Earth Monitoring: Technology and Applications

RECENT EARTH OBSERVATION RESULTS OF FORMOSAT-2

20th Asia-Pacific Advanced Network

(APAN) MeetingTaipei, ROC

August 23-27, 2005

FORMOSAT-2

Jeng-Shing Chern and Chi-Li ChangNational Space Organization (NSPO), Taiwan, ROC

CONTENTS

1.1. Characteristics of FORMOSAT-2Characteristics of FORMOSAT-22.2. Daily Repetitive CapabilityDaily Repetitive Capability3.3. In-Orbit Performance Verification In-Orbit Performance Verification 4.4. South Asia Tsunami Disaster South Asia Tsunami Disaster

ObservationObservation5.5. Taiwan Typhoon Disaster Taiwan Typhoon Disaster

ObservationObservation6.6. ConclusionsConclusions

1. Characteristics of FORMOSAT-2

Weight at launch: 750 kgWeight at launch: 750 kg Dimensions: 2.4 m height, 1.6 m diameter, Dimensions: 2.4 m height, 1.6 m diameter,

hexahedron hexahedron Orbit: 888 km altitude, Orbit: 888 km altitude, sun-synchronous, 14 rev per daysun-synchronous, 14 rev per day Local time at descending node Local time at descending node

(LTDN): 10:00 am(LTDN): 10:00 am Ground sampling distance (GSD): 2 m PAN, 8 Ground sampling distance (GSD): 2 m PAN, 8

m MSm MS Swath: 24 kmSwath: 24 km Agility: +/- 45 deg across/along trackAgility: +/- 45 deg across/along track Duty cycle: 8%Duty cycle: 8% Launch date and mission life: 21 May 2004, 5 yrsLaunch date and mission life: 21 May 2004, 5 yrs

2. Daily Repetitive Capability (1/2)

Daily repetitive capability is the most Daily repetitive capability is the most important and unique characteristics of important and unique characteristics of FORMOSAT-2.FORMOSAT-2.

Two major advantages of daily repetitive Two major advantages of daily repetitive capability: capability: a) To observe day-to-day changes; a) To observe day-to-day changes; b) To reduce weather effect to the minimum.b) To reduce weather effect to the minimum.

Images of Kao-Shiung harbor taken on 10, Images of Kao-Shiung harbor taken on 10, 11 and 12 July 2004 are shown next chart.11 and 12 July 2004 are shown next chart.

Kao-Shiung Harbor, TaiwanKao-Shiung Harbor, Taiwan

2. Daily Repetitive Capability (2/2)

2004/07/102004/07/10

2004/07/112004/07/11

2004/07/122004/07/12

3. In-Orbit Performance Verification (1/2)

Agility verification: +/- 10 deg roll in 25 sec, +/- 30 Agility verification: +/- 10 deg roll in 25 sec, +/- 30 deg roll in 60 sec, and +/- 45 deg pitch in 60 secdeg roll in 60 sec, and +/- 45 deg pitch in 60 sec

GSD verification: 2m +/- 5% for PAN, and 8m +/- 5% GSD verification: 2m +/- 5% for PAN, and 8m +/- 5% for MSfor MS

MTF verification: 0.12 for PAN, and 0.30 for MS MTF verification: 0.12 for PAN, and 0.30 for MS

SNR verification: 92 for PAN, and 175SNR verification: 92 for PAN, and 175

Pointing knowledge and accuracy verification: Pointing knowledge and accuracy verification: 450m per axis knowledge, and 2km pointing 450m per axis knowledge, and 2km pointing accuracyaccuracy

ISUAL commissioningISUAL commissioning

3. In-Orbit Performance Verification (2/2) – PAN MTF

Results:MTF=0.138 across-track, MTF=0.134 along-track,

(Specification value=0.12)

4. South Asia Disaster Observation (1/12)

--- Orbits of FORMOSAT-2

OrbitsOrbits 2 & 3 of FORMOSAT-2 pass over disastrous areas everyday.

Orbit 1Orbit 2Orbit 3

Orbit 3 Orbit 2 Orbit 1

Epicenter @

0

10

20

30

60 70 80 90 100

Lat

itud

e (d

eg N

)

Longitude (deg E)

Total observation areas in 4 weeks.

4. South Asia Disaster Observation (2/12)

--- Orbit of FORMOSAT-2

Observation on Aceh, Indonesia.

4. South Asia Disaster Observation(3/12)

--- Aceh (Indonesia)

Images taken by Ikonos (before) and FORMOSAT-2 (after).

4. South Asia Disaster Observation (4/12)

--- Aceh (Indonesia)

Images taken by Ikonos (before) and FORMOSAT-2 (after).

4. South Asia Disaster Observation (5/12)

--- Aceh (Indonesia)

Images taken by Ikonos (before) and FORMOSAT-2 (after).

4. South Asia Disaster Observation (6/12)--- Aceh (Indonesia)

4. South Asia Disaster Observation (7/12) --- Nicobar (India)

Houses destroyed byTsunami and covered by sand.

A small wiped island near Nicobar.

4. South Asia Disaster Observation (8/12) --- Nicobar (India)

Maavaafushi seashore has been destroyed.

4. South Asia DisasterObservation (9/12)

--- Maldives

Tsunami footprint after enhancement processing.

4. South Asia Disaster Observation (10/12)

--- Maldives

Observation onPhuket, Thailand.

4. South Asia Disaster Observation (11/12) --- Phuket (Thailand)

4. South Asia Disaster Observation (12/12)

--- Ranong (Thailand)

5. Typhoon Disaster Observation (1/3)

Mudslides

Landslides

A

B

A1

A2

B1B2

Mudslide and landslide areas observed in Hsinchu County.

Township ravaged by typhoon Aere, Township ravaged by typhoon Aere, location A1 of region A.location A1 of region A.

5. Typhoon Disaster Observation (2/3)

5. Typhoon Disaster Observation (3/3)

2

2

Mudslide located at A2 of region A.

6. Conclusions (1/2)

Daily repetitive capability enables FORMOSAT-2 to Daily repetitive capability enables FORMOSAT-2 to cope with weather effect as much as possible.cope with weather effect as much as possible.

FORMOSAT-2 observed South Asia seaquake and FORMOSAT-2 observed South Asia seaquake and tsunami disastrous areas for 4 weeks. In the first tsunami disastrous areas for 4 weeks. In the first week, NSPO provided images on-line free. week, NSPO provided images on-line free.

FORMOSAT-2 did contribute to rescue and disaster FORMOSAT-2 did contribute to rescue and disaster evaluation each time Taiwan was attacked by evaluation each time Taiwan was attacked by typhoon. We also got support from other remote typhoon. We also got support from other remote sensing satellite (RSS).sensing satellite (RSS).

6. Conclusions (2/2)

Whenever and wherever a disaster occurs, real Whenever and wherever a disaster occurs, real time and accurate information is always the most time and accurate information is always the most urgent and important need.urgent and important need.

To coordinate currently orbiting RSS and organize To coordinate currently orbiting RSS and organize an “Earth Observation Rescue Network (EORN)” an “Earth Observation Rescue Network (EORN)” could benefit humankind from mitigating the pain could benefit humankind from mitigating the pain and harm caused by disasters.and harm caused by disasters.

APAN probably has this kind of policy or concept APAN probably has this kind of policy or concept already.already.