* Astronomy

China and UK strike space deal

Chinese and UK companies have agreed a deal that will result in three high-resolution Earth observation spacecraft being built to map China's extraordinary growth from orbit.
The deal was penned between Guildford satellite imagery provider DMCii and Beijing-based company 21AT.
It means DMCii can now roll out its new constellation of spacecraft that can picture details on the surface of the planet less than a metre wide.
They should be ready to launch in 2014.
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