Super View-1-China's First Commercial Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation with a High Resolution of 0.5 m

Super View-1 satellite constellation(Super View-1 for short) is the first commercial remote sensing constellation with a resolution down to 0.5 m. It's an important part of the national spatial information infrastructure construction. It will play an important role for the global users providing remote sensing data, application solutions and remote sensing value-added services with its high-resolution and 24-hour observation capability. At present, 4 satellites of the constellation have been successfully launched and networked on orbit. The services cover surveying and mapping, land resource surveying, urban planning, agriculture, forestry, water conservancy, geological mining, environmental monitoring, defense, disaster reduction along with other traditional industries. There are also great potential applications in Mobile Internet, LBS, Smart city, insurance and other emerging professions. The successful operation of Super View-1 breaks the overseas monopoly for commercial high-resolution remote sensing satellite imagery in the China market. It's one of the major achievements in China space science and technology by actively exploring the development of commercial remote sensing markets, which is of strategic significance to the development of China remote sensing satellite business.     

Earth observation from space – The issue of environmental sustainability

Remote sensing scientists work under assumptions that should not be taken for granted and should, therefore, be challenged. These assumptions include the following:1. Space, especially Low Earth Orbit (LEO), will always be available to governmental and commercial space entities that launch Earth remote sensing missions.2. Space launches are benign with respect to environmental impacts.3. Minimization of Type 1 error, which provides increased confidence in the experimental outcome, is the best way to assess the significance of environmental change.4. Large-area remote sensing investigations, i.e. national, continental, global studies, are best done from space.5. National space missions should trump international, cooperative space missions to ensure national control and distribution of the data products.At best, all of these points are arguable, and in some cases, they're wrong. Development of observational space systems that are compatible with sustainability principles should be a primary concern when Earth remote sensing space systems are envisioned, designed, and launched. The discussion is based on the hypothesis that reducing the environmental impacts of the data acquisition step, which is at the very beginning of the information stream leading to decision and action, will enhance coherence in the information stream and strengthen the capacity of measurement processes to meet their stated functional goal, i.e. sustainable management of Earth resources. We suggest that unconventional points of view should be adopted and when appropriate, remedial measures considered that could help to reduce the environmental footprint of space remote sensing and of Earth observation and monitoring systems in general. This article discusses these five assumptions in the context of sustainable management of Earth's resources. Taking each assumption in turn, we find the following:(1) Space debris may limit access to Low Earth Orbit over the next decades.(2) Relatively speaking, given that they're rare event, space launches may be benign, but study is merited on upper stratospheric and exospheric layers given the chemical activity associated with rocket combustion by-products.(3) Minimization of Type II error should be considered in situations where minimization of Type I error greatly hampers or precludes our ability to correct the environmental condition being studied.(4) In certain situations, airborne collects may be less expensive and more environmentally benign, and comparative studies should be done to determine which path is wisest.(5) International cooperation and data sharing will reduce instrument and launch costs and mission redundancy. Given fiscal concerns of most of the major space agencies – e.g. NASA, ESA, CNES – it seems prudent to combine resources.     

LOCSS and its implementation on the basis of a small satellite cluster

A problem of providing users with the necessary remote sensing data in the visible and near IR spectral bands has been considered. The solution of the problem plans increase of spatial and spectral resolution for imaging from space, high periodicity of surveying the same sites on the Earth's surface and spaceborne data delivery to users in real time.

This problem solution proposed is to use a cluster of small satellites and to implement the Local Space Service (LOCSS) program. The main aspects of this concept are as follows:

• • optimization of remote sensing instrumentation parameters;

• • image data compression onboard a small spacecraft;

• • compressed data downlinking via the low rate radio channel;

• • direct reception of the image data by users at small cheap receiving stations; and

• • image data decompression and processing using personal computers and special processors.

     

CHEOS Major Special Project Promotes Development of Chinese Commercial Remote Sensing Cameras

High resolution remote sensing data has been applied in many fields such as national security, economic construction and in the daily life of the general public around the world, creating a huge market. Commercial remote sensing cameras have been developed vigorously throughout the world over the last few decades, resulting in resolutions down to 0.31 m. In 2010, the Chinese government approved the implementation of the China High-resolution Earth Observation System(CHEOS) Major Special Project, giving priority to development of high resolution remote sensing satellites. More than half of CHEOS has been constructed to date and 5 satellites operate in orbit. These cameras have different characteristics. A number of innovative technologies have been adopted, which have led to camera performance increasing in leaps and bounds. The products and the production capability enables the remote sensing technical level to increase making it on a par with Europe and the US.     

航天遥感科学技术的发展

简要说明了航天遥感和航天遥感系统的概念和组成,特别对航天光学遥感成像链、成像系统和遥感系统的概念和组成做了论述,重点介绍了航天遥感科学技术的发展现状和发展方向,同时提出了发展我国航天遥感科学技术的若干建议。     

关于航天遥感的若干问题

文章对航天遥感的任务、航天遥感系统和遥感数据链及遥感信息链的组成、遥感数据质量和遥感解译质量的概念予以综述,对航天遥感面临的若干问题加以说明和讨论.     

国外深空探测光学遥感载荷发展现状与启示

文章对国外近十几年来的深空探测光学遥感载荷的发展情况进行了介绍,并按科学目标进行了分类。总结了深空探测光学遥感载荷的发展趋势与启示,为深空探测光学遥感载荷的发展提出了几点建议。     

高分辨率遥感相机CCD器件精密热控制

针对某高分辨率空间遥感相机电荷耦合器件（Charge-Coupled Device,CCD）体积小、功耗大但温度稳定性要求高的特点,提出了通过相机发送指令控制补偿加热回路通、断电对CCD器件进行温度控制的方法,并利用IDEAS-TMG软件进行了仿真分析,分别给出了无补偿功率、补偿功率为10W、12.5W、15W与17.5W这5种情况下CCD器件的温度变化曲线。仿真分析结果表明：补偿功率为12.5W时CCD器件的温度波动最小,热设计结果满足各项温度指标。为了验证热设计的可靠性,焦面组件参加了整机的热平衡试验,得到了满意的结果。该设计方法对各类空间遥感相机高温度稳定性要求的CCD器件的热设计和热分析有一定的指导和借鉴作用。     

Erdbeobachtende missionen—Anforderungen und konzepte

(Earth Observation Missions—Requirements and Concepts)—Ten years ago, on 23 July 1972. NASA launched the first satellite specifically designed for Earth observation. With Landsat 1 the importance and attractiveness of remote sensing from space increased worldwide.The paper presents in an overview former remote sensing missions with their applications and the system elements required for gathering Earth observation information. Main elements are the sensors (optical, microwave, and other instruments), the platforms (satellites, space stations, aircraft and Earth based stations) and their orbits.It is shown how these elements are interrelated and which constraints must be considered for planning an Earth observation mission. The feasibility, the amount of hard- and software, the costs, and the performance of a system are decisive for the realization of a satellite concept.Examples for different concepts investigated to date at Dornier System are given; included is the first ESA Remote Sensing Satellite ERS-1, which is now under definition at Dornier System, the main contractor of ESA.     

Remote sensing: A case for moving space data towards the public good

This paper discusses whether current international and national regulation of remote sensing activities achieves a true balance between proprietary interests of producers of remote sensing data and information and the needs of the community in accessing that data and information. By subjecting remote sensing data to general copyright restrictions that are often coupled with exclusive licences, irrespective of type or use of data and/or information, the development of important secondary information markets could be negatively hampered. In the long run, over-regulating access to space data may prove counter-productive in the information age. Using examples of different modes of information dissemination currently being practised, the paper highlights the balances to be drawn between legal issues of private ownership of data and information and public good interests. It concludes with suggestions for a more coherent regulatory approach.     

Keeping up with remote sensing and GI advances—Policy and legal perspectives

Technological advances in remote sensing capabilities, wider participation of commercial firms and the possibilities of ‘processing’ spatial data to create value-added information have given rise to a range of policy and legal issues in the geographic information (GI) field. How far satellite images can still be considered a ‘public good’, conflicts between commercial and national interests is becoming a major issue, especially where security is concerned, sovereignty and the rights of sensed states, shutter control vs transparency is debated, data access, IPR and infringement of privacy becoming more relevant are all discussed. At the same time, the societal and public good of GI is well accepted with innumerable national and international examples. It is clear that societies would greatly benefit from the proper use of GI. A multilateral debate to formulate a GI policy that will take account of these while ensuring that the full benefits of remote sensing are available to society is called for.     

International cooperation in remote sensing for global change research: political and economic considerations

Activities concerning international cooperation in space-based remote sensing for global change research have for the most part focused on technical/functional aspects such as data harmonization, research project coordination, and sensor selection and deployment. Until fairly recently, little attention has been directed towards the various political and economic constraints which may act as ‘stumbling blocks’. A review of the contemporary international remote sensing milieu as it relates to the global change research agenda is presented. Several important political and economic conditions affecting this area are identified: (1) data access and pricing policies; (2) national security concerns; (3) developed/developing nation relations; and (4) inconsistent political/financial commitments. A set of recommendations is offered to enhance international cooperation in the use of space-based remote sensing data for global change research.     

Beispiele für den einsatz von Radar in der satelliten-fernerkundung

(Examples of the application of radar to remote sensing via satellite) Europe, the United States of America, Canada and Japan are planning future space missions which will carry Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems as key sensors for remote sensing purposes. These systems are dedicated to application areas which cover nearly all Earth sciences from oceanography to agriculture.This paper introduces the measurement principles. The main emphasis is put on the usefulness and limitations of these techniques. Examples from airborne measurements as well as space-borne missions much as SEASAT and SIR A (Shuttle Imaging Radar) are presented.     

用于遥感卫星数传的新型波导阵列组合天线

从新的设计理念出发，提出一种新型的波导十字阵列组合辐射天线替代了赋形反射面天线，用于低轨遥感卫星的数传系统。文中论述了该天线的设计思路、设计过程，并列出了天线的主要性能。最后还简述了该天线在国内卫星上的应用及我国未来低轨遥感卫星数传天线的发展趋势。该天线已在我国多个卫星上成功应用。这种波导阵列组合天线结构紧凑、尺寸小，具有与国外通用的赋形反射面天线基本类似的性能，可达到星载数传天线的预定要求，而且为星载遥感器及其他载荷留出了更大的对地安装空间。     

中国空间站光学遥感载荷的发展研究

光学遥感载荷的空间站平台相比卫星平台具有很大的优势,吸引了包括俄罗斯、美国和欧空局在内的国际空间站成员国争相进行空间站光学遥感载荷的新技术实验验证和对地观测研究。文章介绍了国际空间站光学遥感载荷的观测方式和特点,结合国际空间站光学遥感载荷的应用情况,从新技术实验验证和对地观测两个方面分析了中国空间站光学遥感载荷发展应该注意的问题,为中国空间站光学遥感载荷的发展提出了几点建议。     

Earth observation using low cost micro/minisatellites

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) at the University of Surrey (UK) has pioneered cost-effective satellite engineering techniques for smaller, faster, cheaper satellites to provide affordable access to space. SSTL has designed, built, launched and operated a series of twelve 50kg microsatellites in low Earth orbit which carry a wide range of satellite communications, space science, remote sensing and in-orbit technology demonstration payloads — for both civil and military applications. Each of these has been built and launched for around US$3M. This paper reviews SSTL's remote sensing capabilities and presents image results from the microsatellite cameras in low Earth in orbit. The latest microsatellites (TMSAT & FASat-Bravo) under construction at SSTL and due for launch in mid-1997 will provide 3-band multispectral imaging with 80-metre resolution; autonomous on-board image analysis, processing and compression prior to transmission direct to ground-based users employing small portable terminals.     

分布式小卫星系统的技术发展与应用前景

分布式小卫星系统是现代小卫星的一个崭新的应用领域,它能充分发挥小卫星的优势,同时也能克服小卫星的缺点。分布式小卫星系统包括星群、星座、编队飞行等。小卫星编队飞行将在空间遥感、深空探测、通信导航等方面带来一场重大的技术革命。文章论述了小卫星特点和分布式系统概念,介绍了分布式小卫星系统技术发展水平和关键技术,以及未来的应用前景。     

我国卫星光学遥感技术的成就与新世纪展望

介绍我国已发射的光学型对地观测卫星和研制成功的航天光学遥感器 ,展示中国在卫星遥感领域取得的成就 ,并展望新世纪卫星光学遥感技术的发展     

有关航天遥感图像地面分辨率的札记

通常所言的航天遥感图像的地面分辨率只是与图像细部特征尺度相对应的地面尺度。对有关航天遥感图像地面分辨率的几个问题进行了讨论。     

空间光学遥感运动模糊仿真方法研究

空间光学遥感作为一个动态的成像过程,像物曝光时间内的相对运动必然会导致成像的模糊,因此在遥感成像链路仿真模型中必然要考虑运动模糊的影响。文章将运动类型分为线性运动和简谐运动两种,并且根据成像过程中器件积分时间和简谐运动周期的比值大小将简谐运动分成高频、低频不同情况来处理。文章指出严格意义上运动模糊具有空间移变的性质,最终根据积分时间同简谐运动的频率提出一种TDICCD运动模糊的仿真方法,可为后续全链路仿真提供参考。