Terrain categorization from a linear etalon hyperspectral imager on MSTI-3

The MSTI-3 satellite payload included a wedge filter Hyperspectral Imager (HSI) system. This system provided a spectral image over a small range of wavelengths from 600 to 850 nm with a relatively coarse resolution estimated to be 70 m. The imaging system did not have either spectral or radiometric calibration during its on-orbit life cycle. Due to the orbit dawn/dusk Sun synchronous equatorial crossing time, no imaging opportunities were available for vicarious calibration or validation of the sensor. This paper describes the particular challenges encountered with this type of wedge filter HSI sensor. The approach and results obtained from terrain categorization algorithms are presented for Capetown South Africa