New set of cameras are slated to provide HD views of Earth. Credit: NASA
A Canadian firm has announced it intends to offer the world’s first ever, live HD video feed of Earth from space.
UrtheCast (pronounced “EarthCast”) is working in an exclusive relationship with Russia’s RSC Energia to build, launch, install, and operate two cameras on the Russian module of the International Space Station (ISS).
The two Urthecast cameras — one medium resolution and one high resolution — will be built by the UK’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratories.
Starting in mid-2012, video data of the Earth collected by the cameras will be down-linked to ground stations around the planet and then displayed in near real time on the UrtheCast web platform or distributed directly to the company’s exclusive partners and customers.
Imagery produced from the ISS will provide a 40 kilometer wide, high resolution, color image down to as close as 1.1 meters.
Zoom in and out
The UrtheCast web platform would allow users to constantly track the location of the Space Station, anticipating when it will pass over a particular geographic location.
Users will be able to search for videos of a particular location, type, or theme and will have the ability to interact with the HD video feed from the UrtheCast servers. They will be able to zoom in and out, virtually steer the camera from side to side, rewind, and fast forward as they check out areas and things of interest on Earth.
According to UrtheCast, its web platform will feel like a blending of a video version of GoogleEarth with the video playback and search functionality of YouTube. It will operate seamlessly with social media sites like FaceBook and Twitter.
The UrtheCast web platform will combine a consumer-centric website, mobile application for smart phones, and an open Application Program Interface (API). The API would enable third party developers to create their own applications and upload them to the UrtheCast web platform.
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By Leonard David