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  • Multiple User System For Earth Sensing (MUSES)
    • Launched June 2017, declared operational Oct 2017
    • Space-based two-axis gimbaling precision platform
    • Hosts up to four Earth-pointing/space-exposed instruments at one time

  • DLR Earth Sensing Imaging Spectrometer (​DESIS)
    • Launched June 2018, installed August 2018, and declared operational November 2018
    • First instrument hosted on MUSES
    • Hyperspectral imager that detects fine spectral details of earth-based objects
    • Collects between 900 - 1100 km2 in each frame (dependent on altitude, AOI location, and off-nadir angle) with an approximate 30 m GSD (pixel) and capability of collecting up to 57,000 km2 in one continuous scan
    • 230 million km2 + collected and in our archive​
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​Summary of DESIS Terminology and Ground Sample Distance​
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MUSES/DESIS Coverage of Earth



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DESIS Spectral Coverage is 400 to 1000 nanometers (nm)​
  • ​​The electromagnetic spectrum is composed of different wavelengths representing different types of light energy (e.g., visible, infrared, x-rays, etc.)
  • Materials interact with different parts of the spectrum in different ways that we can exploit in remote sensing using spectral fingerprints of vegetation, and other Earth cover
  • Human eyes perceive reflected colors in red, green, and blue (RGB) wavelength bands in the visible part of the spectrum from about 400 nm to 700 nm.
  • Non-visible spectral regions provide additional information
  • Hyperspectral data with hundreds of wavelengths covering visible and near-infrared spectral regions is a rich source of information about vegetation and other Earth cover features
    • This level of detail supports the discrimination and classification of materials, objects, and their conditions, based on features extracted from reflected sunlight, for example:
      • ​Tree and vegetation species (types and coverage)
      • Health (drought, pests, stress)​
      • Water quality/algae detection​
      • Soil constituents/certain minerals​
      • Other ground features (roads, lakes, built-up areas)