Tags: GeoEye, Earth Observation, IKONOS, Satellite Imagery
Publication: News.CNET.com
Publication Date: 01/21/2013

Half-meter resolution image of the United States Capitol, Washington D.C. collected by the GeoEye-1 satellite on Jan. 20, 2009 to commemorate the first Inauguration of President Barack Obama. (Click to enlarge) Image credit: GeoEye

Satellite imaging company GeoEye failed in two attempts to capture a high-resolution image of President Obama’s second inauguration from space. The GeoEye-1 and IKONOS satellites, located at 423 miles above the Earth, were not able to get a clear view of the inauguration due to clouds over the National Mall and the District of Columbia area.

The company had planned to release an interactive map of the ceremony that would allow users to zoom in and compare this year’s inauguration image with the one taken in 2009 during the President’s first inauguration.

The most recent space image of the National Mall area was taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) the day before the event, but the resolution is nowhere near to what an Earth observation satellite could provide.

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