The JERS-1 Satellite

*The JERS-1 satellite, or Japanese Earth Resources Satellite, is a project of the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA). It carries two Earth observing instruments (a SAR and Optical Sensors), a mission data recorder, and a mission data transmitter.

Frequency1.3 GHZ L-band
PolarizationHH
Swath Width75 km
Incidence Angle35 degrees
Resolution18 m

*SAR: The JERS-1 SAR is a high-resolution, all-weather imaging radar that can map the topography and geological characteristics of the earth's surface.

* Optical Sensor: The optical sensor is a high resolution sensor that measures solar radiation reflected off the earth's surface in the visible, near infrared, and short wavelength infrared. From this data, stereoscopic images can be made.

* Mission Data Recorder and Transmitter: JERS-1 also has a high density digital tape recorder for the earth observation data collected by the SAR and the OPS. This allows recording of data outside a ground station zone, which can be transmitted later when the satellite is in view of a ground station.

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