The CBERS-2 identical to CBERS-1 Program was born from a partnership between Brazil and China in the space technical scientific segment. CBERS-1 was launched successfully on October 21, 2003 from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in China. The launch time was 11:16AM (Beijing local time), which corresponds to 1:16AM (Brasilia local time). Satellite images from CBERS-2 are used in important areas, as deforestation and fire control in the Amazon Region, water resources monitoring, urban growth, soil occupation, education and several other applications. One important application is the hydrological basin monitoring by the ANA and SIVAM platform networks, which provides Brazilian river and rain data.
CBERS Satellite Sensor
Image Credit: China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite/INPE
The CBERS satellite is composed of two modules. The payload module houses the optical system (CCD - High Resolution CCD Cameras, IRMSS - Infra-Red Multispectral Scanner e WFI - Wide Field Imager) and the electronic system used for Earth observation and data collecting with a resolution capability ranging from 20 meters to 260 meters. The service module incorporates the equipment that ensures the power supply, control, telecommunications and all other functions needed for the satellite operation.
CBERS-2 Satellite Sensor Specifications
| Resolution | 20m - 260m |
| Launch Date | October 21, 2001 |
| Launch Location | Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in China |
| Total Mass | 1450kg |
| Power Generation | 1100w |
| Sun-Synchronous Orbit | 778km 14 revolutions per day |
| Equator Crossing Time | 10:30 am |
| Lifetime Orbit | 2 years |
CBERS-2 Optical Specifications
The CBERS-2 satellite sensor was designed for global and scalable coverage that include cameras that make optical observations and to collect data on the environment.
The unique characteristics of CBERS-2 are its multi-sensor payloads with different spatial and spectral resolution capabilities and frequencies from each camera allowing for various mapping applications.
WFI - Wide Field Imager — Large Territories (890km wide) — 5 day interval
| Spectral bands | 0,63 - 0,69 Μm (red) 0,77 - 0,89 Μm (infrared) |
| Field of view | 60 ° |
| Spatial resolution | 260 x 260 m |
| Swath width | 890 km |
| Temporal resolution | 5 days |
| RF carrier frequency | 8203,35 MHz |
| Image data bit rate | 1,1 Mbit/s EIRP 31,8 dBm |
WFI - Wide Field Imager Camera
Satellite Image - South America
Image Credit: China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite/INPE
- Large scale mosaics
- Vegetation indexes and land cover change detection for monitoring purposes
- Monitoring of agricultural harvests, canopy assessment, tree grading, deforestation, forestry, wildfires/forest fires, and infestation
- Joint operation with other world data
CCD - High Resolution Camera — Detailed City and Region Studies
| Spectral bands | 5 0,51 - 0,73 Μm (pan) 0,45 - 0,52 Μm (blue) 0,52 - 0,59 Μm (green) 0,63 - 0,69 Μm (red) 0,77 - 0,89 Μm (near infrared) |
| Field of view | 8,3° |
| Spatial resolution | 20 x 20 m |
| Swath width | 113 km |
| Mirror pointing capability | ±32° |
| Temporal resolution | 26 days nadir view (3 days revisit) |
| RF carrier frequency | 8103 MHz e 8321 MHz |
| Image data bit rate | 2 x 53 Mbit/s EIRP 43 dBm |
CCD - High Resolution Camera
Satellite Image - Beijing
Image Credit: China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite/INPE
CCD Camera supports the analysis of phenomena whose duration is compatible with its temporal resolution. This temporal resolution can be improved as the CCD has the capacity of side view. Its bands are located in the spectral zone of the visible and near infrared, which allow good contrast between vegetation and other type of objects:
- Vegetation
- Agriculture
- Environment
- Water
- Cartography
- Geology and soil
IRMSS - Infrared Multispectral Scanner — Spectral coverage (120km wide) — 26 days
| Spectral bands | 4 0,50 - 0,80 Μm (panchromatic) |
| Field of view | 2,1 ° |
| Spatial resolution | 2,7 x 2,7 m |
| Imaged strip width | 27 km (nadir) |
| Temporal resolution | 130 days in the proposed operation |
| Quantization | 8 bits |
IRMSS - Infrared Multispectral Scanner
Satellite Image - Dam on Piranhas (or Açu) River, Brazil
Image Credit: China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite/INPE
>Source: http://www.satimagingcorp.com