A Technical Wonder

Kutztown University. Source: Wired

On 6th September, the Geoeye 1 satellite was launched; now the first image captured (yesterday) has been posted on the web and on seeing it, I was very impressed with the quality. Apparently the resolution provided to the public is limited by law to 50cm although the satellite can provide resolution of 41 or 43cm depending upon which report you read. The latter higher-quality images will be supplied to the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency - a US government agency, whilst Google, 50% partner in the satellite will use images for the Google Maps programme.

In reading the Wired Report where I discovered the news, I had to smile at Geoeye's Mark Brender's "spin" on the phrase "spy satellite":

"This is the opposite of a spy satellite," Brender said in a phone interview. "Spies don't put info on the Internet and sell imagery. We're an Earth-imaging satellite, and we can sell our imagery to customers around the world who have a need to map and measure and monitor things on the ground."

Mr Brender's understanding of the word "spy" seems to be a little limited and his response a little defensive!

The Wired article states that US Intelligence agencies have had since the 1970s, spy satellites that "can read newspaper headlines in Red Square." This suggests very high resolution indeed; I wonder what they can read today?

Until the next time