High-resolution satellite launched in California

[Hum]

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) -- A super-sharp Earth-imaging satellite has been launched into orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base on the Central California coast.

A Delta 2 rocket carrying the GeoEye-1 satellite lifted off at 11:50 a.m. Saturday. Video on the GeoEye Web site showed the satellite separating from the rocket moments later on its way to an eventual polar orbit.

The satellite makers say GeoEye-1 has the highest resolution of any commercial imaging system. It can collect images from orbit with enough detail to show home plate on a baseball diamond.

The company says the satellite's imaging services will be sold for uses that could range from environmental mapping to agriculture and defense.

source

[IceBreakerG]

How long until we get this with Google Earth/Virtual Earth? Will be nice to be able to see my house clearly from the satellite image.

[theyarecomingforyou]

How long until we get this with Google Earth/Virtual Earth? Will be nice to be able to see my house clearly from the satellite image.

And all the hapless people that happen to be photographed without realising - I mean it's not exactly easy to tell whether you're being photographed by a satellite.

[Kupo-Cheer]

Invasion of privacy much? Although, I'm sure that this isn't the first satellite of its kind to actually be launched; just the first commercial and public one.

[Richard Hammond]

How is it invasion of privacy if you are caught walking down the street, you are in a public place and other people are walking around you, are they invading your privacy?

[Huleboeren]

When will it arrive above my country? :D

[The2]

It can collect images from orbit with enough detail to show home plate on a baseball diamond.

what does this mean? for those out-of-the baseball world?

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

^ It means it's got very good resolution, the home plate on a baseball diamond isn't very big.

You don't have privacy in a public place, a pubic place is pretty much anywhere where you can be seen (e.g. You can't stop people looking at you in your backyard)

In your bedroom with the blinds shut is another matter.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

I'm sure that this isn't the first satellite of its kind to actually be launched;

I can 100% tell you - this is nothing new as far as what's "Up There" goes.

Will catch all the doggers at it!

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

This isn't the first commercial imaging satellite in orbit.

[HawkMan]

^ It means it's got very good resolution, the home plate on a baseball diamond isn't very big.

You don't have privacy in a public place, a pubic place is pretty much anywhere where you can be seen (e.g. You can't stop people looking at you in your backyard)

In your bedroom with the blinds shut is another matter.

From above it's got abot the same cross section as a human though. and they only say you can see the homeplate, wich might be as little as one to 4 white pixels. So as a reference it's useless. afterall you can allready see peopel sunbathing on current sateliteimagery used by google and MS. So if it's the highest res commercial satelite launch it should have better resolution than that, so they should have found a better comparison than seeing homeplate. Maybe if you could see the ball resting on home plate...

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

Not everything MS and Google use are satellite imaging, our area is all done by aerial imaging (i.e. planes).

[Mr. Gibs]

Not everything MS and Google use are satellite imaging, our area is all done by aerial imaging (i.e. planes).

It's a mixture of both aerial and satellite.

[That Guy Veteran]

In some countries (if not most) your free to take a picture in public i.e I could walk down the highstreet and take a picture of it, people included. It varies by country, but that's the general rule.

Best advice? Don't do anything in public you wouldn't want the world to see :p

[instant.human]

Will be nice to be able to see my house clearly from the satellite image.

yea id also love to see your house clearly and sharp fom above. =) and the surroundings. and everything. =)

i hope you catch my drift here. :p

[DigitalE]

I sure hope Google updates their imagery soon. Resolution is absolutely horrid in my area.