Yeah, We Launched a Bing Rocket

I had a bit of a crazy week last week mostly because my week revolved around being at the launch of the Digital Globe WorldView-2 satellite only to find out it had slipped two days and since I had committed to other meetings: no Vandenberg Air Force Base for me. However, my cohort who has more flexible schedules was able to attend and posted a share full of pictures from the launch. Check them out on SkyDrive.

So, what’s with the rocket? Well, as reported on the Bing Blog, “It Really Is Rocket Science.” Well, sort of. The rocket was just a propulsion engine to begin the orbit of Digital Globe’s new WorldView-2 satellite which will capture imagery of the Earth and eventually be added into Bing Maps. The process is actually quite complex and now that our Bing logo is floating in the ocean evangelizing to scuba divers, let the imagery processing begin! (Perhaps we should roll out some bathometric data on Bing Maps to coordinate with the rocket in he water)? In any case, the first photo isn’t actually taken for 48 hours. The satellite will have orbited the Earth twice before they crank the lens to face the sun (to obtain a perfect white color synchronization). Then, after the first 48 hours Bing! the first photo is taken. I was bummed I couldn’t make the event – it’s not everyday you get invited to watch a real rocket launch – but, other priorities prevailed (such as my Bing Maps SharePoint Web Cast which is now on demand {shameless plug}). Plus, I saw Pearl Jam at the Gibson Theatre in L.A. 

Expect some of that beautiful imagery to come online soon.

CP