Google Launched Next Generation Satellite
Google’s partner DigitalGlobe successfully launched their next generation satellite, WorldView-2, aboard Boeing Delta II 7920 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on October 8. WorldView-2 features advanced agility and accuracy, industry-leading capacity, and eight-band multispectral imagery. WorldView-2 will collect multispectral imagery at 1.8 meter resolution and panchromatic imagery at .46 meters. However, due to current U.S. government restrictions, all imagery will be re-sampled to 2.0 meter multispectral and 0.50 meter panchromatic resolution unless the U.S. government has granted a customer specific waiver of the restriction.
The additional band capability supports improved levels of feature identification and extraction and more accurately reflects the world’s natural color.
WorldView-2 is currently undergoing a calibration and check-out period. DigitalGlobe expects imagery products and services from WorldView-2 to be commercially available in approximately 90 days. So we can expect better world view and high-quality imagery in Google Earth and Google Maps soon.
Source: DigitalGlobe
