Many have thought as much that in the future Google will launch own satellites into the space. Google doesn’t want to buy only third party satellite images any more. Their geographic services Google Maps and Google Earth should include also imagery from their own satellites. Google has a partnership with GeoEye and they will shoot the first satellite into space.
It can be assumed that satellite maps will become more accurate and up to date. Currently satellite images in Google Maps and Google Earth are approximately 2-3 years sometimes 5-6 years old. For Google this is not acceptable any longer.The new satellite should provide Google permanently with new photos form the earth. In only one day an area with the size of Poland should be photographed with a resolution of 40 cm. It’s not know how much Google has invested in this project but it can be assumed that Google will be the only map provider, which will use this data.
The 2 tons heavy satellity will be launched next thursday from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. It will orbit the earth in 680 km height and will take photos with an resolution of 40cm/Pixel. For privacy reasons Google will only use 50cm/pixel reolution.
[via GWB]
