From Space to Earth. Unlocking the power of GEOSAT’s missions for a better tomorrow.

Learn the key factors of GEOSAT’s Satellite Missions to protect our planet and enhance life on Earth. 

Observing our planet from space has become crucial for understanding and managing Earth’s resources and environment, and consequently improving various aspects of daily life. Satellite missions are designed to collect valuable data about Earth and space, each with specific tasks or objectives while orbiting the planet. These missions vary widely depending on the satellite’s purpose, including scientific research, communication, weather monitoring, navigation, Earth observation (EO), and space exploration. 

GEOSAT’s EO missions provide a comprehensive view of global phenomena allowing us, among other things, to monitor climate change, track natural disasters, manage agriculture, and assess the health of ecosystems. Essential data to help ensure the safety and well-being of people worldwide. 

We are dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and exploring further through innovative techniques and ideas. We harness the power of our technology and satellites to deepen our understanding of the planet, with the primary mission of building a better world to live in.

Key concepts:

• Orbit:  A satellite orbit is the path that a satellite follows around the Earth. Orbits are classified based on several factors, including their altitude, inclination, eccentricity, purpose, and specific region of space. Here’s an overview of the main types of orbits, categorized according to altitude and inclination:
  Based on altitude:

• • Low Earth Orbit (LEO):
    Altitude range: 160 km to 2,000 km above Earth’s surface. Short orbital periods (around 90-120 minutes), ideal for Earth observation, communication, and scientific satellites.

• • Medium Earth Orbit (MEO):
    Altitude range: 2,000 km to 35,786 km above Earth’s surface. Longer orbital periods than LEO, commonly used for navigation satellites such as GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo.

• • Geostationary Orbit (GEO):
    Altitude: 35,786 km above Earth’s equator. Satellites have an orbital period matching the Earth’s rotation, appearing stationary relative to a point on Earth. Ideal for weather monitoring, telecommunications, and broadcast satellites.

• • Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO):
    Altitude range: 120 km to 400 km above Earth’s surface. Used for EO missions with very high-resolution imagery.

• • High Earth Orbit (HEO):
    Altitude: Above 35,786 km. Orbits above GEO; sometimes used for deep space observation and scientific missions.

GEOSAT’s EO missions operate in LEO, orbiting the Earth 14 times per day, and offer several advantages, including the ability to produce Very-High-Resolution (VHR) images due to their proximity to Earth and low latency in communications, as data is transmitted quickly between the satellites and ground stations. 

Based on inclination: 

• • Polar Orbit:
    Inclination: Close to 90 degrees. Satellites pass over the Earth’s poles, covering the entire surface as the Earth rotates beneath them. Commonly used for EO, reconnaissance, and meteorological satellites.

• • Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO):
    Inclination: 98-100 degrees. A special type of polar orbit that maintains a consistent angle with respect to the Sun, allowing satellites to pass over the same part of the Earth at roughly the same local solar time. Ideal for consistent lighting conditions for imaging satellites.

• • Equatorial Orbit:
    Inclination: 0 degrees. Satellites orbit directly above the Earth’s equator, useful for communication satellites in GEO.

• • Inclined Orbit:
    Inclination: Any angle between 0 and 90 degrees. Covers specific regions of the Earth, useful for regional coverage applications.

Our satellites have an inclination of approximately 98 degrees which allows us to pass over the same area of the Earth at roughly the same local solar time on each orbit. 

• Orbital Period: Is the time it takes for a satellite to complete one full orbit around the Earth.
  Our missions complete one orbit around the Earth in about 98 minutes, allowing them to frequently revisit and monitor specific areas of interest (AOIs), making several orbits per day. GEOSAT’s satellites have shorter orbital periods, while those in higher orbits take longer to complete one.
• Speed: It refers to the rate at which a satellite travels along its orbit around the Earth.
  GEOSAT’s sensors travel at speeds of approximately 7.5 km/s (17,500 mph) to maintain orbit, resulting in shorter orbital periods, which means they circle the Earth more quickly. 
• Inclination: It refers to the angle between the satellite’s orbital plane and the equatorial plane of the Earth. Essentially, it measures how tilted the satellite’s orbit is relative to the Earth’s equator. 
• Latency (for EO satellites): It refers to the time delay between the moment an observation is made by the satellite and when the corresponding data becomes available for use on the ground.

GEOSAT has a 15-minute latency (low latency), vital for near-real-time data acquisition and analysis, leading to faster decision-making, more effective management, and improved overall responsiveness in various critical areas.

• Spatial Resolution: It refers to the measure of the smallest detail that can be distinguished in an image, indicating the level of detail and clarity captured by a satellite. Our GEOSAT 2 EO mission produce VHR images (up to 40 cm with Super Resolution). 
• Swath: It is the width of the Earth’s surface that a satellite’s sensor can cover in a single pass. Our GEOSAT 2 satellite swath is 12 km (24 km in area mode).

GEOSAT’s EO missions are ideal for mapping coverage due to their Sun-Synchronous Orbits (SSO), which allow us to revisit the same area at the same local solar time. Additionally, our high revisit frequency enables multiple passes over the same area, providing exceptional timing consistency.

With the capability to cover strips – areas of the Earth’s surface that a satellite can capture in a single pass – up to 1,400 km long, we offer extensive and detailed coverage, positioning us optimally for accurate and efficient mapping services. In addition to this, we offer a range of other applications, such as Urban planning, Agriculture & Forestry, Defense, Energy & Minning, Finance & Insurance and Environmental Monitoring.

Overall, GEOSAT’s missions support a wide range of scientific, commercial, and practical applications, driving innovation and technological advances while providing a broader understanding of the Earth and beyond. By leveraging the power of our data, we aim to create a better world.