US 5,883,584 AGranted

Earth observation method

AssigneeDornier GmbH

InventorsManfred Langemann, Uwe Mallow, Rudolf Benz, Harald Schussler

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Abstract

Two sensors are carried on board a spacecraft: a first, low resolution "preview" sensor, and a second high resolution "fine sensor", the latter having sensing parameters which can be adjusted to satisfy the needs of a particular customer. The instantaneous field of view of the preview sensor is located at a fixed distance ahead of that of the fine sensor, so that within a predetermined time period, users may decide which partial data are to be transmitted by the fine sensor and under which observation parameters (such as spacial resolution, spectral channels, measuring site, size of the measured area) to their earth station in near real time, still within the course of the actual overflight. Compilation of the specific data requested by the customers takes place on-board the spacecraft upon telecommands by the customers themselves. Sensing of the data requested by the customer is then performed by the fine sensor.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A method of remote earth observation comprising the steps of

continuously sensing data concerning the earth's surface in an area which follows a predetermined path using a first earth observation sensor;
transmitting said data sensed by said first sensor, concurrently with said sensing to ground stations currently within a reception radius;
making a selection of a desired data set at a ground station based on information contained in said data sensed by said first sensor;
transmitting said selection of said desired data set to a second earth observation sensor which continuously senses data concerning the earth's surface in an area which follows the same predetermined path as said first earth observation sensor at a predetermined distance behind said first earth observation sensor, wherein the path continuously scanned by said second sensor is coincident with the path continuously scanned by said first sensor;
causing said second earth observation sensor to acquire said desired data set and to transmit it to said ground station.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.