The US company ‘Space Imaging’ - the leading provider of satellite photographs, announced on Saturday that it has been given a license to operate a commercial remote sensing spacecraft, which is capable of providing half-metre-resolution imagery of the earth.
“The license, enables ‘Space Imaging’ to offer customers the world`s highest resolution commercial satellite imagery” the company spokesman John Copple, said in a statement.
‘Half-metre resolution’ means objects on the ground larger
than one-half metre in size-or 19 inches- can be seen. One would
be able to see several objects on the lap of the earth, which would include trees, bushes, precision farming etc. This higher resolution imagery would therefore help in telecommunications networks, planning of road and highways and other applications, which require high level of visual and positional detail and accuracy.
‘Space Imaging’ is in the process of defining technical specifications for the new satellite. The launch will take place sometimes in the year 2004. In fact ‘Space Imaging’ launched world`s first one-metre resolution commercial earth imaging satellite, ‘Iikonos’, on Sept 24, 1999.
India has decided to sign an agreement with the company to purchase one metre resolution imageries.
Bureau Report
