need satellite method of observing areas of coast for safety reasons. Who do I approach and what is cost?

Question

Suicide - a - plenty at a particular spot and I am wondering if satellite can be linked to samaritans etc via sponsors.

Answer 1

If you want one time pictures you can probably get them off google earth for free. If you want close to real time feeds you are probably looking at several million or more a month.

Answer 2

If you want a continuous live picture with enough detail to see individual people, satellites cannot give you that.

Satellites cannot hover over just any spot on the ground. Communication satellites can hover over a spot anywhere on the equator by orbiting VERY high, 22,500 miles high, but the satellites that use cameras to take detailed pictures of the ground must orbit low, 300 miles or so, otherwise they are too far away to get detailed enough pictures. As a result they are always moving very quickly over the ground and only able to see a particular spot on the ground for a minute or two each time they fly over. They can only pass over the same spot twice per day at the most, and most satellites, like the space station, are in orbits that do not pass over the same spot more than once every few days.

Answer 3

Imagery satellites are normally in a low-earth orbit. They're able to cover a particular piece of ground for about 90-100 minutes each orbit.

To provide 24/7 coverage of a certain spot, you'd need a constellation of satellites in orbits arranged such that when one satellite is 'setting', another satellite is 'rising'.

Probably need at least a dozen of these satellites to provide the coverage you're talking about.

There has been discussion of doing this kind of thing with micro-satellites that can be launched 6 or 8 at a time from a single launch platform, but that's still in the experimental phase.

You might be better off mounting TV cameras to telephone poles in the area, and monitoring the area that way.

Answer 4

If you know the spot where suicides happen wouldn't it be cheaper to put a sign up with samaritans number on it.

If you really want to monitor, and I guess you have your own reasons for doing so - cctv would be my chosen path but it might be an infringement of privacy - especially at the coast.

Answer 5

Try a program called "Google Earth". You can see your swimming pool in your own back yard with this program.... and it's FREE.
I wish you the best of luck in what ever it is you are trying to find. Godspeed my friend.
Here is the link;
http://officialearth.org/yahoo/yahoo_downloadearth_english_us.html

Answer 6

I firmly believe that individuals should have the right to commit suicide if they want to .. and that anyone who interferes (and prevents it) becomes absolutely personally responsible and takes on the duty of looking after that person the rest of their life.

Answer 7

Try Google Earth.Its free and you can get if off of Googles web site.If you want live feed,listen to above.

Answer 8

Sure it can be done, got a spare 3-4 billion dollars. Talk to NASA they would be happy to take your money.

Answer 9

http://www.connectlive.com/index-4.html