DIRECT BROADCAST IMAGING SATELLITE SYSTEM APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING REAL-TIME, CONTINUOUS MONITORING OF EARTH FROM GEOSTATIONARY EARTH ORBIT AND RELATED SERVICES

摘要

A system, method and apparatus for collecting and distributing real-time, high resolution images of the Earth (302) from GEO include an electro-optical sensor based on multimegapixel two-dimensional charge coupled device (CCD) arrays mounted on a geostationary platform. At least four, three-axis stabilized satellites (300, 314) in Geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) provide worldwide coverage, excluding the poles. Image data that is collected at approximately 1 frame/sec, is broadcast over high-capacity communication links (306) (roughly 15 MHz bandwidth) providing real-time global coverage of the Earth at sub-kilometer resolutions directly to end users. This data may be distributed globally from each satellite through a system of space and ground telecommunication links. Each satellite carries at least two electro-optical imaging systems that operate at visible wavelengths so as to provide uninterrupted views of the Earth's full disk and coverage at sub-kilometer spatial resolutions of most or selected portions of the Earth's surface.