Illumination Variations in Near-Equatorial Orbit Imaging: A Case Study with Simulated Data of RAZAKSAT

RAZAKSAT is a second micro-satellite mission by Malaysian Satellite Program and is expected for launch in June 2004. Designed to orbit the earth at low-equatorial orbit, RAZAKSAT will meet Malaysia’s immediate needs to rapid data acquisition (real time and more repetitions) to address many operational issues of remote sensing applications, which require availability of current data sets. RAZAKSAT will be among the first remote sensing satellite to orbit the earth at low inclination along the equator, 9$^{\circ}$ with 685km altitude, hence, allows optimal geographical information and environment change within equatorial region be observed with a unique revisit characteristics. The satellite primary payload is MAC, a push-broom type camera with 2.5m of ground sampling distance (GSD) in panchromatic band and 5m of GSD in four multi-spectral bands. This paper describes on the variation of illumination anticipated from simulated RAZAKSAT image, examine its implication to its ground leaving radiances for major applications.