[SatNews] From 450 to 482 kilometers above the Earth's surface...

DigitalGlobe (NYSE: DGI) has completed raising the orbit of its QuickBird satellite, a process that began in late March. QuickBird is now orbiting 482 kilometers above the Earth’s surface, raised from its previous 450 kilometer orbit, and has continued to deliver high resolution imagery and imagery-based products to customers throughout the process. The company expects the new orbit will extend QuickBird’s life through early 2014. It had previously expected QuickBird’s useful life through mid-2012. The raising also gives DigitalGlobe customers extended access to the world’s most powerful constellation of sub-meter satellites. The constellation, which includes the WorldView-1 and WorldView-2 satellites, offers highly accurate, commercial high resolution imagery of earth and advanced geospatial information products.