Method and system for scanning of a focal plane array during earth observation imaging

A method comprising:

• providing a body;
• providing an actuator coupled to the body;
• providing a stage coupled to the actuator;
• providing an image sensor coupled to the stage;
• providing a first staring focal plane array that is located at a first location and a second staring focal plane array that is located at a second location that is offset from the first location in two dimensions;
• determining a velocity of the body;
• causing the actuator to backscan the stage in one or more directions at a drive velocity corresponding to the velocity of the body;
• causing the first staring focal plane array to capture a first strip of images of a target during the backscan;
• and
• causing the second staring focal plane array to capture a second strip of images of the target during the backscan, wherein the second strip of images is offset from the first strip of images in the two dimensions.

A method comprising:

• sending a control signal to an actuator to start a backscan of a stage at a drive velocity;
• reading a body velocity;
• updating the drive velocity in response to the body velocity;
• causing a first staring focal plane array to capture a first strip of images of a target, wherein the first staring focal plane array is located at a first location;
• and
• causing a second staring focal plane array to capture a second strip of images of the target, wherein second staring focal plane array is located at a second location that is offset from the first location in two dimensions and wherein the second strip of images is offset from the first strip of images in the two dimensions.