Why space matters: Imaging satellite operations, Part 5

One is a lonely number. It takes a while for one low earth orbiting (LEO) satellite’s payload (the camera) to see the entire Earth’s surface. If you want to get pictures more quickly, say the same day something like a hurricane or a forest fire is happening, you want a CONSTELLATION of satellites orbiting the […]

Why space matters: Imaging Satellite Operations, part 4

Okay, you’re holding the orange in your hand again (I hope you haven’t been holding it all this time—it’s been a few days). Again, there’s a line drawn around the orange that is parallel to the ground. The line represents…(you should be thinking the words “the Earth’s equator”). Now, roll the coin perpendicular to the […]

Why space matters: Imaging Satellite Operations, Part 3

So, assuming you’ve been tagging along this far, now we know that a good low earth orbit (LEO) for taking pictures is around 313 miles. But there’s another question that needs asking: what’s the best LEO (aside from your dream date) for ensuring you will eventually get to take pictures of Earth’s ENTIRE surface ? This […]