On-board satellite crop analysis apparatus and method of use thereof

A method for managing cropland for a client, comprising the steps of:

• optically measuring, each of a set of spatially resolved locations, level zero data with an orbiting satellite, said level zero data comprising:
• first reflected cropland radiation, in a first visible range of 400 to 700 nm;
• second reflected cropland radiation in a second near-infrared range of 700 to 2,500 nm;
• and
• emitted radiation, in a third thermal infrared range of 2,500 to 12,000 nm;
• processing, on-board said orbiting satellite, said level zero data comprising a first data storage size, to yield crop condition information comprising a second data storage size of less than one percent of said first data storage size;
• receiving from said orbiting satellite to a ground based communication system said crop condition information;
• relaying at least a portion of said crop condition information to the client within twenty-four hours;
• measuring, on-board said orbiting satellite, crop transpiration with said near-infrared radiation to determine drought locations of said set of spatially resolved locations;
• and
• communicating said drought locations to said ground based communication system.