, John Fenwick, and Ching-Yu Hu.[1] Skybox was named no. 1 on Inc. magazine's 25 Most Audacious Companies in 2014.[2]

Overview

The resolution of its satellite imagery and videos is high enough to observe objects that impact the global economy like terrain, cars and shipping containers. Skybox says its satellites can capture video clips lasting up to 90 seconds at 30 frames per second.[3] The high-definition satellite video from Skybox satellites “could help us understand our world better by analyzing movement of goods and people, providing visual data about supply chains, shipping, industrial plant activity, and even humanitarian relief efforts.”[3]

The company's goal is to be able to provide high-resolution satellite imagery of any place on Earth multiple times a day.[4] Skybox has plans to “change the nature” of the satellite industry by building satellites with “off-the-shelf” electronics that cost under $50 million.[5]

Skybox Imaging sign in Mountain View, California

Satellite constellation

The satellites are based on the CubeSat concept with optimized design using inexpensive automotive grade electronics,[6] as well as fast commercially available processors. The cameras use two-dimensional imaging sensors.

Timeline

By April 2012 Skybox had raised a total of US$91 million of private capital from Khosla Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Canaan Partners and Norwest Venture Partners.[4]

On November 21, 2013, Skybox’s first satellite, SkySat-1, launched on the Dnepr rocket from Yasny, Russia.[7] On July 8, 2014, Skybox's second satellite, SkySat-2, launched on a Soyuz-2/Fregat rocket from Baikonur, Kazakhstan.[8] The company plans to eventually launch a fleet of 24 satellites.[9]

Skybox released the first images captured by its SkySat-1 satellite on December 11, 2013, of Perth, Abu Dhabi, and the coast of Somalia.[10] On July 10, 2014, Skybox released the first images captured by SkySat-2 within 48 hours of launch.[11]

On June 10, 2014, Skybox announced that it had entered into an agreement to be acquired by Google for US$500 million.[12][13] The acquisition was completed on August 1, 2014.[13][14]

Skysat 3 would be launched in June 2015 by ISRO on PSLV XL with contract for four more satellites to launch. [15]Arianespace will launch several Skybox Imaging satellites in 2016 and 2017, using the Vega small launch vehicle.[16]

References

  1. ↑ Perry, Tekla S. (1 May 2013). "Start-up Profile: Skybox Imaging". IEEE Spectrum. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  2. ↑ "25 Companies That Are Changing the World". Inc. 23 April 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  3. 1 2 Wogan, David (30 December 2013). "High-definition video from space is available for purchase. Finally". Scientific American. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  4. 1 2 Burns, Matt (17 April 2012). "Skybox Imaging Raises $70M To Launch Two High-Res Imaging Microsatellites". TechCrunch. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  5. ↑ Truong, Alice (11 December 2013). "Proof That Cheaper Satellites Still Can Take Incredibly Detailed Photos of Earth". Fast Company. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  6. ↑ http://www.skybox.com/technology#satellite-sensors
  7. ↑ Clark, Stephen. "Silo-launched Dnepr rocket delivers 32 satellites to space". Website. Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  8. ↑ Hearn, Mark. "Skybox Imaging successfully launches its SkySat-2 Earth observation satellite". Website. 9to5Google. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  9. ↑ Eisenberg, Anne (10 August 2013). "Microsatellites: What Big Eyes They Have". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  10. ↑ Truong, Alice. "Proof That Cheaper Satellites Still Can Take Incredibly Detailed Photos Of Earth". Website. Fast Company. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  11. ↑ Henry, Caleb. "Skybox Imaging Releases First Images from SkySat 2". Website. Satellite Today. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  12. ↑ http://investor.google.com/releases/2014/0609.html
  13. 1 2 "Skybox Imaging + Google".
  14. ↑ Henry, Caleb (2014-08-05). "Google Closes Skybox Imaging Purchase". Via Satellite. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  15. ↑ "VIKRAM SARABHAI SPACE CENTRE - PSLV". ISRO. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  16. ↑ http://spacenews.com/vega-to-launch-skybox-satellites/

External links

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