Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program – A German Hyperspectral Mission

Abstract

EnMAP (Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program) is a German hyperspectral earth observation satellite. Its spectral measurements will be used to obtain a diagnostic characterization of the earth's surface and to derive quantitative surface parameters on the status of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and the changes they undergo. EnMAP data will supply a basis for quantifying and modeling crucial ecosystem processes, thereby making a major contribution toward understanding the complexities of the Earth system. The satellite system is being developed entirely in Germany under the aegis of the Space Administration of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), with the launch scheduled for 2018. EnMAP carries a push broom type hyperspectral instrument with 30 km swath width at a ground sampling distance of 30 m, covering the full range of strong solar irradiation from 420 nm to 2450 nm with two spectrometers, one each for the VNIR and SWIR range. It will be operated for five years on a sun-synchronous orbit with a local time descending node (LTDN) at 11:00. At near nadir orientation (±5°) the repeat rate of EnMAP is 27 days. Using the across track platform pointing capability of ±30° enables frequent access to any global site within four days, allowing short term evolutions of ecosystems to be studied with high precision. Data takes can be acquired with an accumulated length of 5000 km along track per day, with individual segments ranging from 30 km to 1000 km. Image data are down linked via the Neustrelitz ground station using an X-band link at 320 MBit/s.