After downloading the imagery at a receiving site in Kiruna, Sweden, photos were transmitted to Space Imagings primary operations center in Thornton, Colo., near Denver.
One photo clearly shows the devastating results when terrorist-controlled aircraft slammed into the north and south towers of the World Trade Center.
At ground level, the Manhattan site is filled with police and fire units, along with other emergency personnel digging through tons of rubble in a search for thousands of victims caught by the tragedy.
BEFORE AND AFTER
The before-and-after images released by Space Imaging show the powerful destruction of the towers.
This 1-meter resolution satellite image of Manhattan was collected June 30, 2000 by Space Imaging's Ikonos satellite. The image, taken from the south, prominently features the 110-story World Trade Center twin towers.
The pre-terrorist attack image was taken June 30, 2000. This satellite picture, taken from the south, shows the 110-story World Trade Center twin towers.
A second image, taken Wednesday, shows the result of the horrific attack. The photo shows an area of white dust and smoke at the location where the 1,350-foot towers of the World Trade Center once stood.
Another before-and-after set of satellite photos shows the damage to the Pentagon.
The "before" image shows a secure Pentagon on Dec. 28, 2000. Clearly visible in this photo are cars in the parking lot, the Pentagons renowned five-sided shape, the buildings inner rings and its 5-acre courtyard.
On Wednesday, one day after a terrorist-flown airplane struck the Pentagon, Ikonos took another image of the same area. The "after" photo shows extensive damage to the western side and interior rings of the multi-ringed building.
The satellite photo at left shows the Pentagon as it looked on Dec. 28, 2000. The photo at right was taken Wednesday. The damaged wing of the building can be seen at upper right, with a breach in the outer "ring" of the structure.
Since its launch in September 1999, Ikonos has snapped more than 480,000 images. Each day the satellite collects about 900 images of the Earth. The satellite remains in tiptop shape, and is expected to operate for five to seven years, said Gary Napier, Space Imagings public relations manager.
The 1,600-pound (720-kilogram) satellite travels 4 miles per second in an orbit 423 miles (677 kilometers) above Earth. Ikonos travels in a sun-synchronous orbit, allowing the satellite to attain more imaging days.
Swinging around the planet 14 times a day, the spacecraft passes over any one region on the planet an average of twice a day. Ikonos has the ability to collect 20,000 square kilometers (7,700 square miles) in a single pass.
The Ikonos satellite system was built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems. Raytheon built the communications, image processing and customer service elements. Eastman Kodak crafted the Ikonos camera.
Last December, Space Imaging received a government license to operate a future commercial remote-sensing spacecraft that images objects around 19 inches (a half-meter) in size. The company is in the process of defining technical specifications for the new satellite. Launch of the superhigh-power, camera-laden Ikonos is anticipated in 2004.
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