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US Government OKs Sale of Sharper Satellite Images

Posted by samzenpus on from the clear-skies dept.

itwbennett (1594911) writes The U.S. government has lifted a long-standing restriction that meant companies like Google and Microsoft didn't have access to the most accurate pictures taken by imaging satellites. Satellite operator DigitalGlobe said that it received approval from the U.S. Department of Commerce this week to sell sharper images to its clients. Until now, satellite operators like DigitalGlobe were prevented by law from selling images to foreign or commercial organizations in which features smaller than 50 centimeters were visible. The restriction was meant to ensure that foreign powers didn't get access to satellite images that were too good.

6 of 82 comments (clear)

  1. People can use sharper images by tooslickvan · · Score: 5, Funny

    I glad that US government has finally approved sharper images. Hopefully, this increase the availability of ionic breezes for everyone.

    1. Re:People can use sharper images by TapeCutter · · Score: 5, Funny

      They had no choice but to use sharper images, Apple holds the patent on round corners.

      --
      And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
  2. Oh...they have access to better imagery... by TheCaptain · · Score: 5, Interesting

    but they can't share it with you. I'm not sure how much they can even disclose about the abilities of the satellites they have, but you need to bear in mind that companies like Google actually own imaging satellites of their own. They've been able to do much higher resolutions for a very very long time already...they just haven't been allowed share it with us.

    The resolution limitations have been political in nature...most if not all of the hardware already up there has been able to provide higher resolution for years. I think some providers were getting around that by providing arial photography in some areas instead...the 50cm limitations are for satellites. Photography from airplanes doesn't have that limitation.

    1. Re:Oh...they have access to better imagery... by philip.paradis · · Score: 4, Informative

      GeoEye and DigitalGlobe merged in January of 2013. From launch to the present day, Google has maintained exclusive online mapping rights to the data produced by the GeoEye-1 satellite, often referred to as Google-1. The Google logo was on the Delta II rocket that put the satellite into orbit. While NGA and Google collaborated to provide funding in the amount of approximately USD $500M for the satellite and launch, it's a bit disingenuous to say Google shouldn't have been considered an owner.

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      Write failed: Broken pipe
    2. Re:Oh...they have access to better imagery... by RabidReindeer · · Score: 3, Funny

      The next generation of satellites has a high enough resolution to use facial detection algorithms on the images

      No matter how good your resolution that's not gonna happen from a vertical angle.

      They'll just work back from reflections on automobile windshields.

  3. Re:How good does it get? by Megane · · Score: 4, Informative

    Those pictures are not from satellite. They are aerial photographs taken by planes. Go to the middle of nowhere and you will see the (current) limits of satellite resolution.

    --
    #naabhaprzrag, #sverubfr-000, #agi-fcbafberq, negvpyr[pynff*=' negvpyr-ary-'] { qvfcynl: abar !vzcbegnag; }