Earth Observation Constellations
Small satellite constellations are financially viable, enable rapid revisit imaging and provide flexibility for replenishing space assets for data continuity.
The Disaster Monitoring Constellation
SSTL conceived the innovative and unique Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC), the first Earth observation constellation of low cost small satellites providing daily images for applications including global disaster monitoring.
The Disaster Monitoring Constellation provides:
- Daily revisit
- Multispectral imagery (Landsat-ETM 2, 3 & 4)
- Wide swath (600km+)
- 32m GSD resolution
- 4m PAN
The Disaster Monitoring Constellation is coordinated by DMC International Imaging Ltd (DMCii) for both commercial imaging programmes and disaster response within the International Charter: Space & Major Disasters (www.disasterscharter.org).
The Disaster Monitoring Constellation currently comprises:
- Beijing-1
- NigeriaSat-1
- UK-DMC-1
- UK-DMC-2
- Deimos-1
NigeriaSat-X will be launched into the constellation at the end of 2010.
RapidEye Constellation
SSTL has also supplied the platforms for the 5-satellite RapidEye constellation which launched in 2008. RapidEye is a commercial small satellite mission developed by MacDonald Dettwiler & Associates (MDA). This unique system enables unprecedented global monitoring of the Earth’s surface. The mission provides rapid delivery of land information products and services to the agricultural industry for crop monitoring and mapping, yield predictions and natural disaster assessment.
The constellation provides:
- Daily revisit
- Multispectral imagery
- 6.5m GSD resolution