--- title: DigitalGlobe Satellite Launch GIF description: Images show DigitalGlobe's WorldView-3 launching into orbit canonical: https://time.com/3120150/satellite-launch-digital-globe-space/ author: Jonathan Woods article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-08-15T22:09:49.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:48:41.079Z article:section: Science og:title: A Satellite Took Pictures of Another Satellite and Now It's a GIF og:description: How meta is that? og:url: https://time.com/3120150/satellite-launch-digital-globe-space/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb0f88b44d1faeeb3/69869fcacd68480f2309614b/satellite-launch-digital-globe-space.gif?branch=production&width=900&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 900 og:image:height: 506 og:image:alt: The launch of DigitalGlobe's WorldView-3 is seen from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014. og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: A Satellite Took Pictures of Another Satellite and Now It's a GIF twitter:description: How meta is that? twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb0f88b44d1faeeb3/69869fcacd68480f2309614b/satellite-launch-digital-globe-space.gif?branch=production&width=900&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # A Satellite Took Pictures of Another Satellite and Now It's a GIF > Sponsored content. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=2bccdc3e-7fc7-4871-845f-870c93827bd6&cr=time-nl-network-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 15, 2014 10:09 PM UTC  The launch of DigitalGlobe's WorldView-3 is seen from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Aug. 13, 2014. The launch of DigitalGlobe's WorldView-3 is seen from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Aug. 13, 2014. DigitalGlobe  by [Jonathan Woods](https://time.com/author/jonathan-d-woods/)  ## Jonathan Woods Aug 15, 2014 10:09 PM UTC A series of pictures provided to TIME by DigitalGlobe shows what kind of fun you can have when you own multiple satellites. The images captured the launch of the company’s newest satellite [launching into orbit](http://www.ulalaunch.com/atlas-v-to-launch-worldview-3.aspx) this past Wednesday. The new [WorldView-3 satellite](http://worldview3.digitalglobe.com/), worth roughly a half-billion dollars and about the size of a small RV, became 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. Technology aboard the new satellite will, among other things, supply Google Maps with higher resolution photos for “satellite view.” The satellite that shot the photos was flying at an altitude of over 300 miles, according to DigitalGlobe, and orbiting at a speed of 17,000 mph. [Video of the launch](http://time.com/3106769/) from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California can be seen below. ## Transcript [00:02] T minus 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, [00:10] 2. We have ignition and we have lift [00:15] off, of the United Launch Alliance, Atlas Five Rocket, [00:18] carrying the world's. View 3 satellite for Digital Globe. [00:21] [ NOISE ] Good job, roll [00:25] program has begun. Your [00:30] coordinates look good. You are [00:37] hearing the voice of Marty Malinowski, providing [00:39] launch. Vehicle assent data. Let's listen in for mission [00:42] progress. Already one eighty speeds and ejector [00:45] pressures are within expected parameters. 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