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Throughout
history we have sought to better understand our world by viewing it
from above. We first climbed trees and hills and fortress towers to
observe the lay of the land. Today, aircraft and spacecraft look down
on Earth to predict the weather, survey the terrain, monitor crops and
forests, plan cities, locate resources, and gather intelligence.
From balloons, to aircraft, to spacecraft, we have pushed ourselves
higher and higher toward different goals and challenges. Yet, to many
who have participated in these thrilling voyages, the best part of all
was looking back toward home.
You can start your
tour here or go back to the Looking At Earth gallery
image map and click on objects of interest. You can view any section
you prefer, it is not necessary to go in order to understand the material.
Gallery
Contents:
Windows
on the World
View scenes of the Earth taken from increasingly higher altitudes
in this introductory unit. |
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A
Bird's Eye View
See some of the earliest attempts to photograph the Earth from
above. |
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Onwards
and Upwards
Looking at Earth from aircraft. See examples of early aerial
photography and practical applications in the fields of geology,
environmental monitoring, disaster assessment, and archaeology. |
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The
Sky Spies
Aerial photography in military intelligence, and the first satellite
reconnaissance program. |
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Orbital
Vistas: The Earth From Space
Satellite imagery of land and sea, satellite models, cameras,
and other sensing instruments illustrate viewing the Earth from
space. |
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A
Satellite For All Seasons
Observing weather and other atmospheric phenomena from space. |
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What's
New?
New developments in the science and technology of Looking at
Earth. |
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