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System Characterization Report on Tanager

Open-File Report 2021-1030-W
By: , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20211030W

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Executive Summary 

This report addresses the system characterization of the Tanager satellite hyperspectral sensor created by Planet Labs PBC. and is part of a series of system characterization reports produced and delivered by the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence. These reports present and detail the methodology and procedures for characterization; present technical and operational information about the Tanager hyperspectral sensor; and provide a summary of test measurements, data retention practices, data analysis results, and conclusions. 
This report summarizes the sensor performance of the Tanager based on the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Cal/Val Center of Excellence system characterization process. In summary, we determined that the Tanager exhibits a band-to-band geometric error ranging from -0.074 to 0.097 pixels. Compared to the Landsat Operational Land Imager, geometric offsets ranged from -5.980 meters (-0.20 pixels) to 11.348 meters (0.40 pixels). Radiometric comparisons showed offsets between -0.004 and 0.056 with slopes from 0.830 to 1.066. Spectral shifts are found between 0.65 and 0.75 nanometers. Finally, spatial performance evaluation yielded a PSF full width at half maximum of 1.27 to 1.75 pixels, a relative edge response of 0.802 to 0.651, and a modulation transfer function at Nyquist of 0.488 to 0.253.

Suggested Citation

Kim, M., Park, S., Anderson, C., Clauson, J., Vrabel, J., and Sampath, A., 2026, System characterization report on Tanager, chap. W of Ramaseri Chandra, S.N., ed., System characterization of Earth observation sensors: U.S. Geological Survey Open- File Report 2021–1030, 45 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20211030W.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Table of Contents

  • Executive Summary
  • Introduction
  • System Description
  • Procedures
  • Measurements
  • Analysis
  • Summary and Conclusions 
  • Selected References 
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title System characterization report on Tanager
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2021-1030
Chapter W
DOI 10.3133/ofr20211030W
Publication Date May 18, 2026
Year Published 2026
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
Description Report: vi; 45 p.; Dataset
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Additional publication details