A low cost hyperspectral mission

This paper describes a low cost hyper-spectral mission based around the compact high resolution imaging spectrometer (CHRIS) and the PROBA platform. The PROBA platform is a small agile satellite, which was launched in October 2001. The main purpose of the CHRIS instrument is to provide images of land areas. Of particular interest is the measurement of the bi-directional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) properties for selected targets on the Earth surface using multi-angle observations. The platform provides pointing in both across-track and along-track directions, for target acquisition, BRDF and aerosol measurements. The platform also provides slow pitch during imaging in order to increase the integration time of the instrument. This increase in integration time enhances the target radiometric resolution. The spectral range covered by the instrument extends from 400 nm to 1050 nm. The spatial sampling interval at apogee is approximately 17 m with a swath width of approximately 13 km. In this mode it is possible to readout 19 spectral bands. The location and width of the spectral bands are programmable. Selectable on-chip integration can increase the number of bands to 63 for a spatial sampling interval of 34 in. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.