Landsat D to yield more precise data
Abstract
The Landsat D spacecraft to be launched in mid 1982 will offer new multispectral and thermal imaging capabilities. The satellite is designed to improve the monitoring of renewable resources and to provide rock discrimination data for mineral and pertroleum geologists. The expanded features of the new satellite include a seven-band thematic mapper with spectral ranges from 0.45-0.52 microns to 2.08-2.35 microns and a multispectral scanner capable of higher resolution and spectral fidelity than used in previous Landsats. The development of the Landsat D has been complicated by project changes both in the Space Shuttle and the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite Program, which resulted in an increase in weight (now 4400 lb.), an additional hydrazine tank and narrow band tape recorders. Other details on the spacecraft include total array output power of 2200 W, operational altitude of 705 km and launching on a Delta 3920.
- Publication:
-
Aviation Week Space Technology
- Pub Date:
- July 1982
- Bibcode:
- 1982AvWST.117...40C
- Keywords:
-
- Earth Resources;
- Landsat 4;
- Multispectral Photography;
- Remote Sensing;
- Satellite-Borne Photography;
- Thermal Mapping;
- High Resolution;
- Payloads;
- Radar Imagery;
- Satellite Design;
- Spectral Reflectance;
- Thematic Mappers (Landsat);
- Launch Vehicles and Space Vehicles