Google-sponsored satellite sends first image (AFP)

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A Google-sponsored satellite has beamed its first picture back to Earth in a successful test of a camera that will supply images for the Internet giant's free online map and navigation services. The high-resolution color image from GeoEye-1, which was launched September 6 from a US air force base in California, was of a university campus in Pennsylvania, satellite operator GeoEye Inc. said in a statement. The Dulles, Virginia-based company provided a link to the image at its website: www.geoeye.com/CorpSite/gallery/Default.aspx The picture of the Kutztown University campus was taken on Tuesday while the satellite was in a 423-mile-high (681 km) orbit over the East Coast of the United States, GeoEye said. "We expect the quality of the imagery to be even better as we continue the calibration activity," said... [read full story]