Spaced Out ::

…..no, not another Apple product (although I’m sure the lawyers letter is waiting), but actually ISERV is a joint NASA/USAID product developed by SERVIR. Its an engineering proof-of-concept combining a commercial camera, telescopy and point system mounted on the Earth-side of the International Space Station (and linked to the ISS orientation and position). And, quoting from their website:

“Acting on commands from the ground, it can photograph specific areas of the Earth’s surface as the space station passes over them. Pathfinder is primarily an engineering exercise to help scientists gain valuable information about how a more capable future instrument might operate. But hopes are for a future system, and perhaps even ISERV Pathfinder itself, to provide imagery and data to help officials in developing nations monitor impacts of disasters such as floods, landslides, and forest fires. Its images could also help decision-makers address other environmental issues.”

Think of it as the imaging system of an Earth monitoring satellite, but bolted on the ISS providing a very cheap method for obtaining relatively high resolution imagery (upto 2.8m). I couldn’t see specfications for the actual engineering, but I’m assuming its something like a Nikon D4 or D800 that will shoot in RGB. Anyway, it’ll be interesting to see how testing and acquisition develops.