Sophie Lachérade

PLEIADES-HR 1A&1B image quality commissioning: innovative radiometric calibration methods and results

PLEIADES is an earth observing system conducted by the French National Space Agency, CNES. It consists of two satellites launched on December 2011 (PHR-1A) and December 2012 (PHR-1B), both designed to provide optical pushbroom imagery on five spectral bands to civilian and defense users, with ground sample distance up to 70 cm. During inflight image quality commissioning, radiometric activities included inter-detector normalization coefficients computation, refocusing operations, MTF assessment and estimation of signal to noise ratios. This paper presents inflight results for both satellites. It focuses on several innovative methods that were implemented, taking advantage of the satellite platform great agility. These methods are based on processing images obtained through dedicated exotic guidance. In particular, slow-motion steering enables an efficient estimation of the instrumental noise model, since during acquisition each detector has been viewing a stable ground target along different time samples. Conversely, rotated retina guidance is used to guarantee that all different elementary detectors have successively viewed the same set of landscape samples during acquisition. Non-uniformity of detector sensitivities can then be characterized, and on-board coefficients used prior to compression can be calibrated in order to prevent vertical striping effects on operational images. Defocus control and Point Spread Function estimation can be easily obtained through processing acquisitions of stars associated to various spectral characteristics, for different adjustments of the refocusing system. All these methods allow an accurate estimation of radiometric performance on the whole range of specified spectral radiances, while drastically reducing the number of required acquisitions on natural targets.

SENTINEL-2 image quality and level 1 processing

In the framework of the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme, the European Space Agency (ESA) in partnership with the European Commission (EC) is developing the SENTINEL-2 optical imaging mission devoted to the operational monitoring of land and coastal areas. The Sentinel-2 mission is based on a twin satellites configuration deployed in polar sun-synchronous orbit and is designed to offer a unique combination of systematic global coverage with a wide field of view (290km), a high revisit (5 days at equator with two satellites), a high spatial resolution (10m, 20m and 60 m) and multi-spectral imagery (13 bands in the visible and the short wave infrared spectrum). SENTINEL-2 will ensure data continuity of SPOT and LANDSAT multispectral sensors while accounting for future service evolution. This paper presents the main geometric and radiometric image quality requirements for the mission. The strong multi-spectral and multi-temporal registration requirements constrain the stability of the platform and the ground processing which will automatically refine the geometric physical model through correlation technics. The geolocation of the images will take benefits from a worldwide reference data set made of SENTINEL-2 data strips geolocated through a global space-triangulation. These processing are detailed through the description of the level 1C production which will provide users with ortho-images of Top of Atmosphere reflectances. The huge amount of data (1.4 Tbits per orbit) is also a challenge for the ground processing which will produce at level 1C all the acquired data. Finally we discuss the different geometric (line of sight, focal plane cartography, ...) and radiometric (relative and absolute camera sensitivity) in-flight calibration methods that will take advantage of the on-board sun diffuser and ground targets to answer the severe mission requirements.

Comparison of MODIS and PLEIADES Lunar observations

MODIS is the key instrument for the NASA’s EOS Terra and Aqua missions, launched in late 1999 and early 2002, respectively. MODIS has 20 reflective solar bands (RSB) and 16 thermal emissive bands (TEB). MODIS RSB are calibrated on-orbit using an on-board solar diffuser and regularly scheduled lunar observations. For each instrument, the scheduled lunar observations are made through its space view (SV) port at nearly identical lunar phase angles via spacecraft roll maneuvers. Occasionally, unscheduled lunar observations at different phase angles are also collected by both Terra and Aqua MODIS. The PLEIADES system is composed of two satellites, PLEIADES-1A launched at the end of 2011 and PLEIADES-1B a year later. The PLEIADES has 5 reflective solar bands or channels (blue, green, red, nearinfrared, and panchromatic) that are calibrated on-orbit using observations of Pseudo Invariant Calibration Sites (PICS). Since launch, more than 1000 lunar images covering the phase angle range of ±115° have been acquired by PLEIADES- 1B for its on-orbit calibration and sensitivity study of lunar calibration methods. This paper provides an overview of MODIS and PLEIADES lunar observations and an assessment of their calibration difference based on lunar observations made over a range of phase angles. Also discussed in this paper are strategies and future effort that could potentially benefit other earth observing sensors and improve the calibration accuracy and consistency of existing lunar model(s).

Comparison of S-NPP VIIRS and PLEIADES lunar observations

The first VIIRS instrument was launched on-board the S-NPP satellite in October 2011. It has a total of 15 reflective solar bands (RSB), which include a day-night band (DNB). The VIIRS RSB are calibrated each orbit by an on-board solar diffuser and regularly scheduled lunar observations. With a few exceptions, regularly scheduled lunar observations have been made with the same phase angles from -51.5⁰ to -50.5⁰. The PLEIADES system consists of two satellites, PLEIADES-1A and PLEIADES-1B, which were launched in December of 2011 and December of 2012, respectively. Each instrument has 5 RSB: four (blue, green, red and near-infrared) bands with a 2.8 m spatial resolution and one panchromatic band with a 70 cm vertical viewing resolution. PLEIADES RSB are calibrated using observations of Pseudo Invariant Calibration Sites (PICS) and the Moon. Both PLEIADES-1A and PLEIADES-1B lunar observations have been made over a wide range of phase angles. In this paper we provide an overview of S-NPP VIIRS and PLEIADES lunar observations and an analysis to qualify their lunar calibration differences. Results derived from different inter-comparison methodologies (or approaches) are illustrated. Also discussed in this paper are the challenging issues, lessons, and future effort to further improve sensor lunar calibration inter-comparisons.

Sentinel-2: presentation of the CAL/VAL commissioning phase

In partnership with the European Commission and in the frame of the Copernicus program, the European Space Agency (ESA) has developed the Sentinel-2 optical imaging mission devoted to the operational monitoring of land and coastal areas. The Sentinel-2 mission is based on a satellites constellation deployed in polar sun-synchronous orbits. Sentinel-2 will offer a unique combination of global coverage with a wide field of view (290km), a high revisit (5 days with two satellites), a high resolution (10m, 20m and 60m) and multi-spectral imagery (13 spectral bands in visible and shortwave infra-red domains). The first sentinel 2A has been launched on June 22nd, 2015, from Kourou, French Guyana. In this context, the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) supports ESA to insure the cal/val commissioning phase, for Image Quality aspects. This paper provides first, an overview of the Sentinel-2 system after the launch. Then the articles focuses on the means implemented and activated in CNES to perform the In Orbit Commissioning, the availability and performances of the different devices involved in the ground segment : the GPP in charge of producing the level 1 files, the “radiometric unit” that processes sensitivity parameters, the “geometric unit” in charge of fitting the images on a reference map, MACCS that will produce Level 2A files (computing reflectances at the Bottom of Atmosphere) and the TEC-S2 that will coordinate all the previous software and drive a database in which will be gather the incoming Level 0 files and the processed Level 1 files.

Sentinel 2A: the image quality performances at the beginning of its mission

Launched on June 23rd, 2015 from Kourou, Sentinel 2A has been providing images for more than 1 year now. The satellite behavior is very satisfactory and the quality of data fulfills the requirements with comfortable margins. The realization and implementation of the satellite has been realized under the responsibility of ESA, for the European Commission. The In Orbit Commissioning phase lasted 4 months, concluded by a review on October 16th, 2015. At this date, the S2A space segment handover took place from the Project Manager (ESA/ESTEC) to the Mission Manager (ESA/ESRIN). The subset of Image Quality commissioning was delegated by ESA to CNES, referring to the experience of the French Space Agency on previous imagers. This phase lasted 7 months after the launch, extending beyond the IOCR. Actually, some parameters required several months before converging to a stable state. This paper presents the status of the satellite, from an IQ prospective, just before it entered its operational phase. The radiometric and geometric performances are listed, including: the absolute radiometric calibration, the equalization, the SNR, the absolute and the multi-temporal location accuracy. The accomplishment of a part of the Global Reference Image over Europe is evoked as well. The IQ commissioning phase ended on January 28th, 2016. From this date, the monitoring of IQ parameters is under the responsibility of ESA/ESRIN. Nevertheless, CNES continues to support ESA to survey the accuracy of S2A performances. The article ends by dealing with the future of S2A that will work together with S2B by the end of 2016.

Surface wind speed estimation over open ocean using bidirectional observation by Sentinel-2/MSI and Landsat-8/OLI

Large stripes, observed on first Sentinel-2/MSI images over ocean, are not due to instrumental artifacts but to the target itself. The same kind of signature can be observed on Landsat-8/OLI. Both MSI and OLI instruments are known for their excellent radiometric quality for land observation. The MSI’s focal plane is composed by 12 elements to cover the 300km-swath, respectively 14 elements for a 185km-swath for OLI. For technical reason, elements were slightly shifted forward/backward alternatively in the focal plane. As a consequence, each element has a different viewing angle than the next/previous one, leading for a considered target on the ground to a significant difference in zenith/azimuthal viewing angles. These angular variations, fully acceptable for the land mission, become sensitive for specific targets such as sunglint, a highly directional signal. It was already demonstrated the possibility to retrieve surface wind speed from bidirectional space measurements with POLDER/PARASOL instruments. Indeed, using multiple viewing angles is a good way to better constrain the inversion because it doesn’t fully rely on the absolute estimation of a unique measurement. Somehow, MSI or OLI can be seen as bidirectional sensors for targets located between 2 elements of the focal plane. Knowing the exact acquisition geometry, the observed radiometric gap can be directly related to the surface wind speed. Because it is a relative estimation, this inversion becomes more robust to aerosol contamination. Finally, an improved retrieval can be foreseen thanks to the multiple spectral bands provided by MSI and OLI.

Sentinel 2: implementation of the means and methods for the CAL/VAL commissioning phase

In partnership with the European Commission and in the frame of the Copernicus program, the European Space Agency (ESA) is developing the Sentinel-2 optical imaging mission devoted to the operational monitoring of land and coastal areas. The Sentinel-2 mission is based on a satellites constellation deployed in polar sun-synchronous orbit. Sentinel-2 will offer a unique combination of global coverage with a wide field of view (290km), a high revisit (5 days with two satellites), a high resolution (10m, 20m and 60m) and multi-spectral imagery (13 spectral bands in visible and shortwave infra-red domains). The first satellite is planned to be launched in late 2014. In this context, the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) supports ESA to insure the cal/val commissioning phase. This paper provides first, an overview of the Sentinel-2 system and the image products delivered by the ground processing. Then the paper will present the ground segment, presently under preparation at CNES, and the various devices that compose it : the GPP in charge of producing the level 1 files, the “radiometric unit” that processes sensitivity parameters, the “geometric unit” in charge of fitting the images on a reference map, MACCS that will produce Level 2A files (computing reflectances at the Bottom of Atmosphere) and the TEC-S2 that will coordinate all the previous software and drive a database in which will be gather the incoming Level 0 files and the processed Level 1 files.