The launch of GeoEye-1 from Vandenburg Air Force Base, originally scheduled for August 22, has been delayed to September 4. According to information released by GeoEye, "This added time is needed to allow for the positioning of resources to support receipt of down-range telemetry from the Delta II booster vehicle after launch and initial flight from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California." 

DigitalGlobe, using their 0.6 meter satellite imagery and AEgis Technologies, using both COTS and propriety software, have supplied 3D models of Olympic venues to NBC TV. The models are being used during broadcasts of the Olympics. According to both companies, the project was originally developed for the NGA to support the security efforts of the U.S. athletes. However, Chuck Herring of DigitalGlobe said it was a fantastic opportunity to display, in a more public forum, the work that sometimes unreported due to the sensitivity of most of their government projects. DigitalGlobe supplied a mosaic of a large area in Beijing to AEgis that then combined the imagery with their simulation software and using recent photos of the venues, were able to produce highly accurate 3D building models. NBC does not have some of the more detailed 3D models that are being used by the NGA. DigitalGlobe and AEgis have set up a separate website with models that will be used by NBC. More later next week when I have an opportunity to visit AEgis for a deeper dive into their technology.

Speaking at the ESRI UC Senior Executive Summit in San Diego, U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne, announced that the 35 years of archived Landsat data will be made available over the web free to the public by the end of the year. The EROS Data Center (EDC) of the USGS will be the lead center to implement this initiative. Though not mentioned specifically, it's likely that some of the data may be released through EDC's EarthExplorer portal that was a pilot project begun last year for Landsat 7 data.


Listen to my interview with Secretary Kempthorne and USGS Director Mark Myers regarding the announcement of the Landsat data and a follow up questions I asked regarding the USGS's roll in providing policy-makers information about the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and offshore drilling.

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