STAR-BASED METHODS FOR PLEIADES HR COMMISSIONING

Abstract

PLEIADES is the highest resolution civilian earth observing system ever developed in Europe. This imagery program is conducted by the French National Space Agency, CNES. It has been operating since 2012 a first satellite PLEIADES-HR launched on 2011 December 17th, a second one should be launched by the end of the year. Each satellite is designed to provide optical 70 cm resolution colored images to civilian and defense users. Thanks to the extreme agility of the satellite, new calibration methods have been tested, based on the observation of celestial bodies, and stars in particular. It has then been made possible to perform MTF measurement, re-focusing, geometrical bias and focal plane assessment, absolute calibration, ghost images localization, micro-vibrations measurement, etc… Starting from an overview of the star acquisition process, this paper will discuss the methods and present the results obtained during the first four months of the commissioning phase.