3. Investigated Space images 
Since launch of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) in 1982 space images usable for 
mapping purposes are available. The Thematic Mapper scanner was not projected for 
cartographic use. But images of neighboured orbits are overlapping 7% at the 
equator and 84% at a (attitude of 80°. So the ground points are visible from 
different projection centers and a three dimensional determination is possible. 
The Metric Camera (MC) was a West German experiment in 1983. A normal angle 
camera Zeiss RMK 30/23 from standard production was carried into space in the 
Spacetab with the Space Shuttle. The camera was not equiped with forward motion 
compensation and the flight was carried out in December under very low sun angle. 
Caused by this, the photo resolution has been poor. Kodak Aerochrome and the 
panchromatic Kodak Double X film has been used. 
In 1984 the NASA has made a similar experiment with the Large Format Camera. 
The large format has been used in flight direction for the improvement of the base 
to height ratio. A forward motion compensation has improved the photo resolution. 
Opposite to the previous mentioned experiments, since 1984 the soviet KFA 1000 is 
an operational system. The photos are distributed by Sojuzkarta. Also the KATE 
200 and the KATE 140 are operational like the MKF6. 
The SPOT satellite has been projected for cartographic applications. The digital 
images are available since the launch in 1986 and in addition from the SPOT2 since 
1990. The very narrow view angle of 4.1° can be inclined up to 27° to both sides 
of the orbit. So the same area can be imaged from different orbit with a base to 
height ratio up to 1.0. 
MC 
LFC 
KATE 
KFA 
TM 
SPOT 
focal length [mm] 
305 
305 
200 
1000 
_ 
(2087) 
film format [mm] 
230*230 
460*230 
180*180 
300*300 
(150*150) 
(150*150) 
flying height [km] 
250 
225-352 
280 
280 
705 
840 
scale number 
820 000 
740 000- 
1 150 000 
1400 000 
275 000 
(1200000) 
(400000) 
covered area [km] 
188*188 
170*340 
-260*530 
250*250 
80*80 
180*180 
60* (60) 
ground resolution 
16-33 
10-25 
25-40 
5-10 
[m/lp] 
pixel on ground [m] 
30 
10/20 
height to base 
3.3 : 1 
1.6 : 1 
2.8 : 1 
8 : 1 
4.2 : 1 ; 0° 
24 : 1; 80° 
=¡1:1 
table 2: technical data of used sensors 
128