|
TERRA was launched by NASA on December 18, 1999 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The satellite is fitted with space-based remote sensing apparatus ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer). ASTER is a result of joint project of NASA, Ministry of Economy of Japan, Commerce and Industry of Japan (METI) and Japanese Earth Remote Sensing Data Analysis Center (ERSDAC). The satellite was set into sun-synchronous polar orbit at the height of 705 km. ASTER includes three sub-systems: VNIR (visible band and near-IR) which allows acquiring data with resolution of up to 15 m, SWIR (shortwave IR band) with spatial resolution of 30 m and TIR (thermal IR band) with spatial resolution of 90 m. The main advantage is wide spectral band and stereo surveying. Orbit life time – 6-7 years. Basic characteristics: | Launch date: December 18, 1999 | | Mode: | VNIR | SWIR | TIR | | Spectral bands (mkm):: | 1: 0.52-0.602: 0.63-0.693N: 0.76-0.863B: 0.76-0.86 | 4: 1.600-1.700 5: 2.145-2.185 6: 2.185-2.225 7: 2.235-2.285 8: 2.295-2.365 9: 2.360-2.430 | 10: 8.125-8.475 11: 8.475-8.825 12: 8.925-9.275 13: 10.25-10.95 14: 10.95-11.65 | | Spatial resolution: | 15 m | 30 m | 90 m | | Data transmission rate: | 62 Mbits/sec | 23 Mbits/sec | 4.2 Mbits/sec | | Swatch Width: | 60 km | 60 km | 60 km | | Radiometric resolution: | 8 bits per pixel | 8 bits per pixel | 12 bits per pixel | | File format: | GeoTIFF | | Processing: | Radiometric, sensor and geometric correctionMapped to a cartographic projection | | Revisit time: | 16 days | | Stereo imagery: | Available from a single pass |
|
