Dr. Heinz Sontag Profile

Dr. Heinz Sontag

at Airbus Defence and Space

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Publications (11)

Proceedings Article | 3 April 2018 Open Access

The ENVISAT medium resolution imaging spectrometer: MERIS

Jean-Loup Bezy, Georges Gourmelon, Guy Ratier, Gilles Baudin, Richard Bessudo, Heinz Sontag

Proceedings Volume 10570, 105700H (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2326451

KEYWORDS: Image resolution, Spectroscopy, Astronomical imaging

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Proceedings Article | 16 October 2013 Paper

Sentinel-2: next generation satellites for optical land observation from space

G. Lautenschläger, R. Gessner, W. Gockel, C. Haas, G. Schweickert, S. Bursch, M. Welsch, H. Sontag

Proceedings Volume 8889, 88890L (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2028725

KEYWORDS: Satellites, Multispectral imaging, Data acquisition, X band, Satellite imaging, Data storage, Neodymium, Sensors, Calibration, Earth observing sensors

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The first Sentinel-2 satellites, which constitute the next generation of operational Earth observation satellites for optical land monitoring from space, are undergoing completion in the facilities at Astrium ready for launch end 2014. Sentinel-2 will feature a major breakthrough in the area of optical land observation since it will for the first time enable continuous and systematic acquisition of all land surfaces world-wide with the Multi-Spectral Instrument (MSI), thus providing the basis for a truly operational service. Flying in the same orbital plane and spaced at 180°, the constellation of two satellites, designed for an in-orbit nominal operational lifetime of 7 years each, will acquire all land surfaces in only 5 days at the equator. In order to support emergency operations, the satellites can further be operated in an extended observation mode allowing to image any point on Earth even on a daily basis. MSI acquires images in 13 spectral channels from Visible-to-Near Infrared (VNIR) to Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) with a swath of almost 300 km on ground and a spatial resolution up to 10 m. The data ensure continuity to the existing data sets produced by the series of Landsat and SPOT satellites, and will further provide detailed spectral information to enable derivation of biophysical or geophysical products. Excellent geometric image quality performances are achieved with geolocation better than 16 m, thanks to an innovative instrument design in conjunction with a high-performance satellite AOCS subsystem centered around a 2-band GPS receiver, high-performance star trackers and a fiberoptic gyro. To cope with the high data volume on-board, data are compressed using a state-of-the-art wavelet compression scheme. Thanks to a powerful mission data handling system built around a newly developed very large solid-state mass memory based on flash technology, on-board compression losses will be kept to a minimum. The Sentinel-2 satellite design features a highly flexible operational concept, allowing downlink of all mission data to a nominal X-band core ground stations network. In addition, users could receive mission data sets at selected X-band local user ground stations or through an Optical Communication Payload (OCP) via an inter-orbit optical link to a geostationary EDRS relay satellite at Ka-band user ground stations. Different priority schemes can be selected in flight to allow transmission of critical image data with the shortest possible latency. The system is designed for high system autonomy allowing for pre-programming of the operational schedule for 15 days in advance without interference from ground. Apart from the nominal and extended imaging modes, the satellites also feature a calibration mode to support regular in-orbit radiometric calibration of the instrument. Overall, the Sentinel- 2 satellites are designed to provide in-orbit availability for the instrument data greater than 97%, which fulfills the requirements of a fully operational system for multispectral Earth observation.

Proceedings Article | 13 October 2010 Paper

Design and development of the Sentinel-2 Multi Spectral Instrument and satellite system

Vincent Chorvalli, Vincent Cazaubiel, Stefan Bursch, Mario Welsch, Heinz Sontag, Philippe Martimort, Umberto Del Bello, Omar Sy, Paolo Laberinti, François Spoto

Proceedings Volume 7826, 78260J (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.865749

KEYWORDS: Satellites, Mirrors, Telescopes, Sensors, Calibration, Short wave infrared radiation, Silicon carbide, Landsat, Visible radiation, Earth observing sensors

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Proceedings Article | 3 October 1998 Paper

MERIS FM performances

Beatrice Chommeloux, Christine Grivel, Ivan Cassedanne, Steven Matthews, Gilles Baudin, Richard Bessudo, Jean-Loup Bezy, Heinz Sontag

Proceedings Volume 3439, (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.325669

KEYWORDS: Cameras, Calibration, Diffusers, Mirrors, Spectroscopy, Charge-coupled devices, Fermium, Frequency modulation, Collimators, Image resolution

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Proceedings Article | 27 January 1997 Paper

Medium-resolution imaging spectrometer (MERIS)

Jean-Loup Bezy, Steven Delwart, Georges Gourmelon, Gilles Baudin, Richard Bessudo, Heinz Sontag

Proceedings Volume 2957, (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.265446

KEYWORDS: Calibration, Diffusers, Charge-coupled devices, Spatial resolution, Spectroscopy, Sun, Cameras, Satellites, Imaging systems, Sensors

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Proceedings Article | 1 September 1991 Paper

Fiber optic based chemical sensor system for in-situ process measurements using the photothermal effect

Karl-Heinz Walker, Heinz Sontag

Proceedings Volume 1510, (1991) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.47140

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Fiber optics sensors, Laser beam diagnostics, Signal detection, Fiber optics, Photothermal effect, Modulation, Water, Chemical fiber sensors, Semiconductor lasers

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Proceedings Article | 1 June 1991 Paper

Design of a diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser communication system

Heinz Sontag, Ulrich Johann, Klaus Pribil

Proceedings Volume 1417, (1991) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.43789

KEYWORDS: Telecommunications, Receivers, Sensors, Transmitters, Laser applications, Nd:YAG lasers, Free space optical communications, Modulators, Integrated optics, Fiber optics

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Proceedings Article | 1 May 1991 Paper

Novel optical-fiber-based conical scan tracking device

Ulrich Johann, Klaus Pribil, Heinz Sontag

Proceedings Volume 1522, (1991) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.46079

KEYWORDS: Electrodes, Telecommunications, Astronomical imaging, Optical communications, Optical tracking, Modulation, Sensors, Nd:YAG lasers, Single mode fibers, Laser systems engineering

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Proceedings Article | 1 May 1991 Paper

SOLACOS: a diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser breadboard for coherent space communication system verification

Klaus Pribil, Ulrich Johann, Heinz Sontag

Proceedings Volume 1522, (1991) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.46074

KEYWORDS: Receivers, Telecommunications, Sensors, Nd:YAG lasers, Transmitters, Acquisition tracking and pointing, CCD image sensors, Astronomical imaging, Optical communications, Oscillators

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Proceedings Article | 1 May 1991 Paper

Second-generation high-data-rate interorbit link based on diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser technology

Heinz Sontag, Ulrich Johann, Klaus Pribil

Proceedings Volume 1522, (1991) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.46076

KEYWORDS: Telecommunications, Optical communications, Receivers, Nd:YAG lasers, Laser applications, Space telescopes, Transmitters, Telescopes, Satellites, Data communications

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Proceedings Article | 1 July 1990 Paper

Free-space laser communication test-bed based on coherent diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser technology

Ulrich Johann, Heinz Sontag

Proceedings Volume 1218, (1990) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.18206

KEYWORDS: Laser applications, Telecommunications, Nd:YAG lasers, Receivers, Fiber couplers, Free space optical communications, Phase shift keying, Semiconductor lasers, Fiber coupled lasers, Fiber lasers

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Showing 5 of 11 publications

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