What Is a Satellite Camera?
Satellite camera systems capture space in a wide range of electromagnetic waves. In fact, a satellite imager is a detector with a sensor that actively scans the changing surface of the Earth, registering the signal emitted or reflected by the object or the surrounding area. Sun is the most vivid example of such an object. And the simplest example of an image captured by a such system is Google Maps.
Satellite cameras allow to get the following images:
- Panchromatic.
- Multispectral (multizone), ranging from visible to infrared electromagnetic radiation.
- Hyperspectral, simultaneously capturing narrow spectral zones in all parts of the spectral range.
Types of Resolution
Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) is another important parameter of a satellite camera. This is an analog of megapixel of sorts. It determines the smallest size of an object that can be seen in the image. GSD depends on camera specification and distance from an object.
- Over 10 m — low.
- 10 — 2.5 — mid.
- 2.5 -1 — high.
- Less than 1 m — ultra-high.
Dragonfly cameras provide multi- and hyper-spectral high resolution imagery with up to 0.7 m GSD (in nadir, at an altitude of 500 km).
Application of Satellite Optical Payloads
Earth Observation satellites with optical payloads help track changes in forest and water covers, melting glacier levels, soil conditions and yield, make geographic maps, prevent emergency consequences, monitor transport routes, infrastructure, etc.
Unlike radar remote sensing, satellite camera technology only captures images from the Earth's surface, while imaging quality depends on lighting, weather conditions, and cloud cover.
Dragonfly optical payloads are designed for smallsats (50-150 kg) and CubeSats 1 – 6 U with orbit heights up to 500 km, making captured imagery useful for a wide range of commercial and scientific applications.
Requirements for Optics
Earth imaging market has high requirements for camera lenses. Optics must withstand extreme conditions and have perfect coverage for accurate image reproduction without distortion. At Dragonfly, we use high-quality lenses, ranging from standard to custom shapes, to give our products flawless shooting quality from various angles.
Dragonfly Satellite Cameras
Why are our cameras one of the best? We have a strong team, modern equipment, and reliable partners. The main benefits are:
- hyperspectral, multispectral mode supported by 5+ channels;
- wide capture range (from 11 to 80 km);
- large integrated high-speed data storage;
Choose Dragonfly satellite cameras and you will get high quality at a reasonable price!
