[Satellite Today 04-23-09] Dish Network has launched Dish Earth, a channel offering live views of Earth, passing views of the moon, Venus, and unidentified flying object, the company announced April 22.
    The Dish Earth channel content is supported by a camera installed on Dish Network’s EchoStar 11 satellite, launched into geo-synchronous orbit at 110 degrees West in 2008.
    The camera offers a 30 by 22.4 degree field-of-view that includes live full-disk views of the planet from a distance of approximately 22,300 miles above Earth.
    The Dish Earth camera was developed by the EchoStar Spacecraft Operations Team, Ecliptic Enterprises Corp. and Space Systems/Loral, and is operated under a license granted by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
    Dish Network has also partnered with Space Services Inc. (SSI), a Houston-based aerospace company, to offer consumers photos of the planet, provided by the camera, to be sold as gifts.