THESE images were among the first to be beamed back to earth by a spy satellite 430 miles away.
Drivers on the QE2 Bridge, Bluewater shopping centre and ships sailing on the Thames were captured by TopSat a British-built micro-satellite launched from Russia three months ago.
The satellite, which cost £14m and is the size of a washing machine, is one of the smallest and least expensive to send back such detailed images.
The satellite could eventually be used to monitor disasters or provide border security.
It can produce both colour and black and white shots.
It was built by Surrey-based firm QinetiQ and funded by the Ministry of Defence and the British National Space Centre.
Professor Roy Anderson, chief scientific adviser to the Ministry of Defence, said: "The development of TopSat is at the cutting edge of scientific innovation and reflects the UK's leading research capability in this highly-competitive field."
The images were captured by the satellite, which orbits earth once every hour and 38.5 minutes, at 10.30am early last month.
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