Google bought a satellite manufacturing Skybox, aiming at improvements in Google Maps and designing of its own satellite

"Manufacture of satellites and high-quality satellite pictures and movies were provided"Skybox Imaging"Was announced that it was acquired by Google on the official page. Google's purchase of Skybox Imaging is $ 500 million (about 50 billion yen).

Skybox Imaging - Skybox Imaging + Google
http://www.skyboximaging.com/blog/skybox-imaging-google


Google and Skybox Imaging Sign Acquisition Agreement - Investor Relations - Google
http://investor.google.com/releases/2014/0609.html


Google Pays $ 500M for Satellite Maker Skybox, for Photos and Eventually Internet Access | Re / code
http://recode.net/2014/06/10/google-pays-500m-for-satellite-maker-skybox-for-photos-and-eventually-internet-access/

Skybox Imaging is a venture company launched in 2009, such as manufacturing satellites, providing super high resolution satellite pictures and movies, and using satellite photography and proprietary analytical techniques to search for land that customers desire It has expanded.

This is a satellite picture provided by Skybox, and it is a thing that photographs a certain part of Saga prefecture. Other satellite pictures are alsofrom hereYou can watch.


A movie taken from a high resolution satellite looks like this.

Looking Down From 600 km Above The Earth's Surface with HD Video on Vimeo


About Skybox Imaging being bought by Google, "We have made an incredible team but we will be able to tackle larger and bold challenges by being acquired," he said.

Google and Skybox Imaging believe that they can create location information services that are accessible at all times, more convenient, and more accurate than ever. " Also, Google says, "With the Skybox team and its technology, it will help us develop technologies relating to disaster relief that Google has always been interested in." He also states that there are plans to create an artificial satellite from an automated driving car project and zero as well.