An Overview of Our Space Segment
Multi-Spectral Imagers (Cameras)
Built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) in England, each satellite is based on an evolution of the flight-proven MicroSat-100 bus, which is considered a reliable, low-risk imaging platform.
Each satellite measures less than one cubic meter and weighs 150 kg (bus + payload). Onboard digital recorders store image data until the satellite passes within range of the ground receiving station located in Svalbard, Norway. The satellites have an approximate life span of seven years.
The Jena-Optronik multi-spectral imager, the Jena Spaceborne Scanner JSS 56, is a pushbroom sensor carried on each satellite. Each sensor is capable of collecting image data in five distinct bands of the electromagnetic spectrum; Blue, Green, Red, Red-Edge and Near-Infrared.
RapidEye's satellites will be the first commercial satellites to include the Red-Edge band, which is sensitive to changes in chlorophyll content. More research will be necessary to realize the full potential of the Red-Edge band, however, preliminary studies show that this band can assist in monitoring vegetation health, improve species separation and help in measuring protein and nitrogen content in biomass.
Sensor Performance Specifications:
| Blue 440-510nm |
Red Edge 690-730nm | GSD 6.5 meters |
| Green 520-590nm | Near IR 760-880nm | Dynamic Range 12 Bit |
| Red 630-690nm |
Our Satellites - Specifications
Satellite Platform Performance:
> Spacecraft Roll Angle +/-25 degrees
> Global Revisit Time (All) 1 Day
> Image Data Downlink Speed 80 Mb/s
> Telemetry Downlink Speed 9.6 kb/s
> Control Uplink Speed 38.4 kb/s;
> Pointing Control 0.1 degrees in each axis
> Orbital Position Knowledge < 10 meters with 95% confidence
> Orbit Sun Synchronous
> Inclination 97.8 degrees
> Period 96.7 minutes
> Descending Node 11 a.m. (approximately)
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