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Welcome to the Monday Morning News Kick Off post from got geoint? We hope everyone had a restful weekend and yes, we are at the home stretch. One more week, then it is holiday time. Though as we have said pretty much every Monday this month, the workload is not lightening up. As such, we have provided you with all the actionable news you need to kick start the week. So, as we always say, fire up that second cup of coffee and read on. Happy Monday!

Senate Clears Intel Appropriations Bill
The Senate passed an appropriations bill to fund the government’s intelligence activities last week. The bill was sponsored by both of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s leaders, Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), and would provide for the necessary funds for day-to-day operations of the nation’s intelligence agencies.

‘Dream’ Space Telescope for Military Could Spy Anywhere on Earth
In the future, the Pentagon wants space telescopes hovering in geosynchronous orbit that could take real-time images or live video of any spot on Earth.

Satellite Image Shows Kim Jong Il’s Dark Legacy
The world’s most secretive country is also one of its darkest. This satellite image shows night in North Korea. The capital Pyongyang, near the western coast, is one of the only places in the country with electricity.

France Launches Spy Satellites Aboard Russian Rocket
The second Russian-built Soyuz rocket launched from French Guiana blasted off late on Friday carrying six military spy satellites.

DigitalGlobe’s Quickbird Captures Image of Chinese Aircraft Carrier
Here’s the image from the DigitalGlobe Analysis Center that captures the Chinese aircraft carrier Varyag from space during its second sea trial in the Yellow Sea, approximately 100 kilometers south-southeast of the port of Dalian.

Human Geography at the Spec Ops Summit
Great dispatch from the Special Operations Summit on the value of human geography.

Next Wave of GPS Promises Stronger Signals
The new generation of GPS satellites, known as Block III, are being built and will improve the accuracy of military and civilian GPS receivers to within three feet, compared with 10 feet now.

TASC and GCS Awarded Three-Year Mentor-Protege Agreement by National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Through the Department of Defense Mentor-Protege Program, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has awarded TASC a direct-reimbursement Mentor-Protege agreement, valued at $2.9 million over three years.

Tags: DigitalGlobe, DigitalGlobe and Chinese Aircraft Carrier, France Launches Spy Satellite, GEOINT, geospatial, GIS, Human Geography, Intel Appropriations Bill, Intelligence Appropriations, Kim Jong Il, Military Space Telescope, TASC, USGIF