REFOCUSING FOR ON-ORBIT MTF COMPENSATION OF REMOTE SENSING CAMERA

Refocusing methods are used to compensate optical performance degradation of high resolution satellite camera during on-orbit operation. Due to mechanical vibration during launch and thermal vacuum environment of space where camera is exposed, the alignment of optical system may have error. The focusing error is dominant of misalignment and caused by the de-space error of secondary mirror of catoptric camera, which is most sensitive to vibration and space environment. The high resolution camera of SPOT, Pleiades and KOMPSAT2 have refocusing device to adjust focusing during orbital operation while QuickBird of US does not use on orbit refocusing method. For the Korsch type optical configuration which is preferred for large aperture space remote sensing camera, secondary mirror and folding mirror are available as refocusing element.