The Spectral Response of Planet Doves: Pre-launch Method and Results

Planet currently operates the largest constellation of Earth observation satellites. Known as Doves, these satellites are multispectral imaging systems operating in the visible and near IR wavelengths. Over the years, Planet has been iteratively improving our payload hardware and ground calibration systems so our data can better provide meaningful insights to the remote sensing community. Our latest payload iteration, called SuperDove, is natively interoperable with Sentinel-2. With these payload advancements, enhanced calibration and characterization are necessary while still keeping cost down and the schedule agile. Here we detail the method and results of the pre-launch spectral characterization of SuperDove. We compare the sequential spectral improvements from Dove-Classic to SuperDove and the continued compatibility across payload iterations. Additionally, we demonstrate how extensive automation of the data collection and analysis allows for efficient and uniform pre-launch characterization across satellites.