RAPIDEYE - A Cost Effective Small Satellite Constellation for Commercial Remote Sensing

Abstract

RapidEye is a commercial remote sensing mission by the German company RapidEye AG, incorporated in 1998, which will provide a new satellite based GEO-information service concentrating on customers in the agricultural and cartographic field. The RapidEye System that provides the primary data for the information product service comprises of a constellation of five identical small satellites and a sophisticated ground infrastructure based on proven systems. MacDonald Dettwiler & Associates (MDA) is the prime contractor responsible for the implementation of the space and ground segments that meet RapidEye’s business needs. The spacecraft platforms and other mission support services are provided by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) who have pioneered the low-cost commercial off-the-shelf technology approach for smallsat systems which is utilized for RapidEye. The five satellites will be placed in a single sun-synchronous orbit of approximately 620 kilometers, with the satellites equally spaced over the orbit. The satellites will each carry a 5 band multispectral optical imager with a ground sampling distance of 6.5 meters at nadir and a swath width of 80 km. The RapidEye system has the unique ability to image any area on earth once per day and can also provide large area coverage within 5 days. This capability along with the processing throughput of the ground segment allows the system to deliver the information products needed by the customers reliably and in a time frame that meets their specific needs. 54th International Astronautical Congress of the International Astronautical Federation, the International Academy of Astronautics, and the International Institute of Space Law 29 September 3 October 2003, Bremen, Germany IAC-03-IAA.11.1.06 Copyright © 2003 by the International Astronautical Federation. All rights reserved. 2 of 9