Topsat -- The demands placed by image quality

This paper explores the relationships between optical imagery performance metrics, and the requirements they place on the attitude control, and orbital knowledge, of a small, low cost, optical remote sensing satellite. These relationships are illuminated by the very real decisions and trade offs encountered in the design and development of the Topsat satellite. Topsat is a small, sun-synchronous satellite, designed to provide 2.5m resolution panchromatic imagery and 5m multispectral imagery in the three visible wavebands.