Google to use imagery from new GeoEye satellite

The GeoEye-1 should be launched on Thursday at 19:50.  An imaging satellite capable of photographing the surface of the earth, it will capture images at a resolution of 41 cm for military purposes or 50 cm for civilian users.

Without reference to any fixed point on the ground, it will be able to identify the position of an object on the surface of the Earth to within three meters, and will cover an area of 350, 000 square kilometers a day, an area the size of Germany.  Its polar orbit follows the rotation of the Earth, so it will always be 10:30 am local time in the area the satellite is photographing.

Of particular interest to us, though, is the fact that search engine Google has signed an agreement with GeoEye and will be the only provider of online maps to use the new satellite’s images.  The company’s name is also on the side of the rocket that will send the GeoEye-1 into space.  (Photo: GeoEye).

The pictures captured by GeoEye will only be as precise as the best coverage which is already available in Google Earth and on Google Maps, but they will allow ‘gaps’ where only low-resolution imagery is currently available to be filled in.  The new images will also allow more regular updates and for more consistent lighting because of the orbit fixed at 10:30 am local time.

You can follow the launch of the new satellite on the GeoEye website.