SSTL, a UK satellite designing firm holds the firm belief that its prototype design can reduce the cost of high resolution mapping dramatically. SSTL said that satellite can perform 60cm/pixel mapping of the earth’s surface. These are the sort of resolutions found typically in virtual globe programmes. The firm also claimed that the system, unlike the put up cost of a more conventional satellite that may go up to $500 million, can be comprehensively built for a mere $70 million, and that could be considered as a remarkable Sat Nav offer by the authorities.
SSTL was recently bought by Europe’s largest space firm; EADS Astrium. Since, the acquisition the first fresh product to be detailed by SSTL is the ultra high resolution optical system. The firm, under the new ownership is looking forward to exploit the prolifically developing market for location-based services and commercial mapping that can be linked with the emergence of the likes of Nokia Maps, Google Earth, Microsoft Virtual Earth and TomTom Sat nav Systems.
Philip Davies, SSTL’s business development manager said that the new concept was an exciting development for them, on which they had been researching for over an year. He added that one could produce extremely remarkable maps with data using this satellite. Meanwhile, Paul Brookes, SSTL’s director for sales and business development said that their view was the consistency in quality across the world, since people at present are very used to high quality imagery with tools such as Nokia Maps and Google Earth.
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