Imaging

Airbus delivered GOCI-II instrument to the Korean space agency

After four months at the Korean Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) test facilities in Daejeon, South Korea, during which intensive testing was performed by a joint team of KARI and Airbus Defence and Space, the GOCIII ocean colour imaging instrument has been delivered to the customer.

GOCI-II will be mounted on the GK2B satellite and will be launched in 2019 from Kourou on an Ariane 5. From its geostationary orbit, GOCIII will analyse the colour of the ocean around the Korean peninsula, in order to detect, monitor, quantify and predict short-term variations in the characteristics of the coastal regions, for scientific and industrial purposes. It will acquire images of the Earth in 12 spectral bands between 380 nm and 865 nm, with resolution of about 250 m at Nadir. It will also be able to provide images of the Earth’s entire disk as well as the Moon and stars for calibration. www.airbus.com

Airbus selected by ESA for Copernicus DIAS

Airbus has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to be one of four suppliers for the Copernicus Data and Information Access Service (DIAS). It will make data and information easily available to users through a cloud computing architecture enabling enhanced coordination and cross-fertilization at European Union (EU) level and amongst initiatives at Member State or regional level.

DIAS will unify all the existing access to Sentinels products on the same “onestop shop on the cloud” together with in-situ and third party mission data. These services will allow easy access to Copernicus data for EU citizens including the scientific community, general public and entrepreneurs who wish to process these data in order to provide their own Copernicus based services (front-offices). www.airbus.com

JAXA signs Implementation Arrangement with ISRO

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) signed the Implementation Arrangement (IA) concerning joint study of Lunar Polar Exploration.

JAXA and ISRO signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote collaboration in space field in November 2016. Under this MOU, both agencies have been exploring the possibility of mutual cooperation in the field of lunar pole surface exploration. Following the conclusion of the IA, JAXA and ISRO will jointly conduct feasibility study and draft a plan of the Joint Lunar Polar Exploration from both technical and scientific aspects. http://global.jaxa.jp/

Largest-ever validation of remote sensing in complex terrain

Vaisala, a global provider in environmental and industrial measurement, has collaborated with WindSim, a pioneer in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling, on a study that demonstrates how the effects of complex terrain on wind measurements collected by remote sensing units can be mitigated.

According to Vaisala’ new report, extensive study supported the use of Triton SoDAR data in challenging topography, paving way for more efficient wind measurement in remote regions. The collaboration has included the most extensive complex terrain validation of remote sensing data undertaken in the wind energy sector to date. The results establish a methodology for considerably reducing the uncertainty of data collected by the Triton Wind Profiler in complex terrain, opening the door to more effective measurement campaigns in areas of untapped resource.

For wind energy developers prospecting at more challenging off-grid sites (such as on ridge lines, hillsides and in heavily forested areas), the versatility, maneuverability, and size of remote sensing devices means that they offer numerous potential advantages over met towers. www. windpowerengineering.com

Phase One launches iX Capture 3.0 software

Phase One Industrial has released Phase One iX Capture 3.0. This capture, control and RAW conversion processing software was designed specifically for use with Phase One Industrial aerial cameras. Engineered to support easy control of all essential camera functions, iX Capture 3.0 offers a new user interface, post processing capabilities and advanced workflow to help speed the production of distortion-free RGB and CIR images, with exclusive support for processing 190MP images.

Setting up the camera is easier now with a well-organised display of essential information, including exposure settings, time interval captures, available disk space, GPS data and frame count. A new interface option enables users to choose different skins and font sizes to match the ambient lighting condition of the aircraft and to ease operation on multiple screen sizes and resolutions.

China successfully launches remote sensing satellites

China has successfully launched remote sensing satellites to conduct electromagnetic environmental probes.

The satellites were launched on a Long March-2C carrier rocket from Xichang Satellite launch center in the southwest Sichuan province, it said. They have entered its preset orbit and the launch was proclaimed a success, the report said, without disclosing the number of satellites launched. As the third batch of the Yaogan-30 project, the satellites will conduct electromagnetic environmental probes and other experiments, it added. www.economictimes.indiatimes.com