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Building Earth Observation Cameras

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 Building Earth Observation Cameras
George Joseph
CRC Press
Professional - 368 Pages - 12 Color & 155 B/W Illustrations
ISBN 9781466566477 - CAT# K16286

Description
Features

 Discusses engineering aspects of remote sensing cameras (satellite borne) including

principles and design process along with broad application areas
 Helps reader understand how to select various sensor parameters for electro-optical
sensors in space and selection/calibrations of the related hardware
 Includes insights drawn from experience of realizing earth observation systems
 Supplies technical and historical insight into development of Indian space
programme, which has seen a meteoric rise

Summary

A System Engineer’s Guide to Building an Earth Observation Camera

Building Earth Observation Cameras discusses the science and technology of building an
electro-optical imaging system for a space platform from concept to space qualification and
in-orbit evaluation. The book provides a broad overview of various Earth imaging systems
with specific examples illustrating the design and development issues that impacted the
Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) cameras, and is based on the actual experience of the
author, who was intimately involved with the development of cameras for the IRS program.

It equips imaging system project managers, scholars, and researchers with the ability to look
deeper into the systems that they are developing, and arms application scientists who use
satellite imagery with a greater understanding of the technical aspects and terminology used
in defining the performance of the image system. The text traces the historical development
of imaging systems, reviews the evolution of Earth observation systems from a global
perspective, and examines future trends.

This interdisciplinary work:

 Presents technical issues associated with the design, fabrication, and characterization
of the camera
 Provides a narrow focus and end-to-end solutions to all components involved in a
successful camera-on-Earth observation system
 Covers various stages including image formation, optics, opto-mechanics, material
choice, design tradeoffs, fabrication, evaluation, and finally qualifying the system for
space use
Building Earth Observation Cameras provides the tools needed to enable readers to better
understand the concepts and challenges involved in building space-based Earth observation
systems.

Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Remote Sensing
1.2 Civilian Earth Imaging System
1.3 Indian Earth Observation Program: The Evolution
1.4 Earth Observation System: The Paradigm Shift

2. Image Formation
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Electromagnetic Radiation
2.2.1 Quantum Nature of Electromagnetic Radiation
2.2.2 Thermal Radiation
2.2.3 Propagation of Electromagnetic Radiation from One Medium to Another
2.2.4 Diffraction
2.3 Some Useful Terminologies of the Imaging System
2.4 Aberrations
2.4.1 Spherical Aberration
2.4.2 Coma
2.4.3 Astigmatism
2.4.4 Distortion
2.4.5 Curvature of the Field
2.4.6 Chromatic Aberration
2.5 Wave Optics
2.6 Image Quality Evaluation
2.7 Modulation Transfer Function
2.8 Source of Electromagnetic Radiation for Imaging
2.9 Radiometric Consideration
Referencess

3. Imaging Optics
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Refractive Optics
3.2.1 Telecentric Lenses
3.3 Reflective and Catadioptric Systems
3.3.1 Types of Reflective Telescope Systems
3.3.2 Increasing Field of View of Telescopes
3.3.2.1 Catadioptric System
3.3.2.2 All Reflective Wide Field of View Telescope
3.4 Stray Light Control and Baffling
3.5 Building a Reflective Telescope
3.5.1 Selection of Mirror Material
3.5.2 Mirror Fabrication
3.5.2.1 Light weighting of Mirror
3.5.2.2 Optimizing Lightweight Mirror Structure
3.5.3 Mirror Mounts
3.5.3.1BipodMounts
3.5.4 Alignment of Mirrors
References

4. Earth Observation Camera: An Overview

4.1 Introduction
4.2 Spatial Resolution
4.3 Spectral Resolution
4.3.1 Interference Filter
4.4 Radiometric Resolution
4.4.1 Radiometric Quality
4.5 Temporal Resolution
4.6 Performance Specification
4.7 Imaging Modes
4.8 On-orbit Performance Evaluation
References

5. Optomechanical Scanners
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Principle of Operation
5.3 Scanning Systems
5.3.1 Scan Geometry and Distortion
5.4 Collecting Optics
5.5 Dispersive System and Focal Plane Layout
5.6 Detectors
5.6.1 Detector Figure of Merit
5.6.2 Thermal Detector
5.6.3 Photon Detectors
5.6.3.1 Photoemissive Detectors
5.6.3.2 Photoconductive Detector
5.6.3.3 Photovoltaic Detector
5.6.4 Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors
5.6.5 Operating Temperature
5.6.6 Signal Processing
5.7 System Design Considerations
5.8 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus
References

6. Pushbroom Imagers
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Principle of Operation
6.3 Linear Array for Pushbroom Scanning
6.3.1 Charge-Coupled Devices
6.3.3 Hybrid Arrays
6.3.2 CMOS Photon Detector Array
6.4 CCD Signal Generation and Processing
6.4.1 CCD Output Signal
6.4.2 Off the Chip Signal Processing
6.5 Space borne Pushbroom Cameras
6.6 IRS Cameras: LISS-1 and 2
6.6.1 Focal Plane Layout
6.6.1.1 Single Collecting Optics Scheme
6.6.1.2 Multiple Lens Option
6.6.2 Mechanical Design
6.6.3 Electronics
6.6.4 Alignment and Characterization
6.6.4.1 Focusing of the Camera System
6.6.4.2 Image Format Matching and BBR
6.6.4.3 Flat Field Correction
6.6.5 Qualification
6.7 IRS-1C/D Camera
6.7.1 LISS-3 Design
6.7.2 Wide Field Sensor
6.7.3 PAN Camera
6.7.3.1 Payload Steering Mechanism
6.8 RESOURCESAT Series
6.8.1 RESOURCESAT LISS-3
6.8.2 Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS)
6.8.3 LISS-IV Multispectral Camera
6.9 SPOT Earth Observation Camera
6.10 Landsat 8: Landsat Data Continuity Mission
6.10.1 Operational Land Imager
6.10.2 Thermal Infrared Sensor
6.11 Hybrid Scanner
6.11.1 GEO High-Resolution Imaging Systems: Technology Challenges
6.11.2 GEO-Resource Survey System
6.11.2.1 ESA GEO-HR System
6.11.2.2 Geostationary Ocean Color Imager
6.11.2.3 ISRO Geostationary Imaging Satellite (GISAT)
6.11.2.4 Geostationary Hyperspectral Imaging Radiometer (NASA)
References

7. Submeter Imaging
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Considerations for Realizing High-Resolution Imaging System
7.3 Increasing the Integration Time
7.3.1 Time Delay and Integration
7.3.2 Asynchronous Imaging
7.3.3 Staggered Array Configuration
7.4 Choosing Faster Optics
7.4.1 Choosing Charge-Coupled Device Pixel Dimension..
7.4.2 Increasing Collecting Optics Diameter
7.5 Data Transmission
7.5.1 Data Compression
7.6 Constraints on the Satellite
7.7 Imaging Cameras with Submeter Resolution
7.7.1 IKONOS
7.7.2 QuickBird-2
7.7.3 GeoEye-1
7.7.4 WorldView Imaging Systems
7.7.5 Indian Remote Sensing Satellite High-Resolution Imaging Systems
7.8 What Limits the Spatial Resolution?
References

8. Hyperspectral Imaging
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Hyperspectral Imaging Configuration
8.2.1 Scanner Approach
8.2.2 Pushbroom Approach
8.3 Spectrometers: An Overview
8.3.1 Dispersive Spectrometers
8.3.2 Fourier Transform Spectrometers
8.3.2.1 Michelson Interferometers
8.3.2.2 Sagnac Interferometer
8.3.3 Filter-Based Systems
8.4 Distortions: “Smile” and “Keystone” Effects
8.5 Hyperspectral Imaging Instruments
8.5.1 MightySat II: Fourier Transform Hyperspectral Imager
8.5.2 National Aeronautic and Space Administration
Earth Observation 1: Hyperion
8.5.3 NASA EO-1
Linear Etalon Imaging Spectral Array Atmospheric Corrector
8.5.4IndianSpaceResearchOrganizationHyperspectralImager
References
9. Adding the Third Dimension: Stereo Imaging
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Stereo Pair Generation Geometries
9.2.1 Across Track Stereoscopy
9.2.2 Along Track Stereoscopy
9.3 Along Track Stereo Using Multiple Telescopes
9.3.1 IRS CARTOSAT 1
9.3.2 SPOT High-Resolution Stereo Camera
9.3.3 Advanced Land Observation SatelliteStereo Mapping Camera: PRISM
9.4 Stereo Pairs with Single Optics
9.4.1 Monocular Electro-Optical Stereo Scanner
9.4.2 Chandrayaan1 Terrain Mapping Camera
9.4.3 Along Track Stereo by Satellite Tilt
References
10. Journey from Ground to Space
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Launch Environment
10.3 Space Environment
10.3.1 Thermal Environment
10.3.2 Vacuum
10.3.3 Radiation Environment
10.4 Space Hardware Realization Approach
10.4.1 Model Philosophy
10.5 Environmental Tests
10.5.1 Mechanical Tests
10.5.2 Thermovacuum Test
 10.5.3ElectromagneticInterference/Compatibility Tests
10.5.4 Environmental Test Levels
10.5.5 Ground Support Equipments/Facilities
10.5.6 Contamination Control
10.6 Reviews
10.6.1 Baseline Design Review
10.6.2 Preliminary Design Review (PDR
10.6.3 Critical Design Review
10.6.4 Pre shipment Review
10.6.5 Configuration Change Control and Non conformance Management
10.6.6 Failure Review Committee
10.7 Parts/Components Procurement
10.8 Reliability and Quality Assurance
References

Appendix: Representative Imageries

Index

Author Biodata

Dr. George Joseph started his career in 1962 at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
(TIFR), Mumbai, where he was involved in the study of cosmic rays. For his pioneering work
on the detection of the emission of neutrons from the sun, he was awarded a PhD in 1971. In
1973, he joined the Space Applications Centre (SAC), one of the major centers of the Indian
Space Research Organization (ISRO), primarily for developing Earth observation systems.
Under his leadership, a variety of Earth observation cameras were developed for the Indian
Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) and the Indian National Satellite (INSAT).

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