High-resolution imaging with small satellites: what are the possibilities and limitations?

Rainer Sandau

doi:10.1117/12.717570

3 May 2007 High-resolution imaging with small satellites: what are the possibilities and limitations?

Rainer Sandau

Proceedings Volume 6555, Sensors and Systems for Space Applications; 65550O (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.717570
Event: Defense and Security Symposium, 2007, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

High resolution mapping systems follow the trend to smaller ground sample distances (GSD) making use of the best technology available at the given time. From the 80 m GSD of ERTS in 1972, the GSD now approached 1 m and even less for civil applications. Mass and power consumption of spacecrafts and imaging instruments follow similar trends in conjunction with the immense improvements in very divers fields of technology. SAR systems are an alternative to passive optical systems; they also benefit from the technology improvements. But the most promising prospects for high resolution mapping with small satellites are connected with passive optical systems. The paper gives a MTF based metrics and analytical method to assess how far we can go with decreasing instrument size and decreasing the GSD at the same time and what features the spacecraft needs to provide. In this context the paper deals with such important parameters for topographic mapping with small satellites like spatial resolution, radiometry, pointing accuracy and stability. It is shown that the imagers as well as the spacecraft bus need to follow certain rules to allow high resolution imaging aboard of small satellites.

Citation Download Citation

Rainer Sandau "High-resolution imaging with small satellites: what are the possibilities and limitations?", Proc. SPIE 6555, Sensors and Systems for Space Applications, 65550O (3 May 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.717570

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available