----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Not cheap but interesting. Does anyone know more about this?
 
Ingo Gunther
Worldprocessor
 
MICROSOFT TO OFFER RUSSIAN SPY PHOTOS
Microsoft has contracted with North Carolina-based Aerial Images to publish
very high resolution (to one meter) photographs snapped by Russian spy
satellites.  The photos, which were all taken during the 1990s, are the
first Russian-satellite-origin pictures to appear on the Internet, says
Aerial's VP.  The initial photos to appear on Microsoft's Web site will show
Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Rome and London.  The photos
may be downloaded for a charge of $30 per square kilometer, with the
proceeds to be split between Aerial and the Russian space agency.  The
images are likely to be used by mapping services, construction companies and
developers, forestry workers and government agencies, says Aerial.  (Wall
Street Journal 13 Feb 97)