The technical specifications of the Pleiades Neo satellite are a great way to evaluate this new system. This article will look at the Satellite constellation, its spectral bands, its altitude, and its applications. If you are new to satellites, this article will help you get started. Here are some highlights of its specifications:
Satellite constellation
Airbus has announced the launch of four new, extremely high-resolution earth observation satellites to complement its existing fleet of radar and optical satellites. Once operational, the constellation will offer enhanced performance, frequency, reactivity, and spatial resolution. It will also be capable of direct access to the SpaceDataHighway, providing a new level of service. And while the company has not shared specific details, it is expected to deliver the new satellites as early as 2021.
The Pléiades Neo satellite enables fresh topographic mapping for a wide variety of applications. Four identical satellites in the constellation ensure a high level of information, precise large-scale mapping, and a fast revisit rate. And because the satellites are identical, the constellation is able to perform multiple acquisitions in a single pass. Moreover, the constellation’s high agility ensures multi-stereo acquisitions in a single pass.
Spectral bands
The latest version of the SPOT-like satellite has two additional spectral bands – Deep Blue and Red-edge. These bands provide vegetation and hydrological data for a wide range of applications. Deep Blue data is also useful for bathymetry. The increased resolution also helps improve the accuracy of intelligence produced by AI/ML algorithms. Pleiades Neo data is the first to provide these new data.
The constellation’s unique performance characteristics will support a wide variety of missions, from monitoring urban sprawl to assessing pollution to rapid emergency response. The constellation is comprised of four identical satellites which enable rapid acquisitions and frequent updates. The satellite’s agility ensures multi-stereo acquisitions in a single pass. With the additional capability to deliver multispectral data, Pleiades Neo is an excellent choice for earth-observing missions.
Altitude
The second very high-resolution imaging satellite will be launched on an Arianespace rocket on August 16, 2021. This spacecraft will be part of the European Space Agency and Airbus Defence and Space constellation, Pleiades. It will carry high-resolution imagery of Earth. The mission will last about one hour and forty-five minutes. This mission will launch two additional satellites in 2022. Both will be part of the European Space Agency’s Earth Observation constellation.
The satellites’ high-resolution imagery will support an array of applications in the urban environment, from climate change assessment to monitoring city sprawl. It will also enable users to determine the impact of pollution, ensure public safety, and rapidly respond to emergencies. Additionally, the constellation’s agility will help it acquire multi-stereo imagery within one pass. With these benefits, the Pleiades Neo is set to revolutionize satellite imagery, bringing new levels of accuracy and reactivity to the world’s most critical data and information.
Applications
As the world’s first high-resolution constellation of satellites, the Pleiades Neo is set to launch in mid-2020. The four satellites will have very high resolution and make two to three passes across the globe each day. Each satellite will capture data at the same time each day. Applications of the constellation will span many fields, including mapping, urban planning, defense, and climate change research. Swedish Space Corporation is supporting the project with various support capabilities, including Launch and Early Orbit Phase, Telemetry, Tracking and Command, and Data Reception.
Pleiades Neo’s high resolution provides unprecedented detail and is expected to add two million square kilometers per day at a 30 cm resolution. The satellites will also be capable of downloading data at a rate of 60 times per day, which will require efficient commercial polar communication services. The constellation represents close cooperation between Airbus and SSC and will be one of the most advanced Earth observation constellations ever launched. It is expected to continue operating for ten or more years.
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