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German Radar Satellite Lifts Off Tonight

Posted by kdawson on from the ready-for-my-closeup dept.

2Y9D57 writes "Germany's new TanDEM-X radar satellite is scheduled to lift off from Baikonur Cosmodrome at 04:15 Berlin time on 21 June — that's 10:14 pm Eastern today (20 June). Flying in close formation with its twin satellite, TerraSAR-X, TanDEM-X will generate the most consistent and highest-resolution digital elevation map ever of the Earth — 12m = 40ft. pixel pitch. It will take three years to image all 150 million square kilometers (58 million square miles), in the process generating more than 350 TB of raw data. Here's where to go as the time approaches for live streaming."

3 of 65 comments (clear)

  1. Bloody typical by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's launching in Europe on the 21st June but on the 20th in the USA. Why is the good shit always released in the US first?

    </typicalslashdotrant>

  2. Re:ah, the logic of it by 2Y9D57 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Where can I complain if I don't want my private property mapped by the German government?

    Don't worry. The reflection from your tinfoil hat will blind the radar over your house.

  3. Re:ah, the logic of it by dov_0 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The elevation above sea level of the land one lives on is hardly personal or private information... A photograph of one's house, car, children playing on the lawn etc could be considered to be somewhat different.

    --
    sudo mount --milk --sugar /cup/tea /mouth /etc/init.d/relax start