Radiometric features and ground processing for high-resolution Earth observation satellite Bayer matrix-based images like CO3D

Abstract. Matrix detectors and colour filters arrays are more widely used for satellites and rover missions in the past years. Recently, four CO3D (from “Constellation Optique 3D” in french) satellites equipped with COTS matrix Bayer sensor were launched and calibrated. Both the sensor sampling distinctive features and the new Step & Stare guidance mode are leading to new calibration and processing paradigms. In this paper, we delve into techniques dedicated for such Bayer matrix-based system, mainly but not limited to high-resolution (HR) Earth-observation (EO) satellite missions. We first describe dedicated techniques for in-orbit radiometric performance assessment like signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and modulation transfer function (MTF). Then we address ground processing dedicated to Bayer acquisitions. Finally, we demonstrate the validity of our approach with CO3D in-orbit measurements. We also apply the radiometric ground processing on real images and provide a comparison with Pléiades-HR imagery, demonstrating the many benefits of the CO3D mission and all its novelties. CO3D in-orbit testing (IoT) is still ongoing eight months after launch, the in-flight performances are not presented in this paper due to confidentiality agreement.