QuickBird

QuickBird 2 is a commercial satellite for Earth observation. He is from DigitalGlobe (then Earthwatch ) operated. QuickBird 2 is able to capture images with a resolution up to 65 cm, which can be purchased commercially. The satellite was launched on a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California on 18 October 2001. The predecessor satellite Quickbird 1 was launched on 20 November 2000, but did not reach its orbit. Although its predecessor EarlyBird reached its orbit, but was abandoned due to problems with the power supply.

Construction

The satellite was built by Ball Aerospace and Technologies and is based on the satellite bus BCP2000. At the start of the mass was about 1028 kg, including fuel for attitude control for about 7 years, however, the satellite is still in operation.

Orbit and data collection

QuickBird 2 is located on a sun-synchronous orbit and flies over the equator in north-south direction at 10.00 local time clock. In April 2011, the orbit was raised to extend the life until early 2014. Thus some recording parameters were changing as resolution and the swath width, which is now at nadir is 18.0 kilometers.

Images can be recorded in two modes: panchromatic and multispectral. Panchromatic images can be captured at a resolution of 65 cm at nadir. For multispectral images, the resolution is 262 cm, the data are then in the four spectral blue ( 450-520 nm ), green ( 520-600 nm ), red ( 630-690 nm) and near infrared ( 760-900 nm) before. In both modes, the dynamics is 11 bits.

The satellite can store up to 128 GB of data on board before they are transmitted with 320 Mbit / s in the X-band to the ground stations. For management purposes, compounds associated with data rates of 2 256 kbit / s in the X - band and S- band.

Scope

  • Updating of topographic maps
  • Generation of elevation models
  • Land use mapping
  • Change analyzes
  • Precision Farming
  • Urban Development
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