LONDON, June 29 (UPI) -- British and Chinese companies say they've signed a deal for three high-resolution satellites to map China's extraordinary growth from orbit.
The $175 million deal was signed between U.K. satellite imagery provider DMCii and a Beijing company, 21AT, the BBC reported Wednesday.
DMCii will deliver a new constellation of satellites that will record details on the surface of the planet less than a yard wide, while 21AT will have ready access to Earth imagery without the burden and cost of having to launch and operate satellites in orbit.
The Chinese company will utilize 100 percent of the capacity of the three spacecraft over an initial contract period of seven years, using the images to monitor land use and land-cover changes and enabling regional governments to more effectively monitor the extraordinary rate of development in China's cities.
"There is an enormous requirement for Earth observation data in China -- for urban planning, for agriculture and water management, everything -- and they also want to be able to update everything rapidly," said Martin Sweeting, chairman of DMCii's parent company, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.
Using three satellites should ensure that any given area in the country can be re-visited on a daily basis, the companies said.
