WESTMINSTER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DigitalGlobe, a Maxar Technologies Ltd. company (formerly MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.) (NYSE and TSX: MAXR), today announced it has contracted with SpaceX to launch the next-generation WorldView Legion satellite imaging constellation.

DigitalGlobe and SpaceX are two of the leading new space economy innovators, working together for the first time to launch the WorldView Legion constellation. The initial block of the multi-satellite WorldView Legion constellation will be launched by two flight-proven Falcon 9 rockets in 2021.

The WorldView Legion constellation will incorporate DigitalGlobe’s and its parent, Maxar’s, most advanced capabilities in Earth observation and satellite construction technologies. It will double DigitalGlobe’s ability to collect the world’s highest resolution 30 cm satellite imagery and triple the capacity available over the highest-demand regions, while reducing capital investments by half relative to the GeoEye-1, WorldView-1 and WorldView-2 satellites it will replace. The satellites are being developed by SSL, another Maxar company and the global leader in commercial satellites.

“We are excited to partner with SpaceX, another pioneer in the new space economy, for this mission,” said DigitalGlobe President Dan Jablonsky. “With access to more of the world’s best imagery, collected more frequently, our government and commercial customers will be able to make decisions with confidence and understand our changing planet like never before.”

"SpaceX is proud to partner with DigitalGlobe to launch the WorldView Legion constellation," said Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX. "We appreciate DigitalGlobe selecting two flight-proven Falcon 9’s to reliably deliver their satellites to orbit.”

About Maxar

Maxar Technologies (formerly MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates) is a leading global provider of advanced space technology solutions for commercial and government markets including satellites, Earth imagery, geospatial data and analytics, is at the nexus of the new space economy, developing and sustaining its infrastructure and delivering the products, services, systems and solutions that make it possible.. As a trusted partner, Maxar Technologies provides unmatched end-to-end advanced systems capabilities and integrated solutions expertise to help our customers anticipate and address their most complex mission critical challenges with confidence. With more than 6,500 employees in over 21 locations, the Maxar Technologies portfolio of commercial space brands includes: SSL, MDA, DigitalGlobe, and Radiant Solutions. Every day millions of people rely on Maxar Technologies to communicate, share information and data, and deliver insights that empower a better world. Maxar trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange as MAXR. For more information visit www.maxar.com.

About DigitalGlobe

DigitalGlobe is the global leader in commercial high-resolution satellite imagery used by decision makers to better understand our changing planet in order to save lives, resources and time. Sourced from the world's leading constellation, our imagery solutions deliver unmatched coverage and capacity to meet our customers' most demanding mission requirements. Each day customers in defense and intelligence, public safety, civil agencies, map making and analysis, environmental monitoring, oil and gas exploration, infrastructure management, navigation technology, and providers of location-based services depend on DigitalGlobe data, information, technology and expertise to gain actionable insight. DigitalGlobe is a Maxar Technologies company (NYSE: MAXR; TSX: MAXR). For more information visit www.DigitalGlobe.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements and information, which reflect the current view of Maxar Technologies Ltd. (the “Company” or “Maxar”) with respect to future events and financial performance. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future financial performance. Any such forward-looking statements are based on Maxar’s current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions made in light of its experience and perception of historical trends and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results or performance to differ materially from those indicated by such forward looking statements. Maxar’s actual results of operations could differ materially from historical results or current expectations. Some of the risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to: the loss or reduction in scope of any of our primary contracts, or decisions by customers not to exercise renewal options; the loss or damage to any of our satellites; delays in the construction and launch of any of our satellites or our ability to achieve and maintain full operational capacity of all our satellites; loss or damage to the content contained in our ImageLibrary; interruption or failure of our ground systems and other infrastructure; decrease in demand for our imagery products and services; increased competition that may reduce our market share or cause us to lower our prices; changes in political or economic conditions, including fluctuations in the value of foreign currencies, interest rates, energy and commodity prices, trade laws and the effects of governmental initiatives to manage economic conditions; failure to obtain or maintain required regulatory approvals and licenses; and, changes in Canadian, U.S. or other law or regulation that may limit our ability to distribute our imagery products and services.

For additional information with respect to certain of these risks or factors, plus additional risks or factors, reference should be made to the Company's continuous disclosure materials filed from time to time with Canadian and U.S. securities regulatory authorities, which are available online under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, under the Company's EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov, or on the Company's website at www.maxar.com.