The Landsat-6 satellite: an overview

Abstract

Landsat 6 (L6), a remote land sensing satellite, is scheduled to be launched into a 705 km, circular, sun-synchronous orbit by a Titan-II booster in mid 1992. The L6 satellite has been designed to provide 30 m spatial resolution multispectral image data continuity via an enhanced thematic mapper (ETM) sensor which includes a panchromatic band with 15 m spatial resolution. A brief background description of the Landsat system is provided and the top-level L6 mission requirements are reviewed to identify the sensor and spacecraft bus design drivers. The L6-era combined EOSAT ground/space system configuration is highlighted. The design and operation of the high-data-rate ETM mission sensor and the major spacecraft bus subsystems are described in detail.<>