DAVID: A Multi Spectral High-Resolution Small Satellite

DAVID is a small satellite for advanced remote sensing purposes - designed to meet the specific requirements of today\u27s and tomorrow\u27s Earth observation users in the fields of environmental monitoring, hazard warning and damage assessment. The development is a joint German-Israeli co-operative project. The satellite is designed to provide earth images with high spatial and spectral resolution and good radiometric sensitivity, despite its small size and low cost. It will have more spectral bands in the VIS/NIR range than sensors on most existing or planned multi-spectral high-resolution satellites and higher ground resolution than planned hyperspectral space sensors like LEWIS or MODIS. DAVID will be able to meet the actual tendencies in Earth observation by delivering 12 narrow bands with a spatial resolution of about 5 m. By its slewing capability DAVID will get the important performance gain of short data delivery times due to short target revisit cycles of 3 days can be established. This is particularly important for the monitoring of dynamic processes. Existing space-rated sub-systems will be used or adapted for this system, combined with new satellite and detector technologies, to achieve the low cost and high performance goals. The two principal companies involved, OHB System in Germany and El-Op in Israel are both experienced in the design and construction of space systems, some of which have already been successfully launched. In addition, another German company, GAF, is actively involved in the parameter defamation and image product distribution aspects of the system. A feasibility study has been completed. This paper will describe the updated system concept

Fluorescence explorer (FLEX): An optimised payload to map vegetation photosynthesis from space

The FLuorescence EXplorer (FLEX) mission proposes to launch a satellite for the global monitoring of steady-state chlorophyll fluorescence in terrestrial vegetation. Fluorescence is a sensitive probe of photosynthetic function in both healthy and physiologically perturbed vegetation, and a powerful non-invasive tool to track the status, resilience, and recovery of photochemical processes and moreover provides important information on overall photosynthetic performance with implications for related carbon sequestration. The early responsiveness of fluorescence to atmospheric, soil and plant water balance, as well as to atmospheric chemistry and human intervention in land usage makes it an obvious biological indicator in improving our understanding of Earth system dynamics. The amenability of fluorescence to remote, even space-basedobservation qualifies it to join the emerging suite of space-based technologies for Earth observation. FLEX would encompass a three-instrument array for measurement of the interrelated features of fluorescence, hyperspectral reflectance, and canopy temperature. FLEX would involve a space and ground-truthing program of 3-years duration and would provide data formats for research and applied science