Following a volcano eruption that occurred in the Red Sea in December 2011, satellite images reveal what appears to be a new island where there previously was an unbroken water surface. According to news reports, fishermen witnessed lava fountains reaching up to 30 meters (90 feet) tall on Dec. 19.
Lisbon and Madrid Glow Brightly in the Dark
The city lights of Spain and Portugal define the Iberian Peninsula in this night-time photograph from the International Space Station. Several large metropolitan areas are visible, marked by their relatively large and brightly lit areas.
Pléiades Satellite to Display Numerous Innovations
After the Pléiades 1A satellite returned impressive first images three days into orbit, Astrium says its agility and reactivity are among innovations to expect during the next several months.
Satellites Show Winemakers the Way to the Perfect Grape
The European Space Agency's GrapeLook service lets growers determine exactly when to water their vineyards, precisely how much water to use and more to ensure an optimal grape harvest.
New Sites Pave Way for Civil Unmanned Aircraft Tests
Competition among states is likely to heat up in response to provisions in the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act that call for six new unmanned aircraft system test sites.
CryoSat Takes on New Role
The European Space Agency’s CryoSat team has cleverly altered the satellite's original ice-monitoring mission to include delivery of valuable near-real-time marine information.
Giant Optical Membrane at the Heart of Ultimate Spy Satellite
To meet national security requirements around the world, it would be optimal to have the instant high-tech, zoom-in views often seen in spy movies, capabilities that currently don't exist”yet.
Satellites Help Manage Africa's Precious Water
With many African countries suffering from a lack of water, new knowledge acquired from satellites is paving the way to sustainable water management practices.
Holiday Clouds Swirl Over the Indian Ocean
As citizens of northern countries ponder sculpted snow and ice, the summer skies over the southern oceans offered their own vision in white in November 2011. The brush strokes of bright holiday swirls were made by winds and atmospheric eddies moving over the far southern reaches of the Indian Ocean.
Astrium Prepares to Take on U.S. Firms
Astrium Geo-Information Services will compete with U.S. satellite companies DigitalGlobe and GeoEye when its newly launched Pleiades 1A high-resolution Earth observation satellite becomes operational in early 2012.
