On: Man finds his way home using Google Earth - after ...

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> Somehow Google Earth is often credited for anything involving satellite imagery. He probably actually used Google Maps.

I doubt that without Google's effort, this very valuable database of satellite and aerial photography would be available to everyone.

It is more akin to crediting a library for its content : it did not write it, but gave you access to it.

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There was the Terraserver (not terraserver.com) long before Google Maps/Earth.

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If I recall correctly, this was a paid service, no ?

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NASA has actually put together a beautiful product, that I think is even more beautiful than Google Earth

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_World_Wind

http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/java/

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But it happened several years after Google Earth. They would never have done that otherwise.