EarthWatch Announces Staff Reductions Following Loss of QuickBird 1

QuickBird 2 (similar to Quickbird 1 pictured here) is already in production at Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. in Boulder, EarthWatch intends to launch QuickBird 2 by mid 2001.

Longmont - Nov. 21, 2000
EarthWatch will shed 48 employees, which represents a 24% reduction in the work force. The layoffs follow a launch failure of the QuickBird 1 commercial imaging satellite on November 20 (GMT), 2000 from Plesetsk, Russia. The satellite failed to achieve orbit.

"The loss of QuickBird 1 is a setback to our schedule for commencing commercial operations, said EarthWatch President and CEO, Herb Satterlee. "At the time of launch, we were fully staffed to process terabytes of data per week. Since our schedule has been moved out by six to nine months, we must reduce our costs until we are ready for full operations again."

"EarthWatch is working with local business partners such as Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. and Intermap Technologies to place employees on temporary assignment until the launch of QuickBird 2. We have a great team here at EarthWatch and it is unfortunate to lose even one of our members."

QuickBird 2 is already in production at Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. in Boulder, Colorado. EarthWatch intends to launch QuickBird 2 by mid 2001.

SPACEMART

Russia Still Looking For Quick Bird Satellite Fault

Moscow (Interfax) Nov. 25, 2000
Russian specialists cannot yet reach a final conclusion about the reasons behind the fault of the U.S. Quick Bird satellite launched in the small hours of November 21 from the Russian cosmodrome Plesetsk.

SPACE.WIRE