New DMC satellites deliver stunning images
It's a busy time for both SSTL and DMCii as the new DMC satellites UK-DMC2 and Deimos-1, which were launched on the 29th July are commissioned and their imaging systems thoroughly tested and calibrated.
Just a week after launch, DMCii had already begun acquiring stunning satellite imagery from both satellites using the new 22m multi-spectral imaging payloads that they carry onboard. This would not have been possible without the new 22m multi-spectral imager that was developed by SSTL's Optical Payloads Group (OPG) in Sevenoaks, Kent. In a addition to the more obvious resolution increase it has over the previous 32m DMC imager, it includes a number of technological advances that improve the quality and calibration of the images DMCii receives.
This first image shows the states of Texas and Oklahoma, USA. The DMC satellites are specifically designed to image very large areas with rapid response and at regular intervals, as shown in this first multi-state image. The new satellites can image much larger areas in a single pass than the previous DMC satellites due to advances in onboard storage and high speed satellite downlinks to the Earth.
This is one of the first 11 images taken by Deimos-1, see the Deimos-1 gallery provided by the satellite owner Deimos Space for more.
Almost every year, California faces widespread forest fires and this year was no exception. In the future, both UK-DMC2 and Deimos-1 will will contribute to international disaster relief efforts through programs such as the International Charter : Space and Major Disasters so DMCii used August the forest fires in California to test UK-DMC2's imaging for disaster response.
If you missed out on the launch, take a look at the SSTL launch preparation gallery or watch the lauch online. For real space enthusiasts, launch services provider Roscosmos have published a lengthy "fly on the wall" video on YouTube that shows the multi-satellite launch preparations featuring Deimos-1, NanoSat-1B, UK DMC-2, AprizeSat-3, AprizeSat-4 and DubaiSat-1.
Stay tuned to find out more.
