| MUMBAI:
US-based Dish Network has announced the launch of Dish Earth. This channel is
exclusively available to Dish Network customers and offers live views of Earth
24 hours per day including passing views of the moon, Venus and even unidentified
flying objects. The
Dish Earth camera was integrated onboard the EchoStar 11 spacecraft, a high powered
satellite launched in 2008 to a geo-synchronous orbit at 110 degrees west longitude,
which provides video service for DISH Network customers. The
content is supported by a camera installed on Dish Network's EchoStar 11 satellite
- the world's first Earth-directed camera mounted on a commercial communications
satellite. Six years in the making, the Dish Earth camera offers a 30 degree x
22.4 degree field-of-view that includes fascinating live full-disk views of the
planet from a distance of approximately 22,300 miles above Earth. The
regular night/day cycle, weather patterns and seasonal changes in the western
hemisphere are clearly visible via the 'eyes' of the camera which observe objects
in the visible spectrum, similar to the human eye, with a resolution of about
20 km per pixel. Dish
Network senior VP programming Dave Shull says, "We are pleased to be able
to offer, exclusively to our customers, footage from the world's only Earth-viewing
live video camera on a commercial communications satellite. "What's
more, from time-to-time the Dish Earth camera is able to capture some unique images
including an unidentified flying object last August." In
addition to the live video footage, Dish Network has also partnered with Space
Services, Inc. (SSI), a Houston-based aerospace company to offer consumers photos
of the planet on a loved one's special day via its Give the World(TM) service.
The camera captures the cloud formations, storms, and the green and blue beauty
of planet Earth forever in a nicely-packaged photo frame to commemorate a birthday,
wedding, anniversary or any memorable occasion. Regular photo pricing ranges from
$29.95 to $99.95.
The
Dish Earth camera was developed by the EchoStar Spacecraft
Operations Team, Ecliptic Enterprises Corporation and Space
Systems/Loral and is operated under a license granted by the
US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
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Network adds HD channels to its portfolio
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