SPOT image quality and post-launch assessment

In this paper we present the image quality specifications for the SPOT System and the methods used for their assessment. These methods fall into two categories: pre-launch ground testing and post-launch assessment (during the satellite's first two months in orbit). The geometric specifications concern image location accuracy, length distortion, anisomorphism, multi-date and multispectral registration, local coherence and, in the case of stereo pairs, accuracy of elevation measurement. The radiometric specifications concern: signal-to-noise ratio, detector equalization and array response linearity; band-to-band, absolute and multi-date registration; distortion due to high radiances (blooming) and modulation transfer function (MTF).