Google To Use New Satellite Services For Google Applications

Google Earth and Google Maps have been some of the most popular applications online, providing users with high resolution satellite imagery. These images have been taken by the GeoEye-1 satellite, launched by the satellite imaging firm, GeoEye. Google’s partnership with GeoEye had been seen as a tactical move by the internet behemoth to give DigitalGlobe, another satellite firm that provides other imaging applications with satellite images, a run for its money.

However, it seems, Google is smart enough to realize the potential of allies in the corporate world and thus has re-entered into a contract with DigitalGlobe, as the company announced the launch of a new, state of the art satellite, WorldView-2.

According to the Official Lat Long Blog,

“To keep bringing you new, high-quality imagery in Google Earth & Google Maps, we work directly with several commercial satellite imaging providers. Last week, our partner DigitalGlobe successfully launched their next generation satellite, WorldView-2, aboard Boeing Delta II 7920 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.”

The launch of the WorldView-2 satellite was confirmed by the DigitalGlobe ground station, after it received a downlink signal confirming the separation from the launch vehicle and DigitalGlobe expects the satellite to send in high resolution topographical and street images within the next 3 months.

According to Jill Smith (CEO, DigitalGlobe),

“The successful launch of WorldView-2 is an important milestone for the industry and for DigitalGlobe. Once commissioned, WorldView-2 will effectively double DigitalGlobe’s collection capacity, enabling us to provide at least annually updated coverage of the world as well as intra-day revisit for more rapid and reliable collection for our customers. Additionally, WorldView-2’s eight spectral bands will significantly enhance our ability to meet our customers’ needs for feature identification, change, detection, and other high-value services.”

Here is a video of the launch of the WorldView-2 Satellite: