NASA Earth Observatory Ship Photo

August 7th, 2007 · Comments - by John -

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This high-resolution satellite image shows the rescue efforts underway to salvage a floundering Brazilian oil platform located 50 miles (80 kms) off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The image was taken on Oct. 15, 2002, at approximately 11 a.m. local time by Space Imaging’s IKONOS satellite. According to reports, salvage ships worked to repair the listing offshore oil rig. The $200 million offshore rig, known as P-34, heeled over after an electrical failure caused the oil stored aboard to flow to one side. The rig began to right itself Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2002, after workers pumped sea water into empty tanks to restore its balance.

The 1600-pound IKONOS satellite travels 423 miles above the Earth’s surface at a speed of 17,500 miles per hour. It’s the world’s first commercial high-resolution remote sensing satellite and can see objects on the ground as small as one-meter square. IKONOS has collected more than 900,000 images of the Earth’s surface representing imagery over every continent. (NASA)

About The Author

Captain John Konrad is co-founder of Unofficial Networks and Editor In Chief of this blog. He is a USCG licensed Master Mariner of Unlimited Tonnage and, since graduating from SUNY Maritime College, has sailed a variety of ships from ports around the world. He currently lives in Morro Bay, California with his wife and two children.
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