Or, more specifically, "... a globally standardised 3D digital elevation model of Earth, and with a
measuring point density of 12 metres, it will be incredibly accurate," according to the director of the project, which is called TanDEM-X.
Two satellites will map the earth's terrain in tandem, creating the 3-D effect. The second satellite was successfully launched on 21 June.
"Within three years, this will create a gigantic data record equivalent to the storage capacity of 200 000 DVDs, " says the German Aerospace Center site.
See also a very nice animation here.
Illustration from the German Aerospace Center site.
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