EarthWatch founded to design satellites for commercial remote sensing

WorldView Imaging Corp. (Pleasanton, CA) is merging with Ball Corp. Aerospace and Communications Grou¥(Boulder, CO) to create EarthWatch Inc. (Longmont, CO), an independent entity majority-owned by Ball Aerospace. Chartered to develo¥satellites for commercial remote-imaging services, EarthWatch will design and later operate the systems, marketing the resultant images in conjunction with a grou¥of international partner companies. The first satellite, the EarlyBird, is scheduled for launch in 1996, to be followed by the QuickBird in 1997.