| HOMETOWN SPACE SHOTS (Great American Zooms)
| G01-065 | 09/10/01 | 00:05:26 | NASA's eyes in the skies, a trio of Earth observing satellites, bring you these spectacular views of city life in America. Using data from the Terra, Landsat 7 and IKONOS spacecraft and some powerful computer technology, visualizers at the Goddard Space Flight Center present the latest collection of "great zooms" for Tucson, AZ; Seattle, WA; and Baltimore, MD. Starting with our camera high above the Earth, we rush in toward the surface at what would be an impossible speed for any known vehicle. The images these satellites provide are more than just pretty pictures, though. They give scientists the data they need to study the biology of our planet, from aerosol levels in the air to farm land distribution on the ground to plankton growth in our oceans. Fire managers in the field use Terra's wide field-of-view data to allocate resources across multiple fires on a daily basis. Landsat 7 provides a crisp view of a narrower piece of Earth and IKONOS zooms in to an incredible 1 meter resolution, for incredible close up views. Combine data from the three spacecraft for a multi-layered view of the Earth that not only furthers scientific discovery but provides some incredible vistas as well.
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