--- title: Watch Live: DigitalGlobe Launches WorldView-3 Satellite Into Space description: Updated 2:48 p.m. ET A new satellite launched Wednesday is expected to provide imagery of Earth that is nearly 40% sharper than what's currently available.... canonical: https://time.com/3106769/satellite-digitalglobe-space-technology/ author: Jonathan Woods article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-08-13T18:11:18.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-01T08:58:04.978Z article:section: Science og:title: Watch live as a high-tech satellite gets launched into space og:description: Updated 2:48 p.m. ET A new satellite launched Wednesday is expected to provide imagery of Earth that is nearly 40% sharper than what's currently available.... og:url: https://time.com/3106769/satellite-digitalglobe-space-technology/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt66e05a7e45cb7d33/69869f6255a8591d40a82264/screen-shot-2014-08-13-at-2-27-16-pm.png?branch=production&width=1038&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1038 og:image:height: 584 og:image:alt: Screen Shot 2014-08-13 at 2.27.16 PM og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Watch live as a high-tech satellite gets launched into space twitter:description: Updated 2:48 p.m. ET A new satellite launched Wednesday is expected to provide imagery of Earth that is nearly 40% sharper than what's currently available.... twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt66e05a7e45cb7d33/69869f6255a8591d40a82264/screen-shot-2014-08-13-at-2-27-16-pm.png?branch=production&width=1038&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Watch a High-Tech Satellite Get Launched Into Space > Sponsored content. 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Future Proof is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-futureproof-2026q3/newsletters?i=7410ba41-7a6c-4b78-9f19-009fadea4b13&cr=time-nl-futureproof-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Watch a High-Tech Satellite Get Launched Into Space [Watch (HLS stream): Watch a High-Tech Satellite Get Launched Into Space](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/gznxvm5u.m3u8) (1:00)  _Published 2014-08-13. Watch a High-Tech Satellite Get Launched Into Space_  by [Jonathan Woods](https://time.com/author/jonathan-d-woods/)  ## Jonathan Woods Aug 13, 2014 6:11 PM UTC  by [Jonathan Woods](https://time.com/author/jonathan-d-woods/)  ## Jonathan Woods Aug 13, 2014 6:11 PM UTC _Updated 2:48 p.m. ET_ A [new satellite](http://worldview3.digitalglobe.com/) [launched Wednesday](http://www.ulalaunch.com/atlas-v-to-launch-worldview-3.aspx) is expected to provide imagery of Earth that is nearly 40% sharper than what’s currently available. The new WorldView-3 satellite, worth a half-billion dollars and about the size of a small RV, will become the highest-resolution commercial satellite in space. DigitalGlobe, the company that funded its manufacture, said it will offer 31-centimeter resolution, much clearer than the current 50-cm aboard the WorldView-2. That will give the satellite the ability to see through clouds and certain precipitation, the company added, potentially leading to shorter wait times for making and receiving images. The U.S. government is DigitalGlobe’s No. 1 customer, but the general public is likely to benefit from its orbit. Technology aboard the satellite will, among other things, supply Google Maps with higher resolution photos for “satellite view” and should be able to help people like first-responders, who are trying to identify a wildfire’s origin or researchers who, using DigitalGlobe’s 10-year archive, are looking into crops at risk of disease or drought. The launch took place at 2:30 p.m. E.T., from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. ## Transcript T minus 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. We have ignition and we have lift off, of the United Launch Alliance, Atlas Five Rocket, carrying the world's. View 3 satellite for Digital Globe. [ NOISE ] Good job, roll program has begun. Your coordinates look good. You are hearing the voice of Marty Malinowski, providing launch. Vehicle assent data. Let's listen in for mission progress. Already one eighty speeds and ejector pressures are within expected parameters. 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