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RapidEye

The RapidEye satellite is characterized by its ability to capture wide-area images, undertake high-frequency imaging, as well as ability to acquire high-resolution multispectral images. The constellation of five satellites covers five bands and boasts a resolution of 5m. Its powerful capabilities are fully demonstrated in wide-area, high-frequency imaging. In particular, image products have been developed to satisfy the needs of international organizations in the agriculture and forestry sectors, and these products help farm operators and forest managers make decisions in a prompt and timely manner.

Compared to high-resolution images such as images captured by GeoEye-1, the price of a RapidEye image per surface area unit is very reasonable. The unit price of an archived image covers the license for a single organization. In the case of an order for the minimum continuous surface area of 1,000km2 (approximately half of Tokyo), the unit price is 220 yen/km2. The purchase price for an image of this size would therefore be as low as 220,000 yen. Pricing is ideal for customers that require wide-area images.

The five-satellite constellation is able to image the same area every day. This allows for prompt response during times of emergency or in unforeseen circumstances. The RapidEye is capable of covering more than 5 million km2 of area per day, with each satellite acquiring Earth surface data for a maximum area of approximately 110,000km2 (77 km width × 1,500 km length) with each imaging (one pass). By harnessing the excellent imaging capability of the RapidEye succeeded in archiving image data for over 1.8 billion km2 of surface area in the first two years.

The RapidEye satellite is the first commercial satellite in the world to have a Red-Edge band. The Red-Edge band mounted on the RapidEye is positioned between the Red band and the Infrared band. It is able to acquire high-resolution data through a 12 bit dynamic range (4,096 gradations).

The high-frequency imaging and extensive volume of image data can be utilized in monitoring and analysis activities in the agriculture and forestry sectors. It can also be applied to the survey of distribution of vegetation, classification of tree species, and medical checkups.