ATHENA: a high-resolution wide-area coverage commercial remote sensing system
Abstract
ATHENATM is a low-cost imaging satellite system capable of providing high-resolution earth imaging in a single band between .5 and .73 microns. The ATHENATM payload consists of two optically fast cameras, coupled with linear charge-coupled devices to provide 5 m resolution over a 700 km swath from a 700 km polar orbit. Globesat's patented Codebook Processing Chip (CPC) allows implementation of vector quantization (VQ) image compression technology on board the spacecraft. This technology provides up to 12-to-1 image compression, dramatically reducing satellite to ground datalink bandwidth, on-board storage, and spacecraft power requirements while returning 'statistically lossless' images to the ground. The satellite and payload design contain few moving parts, thereby achieving high reliability and low cost, and requiring minimal operational support. The ground station design permits fixed or mobile operation and can be supported by a single technician. ATHENATM is planned for launch in 1994.
- Publication:
-
Small-Satellite Technology and Applications
- Pub Date:
- July 1991
- DOI:
- 10.1117/12.45876
- Bibcode:
- 1991SPIE.1495...81C
- Keywords:
-
- Earth Observations (From Space);
- Image Resolution;
- Low Cost;
- Remote Sensing;
- Satellite Imagery;
- Space Commercialization;
- Charge Coupled Devices;
- Data Links;
- High Resolution;
- Polar Orbits;
- Spacecraft Design, Testing and Performance