GeoEye Signs Exclusive Deal with Google Earth

摘要

GeoEye has struck a new agreement with Internet search engine company Google to make Google Earth and Google Maps the sole online mapping services to receive images from the GeoEye-1 satellite set for launch Sept. 4. The launch of GeoEye-1 will come almost five months after a costly launch delay for Dulles, Va.-based GeoEye and after a summer of financial shuffling forced a restatement of earnings for the past three years. GeoEye-1 will be launched on a Delta 2 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., with a Google logo emblazoned on its first stage. Google expects to begin receiving half-meter resolution images 45 to 60 days after the launch, said Google spokeswoman Kate Hurowitz.