U.S. approves high-resolution spying by commercial satellites
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, January 24, 2001
WASHINGTON — The United States has awarded a license to produce the
first commercial images with a resolution of a half-meter.
The license was granted as part of a contract awarded by the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to operate a commercial remote
sensing spacecraft capable of providing half-meter resolution imagery of the
Earth. The license was granted to Space Imaging in what sets a precedent in
the U.S. satellite industry.
The license is the result of a successful lobbying effort by the space
industry, which overcame administration objections to providing such
high-resolution reconnaissance images. Israel had urged that U.S.
companies be banned from distributing images of the Jewish state out of
concern that they would end up in the hands of its enemies, Middle East Newsline reported.
"We are pleased with the outcome of the license process," John Copple,
chief executive officer of Space Imaging. "There are many people who have
contributed to advancing this remote sensing policy. Now we will be able to
keep pace with the rapid changes in technology for our next generation
systems."
The company plans to launch its new satellite in 2004.
Space Imaging's satellite imaging system will provide half-meter
resolution black-and-white and two-meter resolution color imagery. This will
include images of such objects as trees and farm animals.
Executives said the resolution is not accurate enough to identify
people.
In 1992 the Congress passed a bill that enables U.S. companies to build
and launch commercial imaging satellites to compete with similar foreign
ventures. In 1994 the president signed a directive that further defined the
government's remote sensing policies and approved one-meter resolution
satellite imagery.
In 1999, Lockheed Martin launched the Ikonos satellite, which produces
images of one-meter resolution.
Wednesday, January 24, 2001
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