Question 1

When should I start using FarEarth?

Accepted Answer

Best to start early, but... FarEarth can be implemented during any phase of your satellite mission.

Starting with FarEarth before launch means we can check data formats, prepare Level 0 processors, and do an initial calibration even before you are in space! This will shorten your satellite commissioning time. You will be ready for production much earlier.

Question 2

Why do satellite operators need FarEarth?

Accepted Answer

FarEarth enables you to process your raw imagery automatically, reliably, and consistently for bulk production delivery to users.
FarEarth brings to NewSpace companies what teams of scientists bring to large classic space missions.

Question 3

Do I need pre-processing?

Accepted Answer

Yes, all satellites require pre-processing of their raw data to be usable in downstream applications.  Even for large classic satellites, operators do not distribute raw data as it has little analytical value.

Pre-processing is, therefore, essential for your satellite. All data is radiometrically calibrated and geometrically corrected.

Customers and experts alike expect images to be calibrated and GIS-ready.

Question 4

Why is pre-processing of smaller satellites more complex than that of classic satellites?

Accepted Answer

If you want more than a pretty picture, you must correct for a smaller satellite’s limitations with sound scientific principles. 
The choice of components used in smaller satellites imposes inherent constraints. The satellite’s attitude and position measurements are less accurate than those of its larger counterparts. 
Satellite control, pointing, and temperature management are also less precise. The imager’s radiometric response is more variable and degrades over time. One can expect more spatial anomalies. 
You compensate for these anomalies using more sophisticated processing.

Question 5

What should I consider when choosing a processing platform?

Accepted Answer

For any satellite mission, time-to-value is essential. It is vital to prove the value of your mission with high-quality imagery early in your program.

There are risks involved with not using a proven platform. Pre-processing requires a high degree of scientific expertise, and doing it automatically and at scale requires expert engineering.

We allow you to focus on your core business. FarEarth is the quickest and easiest way to get your satellite imagery to market.

Question 6

What type of cameras does FarEarth support?

Accepted Answer

FarEarth supports different imager types, including push broom, frame, and push frame cameras.
FarEarth supports multispectral, hyperspectral, and thermal imagers.

Question 7

What if I need edge (on-board) processing?

Accepted Answer

FarEarth supports edge pre-processing.

On-board processing is useful for 2 scenarios:
to minimise data downlink volumes, which often means event detection is done on-board so that only the event needs to be downlinked
real-time application like fire detection, where time is of the essence

Edge pre-processing corrects relative radiometry, aligns image bands, and geolocates the image. This step is required before applications such as AI-based event and cloud detection can be performed on-board.

If the image is not band-aligned and radiometrically corrected, objects cannot be accurately identified. If the image is not accurately geolocated, any event positions may be off by kilometers.

FarEarth's Edge seamlessly integrates with the rest of the FarEarth platform. FarEarth Cloud on-ground continuously determines calibration parameters during in-orbit calibration. These parameters are periodically uplinked to the satellite for accurate on-board pre-processing.

While edge processing on-board the satellite can minimise data downlink volumes, users often still require high-quality, map-ready imagery of detected events for further analysis. Relevant raw data is still downlinked and precision-processed on the ground to give context and inform decision-making.

Question 8

Is it a subscription or a once-off service?

Accepted Answer

Calibration is only a small part of the FarEarth platform.

It is a platform you use in your day-to-day operations, not a once-off calibration service. As you downlink your images, they are precision processed. FarEarth corrects anomalies, orthorectifies, and precisely geolocates every image to the exact point on Earth. This cannot be done with calibration parameters alone. Every product has a Quality Report and is fully traceable.

FarEarth is a managed cloud service for production processing. It includes data management and archiving. We take care of the infrastructure.

FarEarth does continuous re-calibration of your imager to adjust processing parameters. This is important because your imager's response changes over time. This ensures good image quality for the lifetime of your satellite. That means you receive quality images for longer. FarEarth helps you understand the changes to your satellite and imagers over time with Trend View.

Question 9

What if my satellite is already in-orbit?

Accepted Answer

FarEarth can be implemented during any phase of your satellite mission. We can still help you!

Question 10

Which satellites can FarEarth process?

Accepted Answer

FarEarth can process high, medium, and low-resolution multispectral, hyperspectral, and thermal imagers for any satellite. We can geolocate sounding and thermal data on these satellites. FarEarth also has standard processors for some of the classic satellite missions, such as Landsat and EOS-DB satellites.

Our platform is satellite manufacturer agnostic. FarEarth supports constellations that include buses and sensors from different providers.

Question 11

Are there different FarEarth packages to choose from?

Accepted Answer

1: Constellation Package

You have demanding production requirements & customised processing needs
You need access to all features
You expect production management of all your satellites in one platform
You need high-throughput parallel production
You expect executive support & training

2: Business Package

You need a production system to process EO products
You have medium throughput requirements
You need standard support

3: Academic Package

You are a registered academic institute or university
You only need Level 1C products

Question 12

Do I need training to use the FarEarth platform?

Accepted Answer

The intuitive platform is easy to use and requires minimal user training.

When you sign up, you will receive documentation Packs to guide you through each phase.

Launch Pack
Everything you need to know about raw data requirements and lab tests

Space Pack
We help you validate your image data, NavAtt, and ephemeris during your commissioning phase 
We guide you through your first calibration acquisitions

Orbit Pack
We provide you with user guides, system documentation, and API documentation with examples

Visit our resources page for a list of helpful reading material.

Question 13

What is my cashflow commitment?

Accepted Answer

Annual subscription based on your needs.

Question 14

What can FarEarth do for me in each phase of my mission?

Accepted Answer

Pre-launch
Before you launch, we use your lab data to calculate the initial calibration parameters for your imager. We develop a raw-data decoder and a sensor model for your unique satellite. To guide you through this phase, we provide you with a FarEarth Launch Pack.

Commissioning phase
After your satellite has been launched, FarEarth will create your first PR image. Initial images will be used to validate downlinked data. You are now ready to task images for your first calibration campaign. To guide you through this phase, we provide you with a FarEarth Space Pack.

FarEarth tracks and records metrics, including ephemeris, navigation, attitude, and temperature, to help you commission your satellite.

In-orbit calibration parameters are calculated in this phase and will be used to process and correct your images in the operational phase to follow.

We provide you with an in-orbit calibration report that includes metrics on radiometric and geometric accuracy, as well as SNR, MTF, and effective GSD measurements.

Operational phase
Your FarEarth platform is now fully operational and ready to process data at scale automatically.
The FarEarth Orbit Pack explains the ins and outs of daily operations.

Continuous recalibration over the lifetime of your satellite will ensure that the accuracy of your imagery remains consistent.

Question 15

What latitude ranges and geographic regions are covered by FarEarth's GCP dataset?

Accepted Answer

We support different GCP sources. In most cases, we use Sentinel-2.

Question 16

Does FarEarth processing include any denoising?

Accepted Answer

Depending on the transmission artefacts present, it might be but not limited to:

Dropped scanlines
NavAtt inconsistencies
Readout noise
Point spread function refinement

Question 17

Does FarEarth include dehazing?

Accepted Answer

Dehazing is part of our L2A products

Correcting reflective bands:
We generally require the following bands: Blue/Green/Red and NIR (if there is a SWIR band it will help as well).

Correct emissive bands:
We generally require Red and NIR, and two or more emissive bands.

In all L2A scenes we account for elevation across the scene.

Question 18

Which sensors does FarEarth support?

Accepted Answer

We support pushbroom sensors, pushframe sensors with rolling shutter and pushframe with global shutter.

In the case of multiple frames, these frames are mosaiced together to form the full scene.

If a Bayer sensor is used the bands are corrected to radiance values, before  demosaicing.

See our theory book: https://github.com/FarEarth/farearth-docs/tree/main/products

Question 19

What is the maximum off-nadir angle supported while maintaining nominal image quality and geolocation performance?

Accepted Answer

For ideal image quality incidence angle of less than 15 degrees is best. But we have successfully processed 5m GSD imagery at off-nadir angles at 40 degrees.

Question 20

Is any cloud detection or masking integrated into the processing chain?

Accepted Answer

We do have cloud detection. 
Level 2A products include atmospheric correction to create bottom-of-atmosphere products.

Question 21

With emergency tasking, is it possible to prioritise reduced latency over processing completeness (example, delivery of minimally processed imagery)?

Accepted Answer

Different workflows can be configured with different levels of processing requirements.

Frequently asked questions

When should I start using FarEarth?

Why do satellite operators need FarEarth?

Do I need pre-processing?

Why is pre-processing of smaller satellites more complex than that of classic satellites?

What should I consider when choosing a processing platform?

What type of cameras does FarEarth support?

What if I need edge (on-board) processing?

Is it a subscription or a once-off service?

What if my satellite is already in-orbit?

Which satellites can FarEarth process?

Are there different FarEarth packages to choose from?

Do I need training to use the FarEarth platform?

What is my cashflow commitment?

What can FarEarth do for me in each phase of my mission?

What latitude ranges and geographic regions are covered by FarEarth's GCP dataset?

Does FarEarth processing include any denoising?

Does FarEarth include dehazing?

Which sensors does FarEarth support?

What is the maximum off-nadir angle supported while maintaining nominal image quality and geolocation performance?

Is any cloud detection or masking integrated into the processing chain?

With emergency tasking, is it possible to prioritise reduced latency over processing completeness (example, delivery of minimally processed imagery)?

Contact

Useful links

Quick links

Frequently asked questions

When should I start using FarEarth?

Why do satellite operators need FarEarth?

Do I need pre-processing?

Why is pre-processing of smaller satellites more complex than that of classic satellites?

What should I consider when choosing a processing platform?

What type of cameras does FarEarth support?

What if I need edge (on-board) processing?

Is it a subscription or a once-off service?

What if my satellite is already in-orbit?

Which satellites can FarEarth process?

Are there different FarEarth packages to choose from?

Do I need training to use the FarEarth platform?

What is my cashflow commitment?

What can FarEarth do for me in each phase of my mission?

What latitude ranges and geographic regions are covered by FarEarth's GCP dataset?

Does FarEarth processing include any denoising?

Does FarEarth include dehazing?

Which sensors does FarEarth support?

What is the maximum off-nadir angle supported while maintaining nominal image quality and geolocation performance?

Is any cloud detection or masking integrated into the processing chain?

With emergency tasking, is it possible to prioritise reduced latency over processing completeness (example, delivery of minimally processed imagery)?

​​Contact​

Useful links

Quick links

Contact