GeoEye-1 Satellite Sensor (0.46m)
The GeoEye-1 satellite sensor was successfully launched on September 6, 2008. The satellite, which was launched at Vanderberg Air Force Base, California, provides a resolution of 0.46 meters.
GeoEye-1 is capable of acquiring image data at 0.46 meter panchromatic (B&W) and 1.84 meter multispectral resolution. It also features a revisit time of less than three days, as well as the ability to locate an object within just three meters of its physical location.
The GeoEye-1 satellite sensor features the most sophisticated technology ever used in a commercial remote sensing system. This sensor is optimized for large projects, as it can produce over 350,000 square kilometers of pan-sharpened multispectral satellite imagery every day.
GeoEye-1 has been flying at an altitude of about 681 kilometers and is capable of producing imagery with a ground sampling distance of 46 centimeters, meaning it can detect objects of that diameter or greater.
During late summer of 2013 the orbit altitude of the GeoEye-1 satellite sensor was raised to 770 Km/ 478 Miles. GeoEye-1 new nadir ground sample distance (GSD) is 46cm compared to the previous GSD of 41cm.
GeoEye-1 Satellite Sensor Specifications
| Launch Date |
September 6, 2008 |
| Camera Modes |
Simultaneous panchromatic and multispectral (pan-sharpened)
Panchromatic only
Multispectral only |
| Resolution |
0.46 m / 1.51 ft* panchromatic (nominal at Nadir)
1.84 m / 6.04 ft* multispectral (nominal at Nadir) |
| Spectral Range |
Panchromatic: 450 - 800 nm
Blue: 450 - 510 nm
Green: 510 - 580 nm
Red: 655 - 690 nm
Near Infra Red: 780 - 920 nm |
| Metric Accuracy/Geolocation |
5 m CE90, 3 m CE90 (measured) |
| Swath Widths & Representative Area Sizes |
Nominal swath width - 15.2 km / 9.44 mi at Nadir
Single-point scene - 225 sq km (15x15 km)
Contiguous large area - 15,000 sq km (300x50 km)
Contiguous 1° cell size areas - 10,000 sq km
(100x100 km)
Contiguous stereo area - 6,270 sq km (224x28 km)
(Area assumes pan mode at highest line rate) |
| Imaging Angle |
Capable of imaging in any direction |
| Revisit Frequency at 770 km Altitude (40° Latitude Target) |
| Max Pan GSD (m) |
Off Nadir Look Angle (deg) |
Average Revisit (days) |
| 0.42 |
10 |
8.3 |
| 0.50 |
28 |
2.8 |
| 0.59 |
35 |
2.1 |
|
| Daily Monoscopic Area Collection Capacity |
Up to 700,000 sq km/day (270,271 sq mi/day) of pan area (about the size of Texas). Up to 350,000 sq km/day (135,135 sq mi/day) of pan-sharpened multispectral area (about the size of New Mexico) |
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
| Launch Vehicle |
Delta II |
| Launch Vehicle Manufacturer |
Boeing Corporation |
| Launch Location |
Vandenberg Air Force Base, California |
| Satellite Weight |
1955 kg / 4310 lbs |
| Satellite Storage and Downlink |
1 Terabit recorder; X-band downlink (at 740 mb/sec or 150 mb/sec) |
| Operational Life |
Fully redundant 7+ year design life; fuel for 15 years |
| Satellite Modes of Operation |
Store and forward
Real-time image and downlink
Direct uplink with real-time downlink |
| Orbital Altitude |
770 km / 478 miles |
| Orbital Velocity |
About 7.5 km/sec or 17,000 mi/hr |
| Inclination/Equator Crossing Time |
98 degrees / 10:30am |
| Orbit type/period |
Sun-synchronous / 98 minutes |
|
