On Dec. 2, 2012, a Soyuz rocket catapulted the Pléiades 1B very high-resolution optical satellite into orbit, where it has joined its twin Pléiades 1A satellite.
Border Agency Expands Drone Fleet
A new sole-source contract that could approach a half-billion dollars offers the latest insight into the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's vision for its controversial drone program.
Definitive Satellite Evidence: Ice Sheet Melt on the Rise
After two decades of satellite observations, an international team of experts has produced the most accurate assessment to date of ice losses from Antarctica and Greenland.
NASA Expands Reach of Earth Observation Drone
NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems are bolstering the command and control satellite link capabilities on NASA's Predator B drone.
Volcanic Ash Blankets Kamchatka Snow
This astronaut photo reveals the Karymsky stratovolcaono less than two hours after it erupted on Nov. 9, 2012. Karymsky is the most active of Kamchatka's eastern volcanoes, a region where, on a geologic time scale, volcanism has occurred constantly since at least the late 18th century.
LiDAR Maps Reveal Coastal Vulnerability
The extent of Hurricane Sandy’s wrath and the future coastal vulnerability of the region is clear in a new U.S. Geological Survey analysis of recently collected LiDAR coastal data.
Integrating Earth Observation Data
The Earth Observation-Land Data Assimilation Scheme aims to assimilate satellite observations directly instead of from satellite-derived products.
Satellite Images Show Widespread Attacks in Burma
New satellite imagery obtained by Human Rights Watch shows extensive destruction of property in several of Burma's predominantly Rohingya Muslim areas.
Drone Assists Responders to Train Derailment
A Scout unmanned aircraft system proved to be an invaluable asset to public safety agencies after a train derailment in Louisville, Ky., on Oct. 29, 2012, and subsequent chemical fire on Oct. 31.
Don't Be Fooled”The Real India at Night
Each fall, Hindus around the world light lamps, candles and firecrackers for the festival known as Diwali. A colorful satellite image of India that claims to show the region lit for Diwali has been circulating on the Internet, but it's not authentic. This image, collected by the Suomi NPP satellite, is the real deal.
