Image coding on board scientific satellites. Report 1: System study

The methods which are used for image redundancy reduction, covering predictive, transformation and clustering techniques are discussed. Onboard application for images with high redundancy-reduction rates is treated. Adaptive techniques, and problems related to practical implementations were considered. Particular transform codings and algorithms are described including statistical optimal transform, singular base decomposition, blob algorithm, recursive clustering, predictive encoding with multispectral extension, and histogram clustering. The guidelines of three working proposals, one for each technique, are drawn up. The implications of using compression algorithms for deep space probes and planetary orbiting platforms are analyzed.