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Earth Viewing Camera (EVC)
01.27.10

Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Images

Experiment/Payload Overview

Information provided courtesy of the European Space Agency (ESA) Brief Summary

The Earth Viewing Camera (EVC) is a fixed-pointed Earth-observing camera, located on the European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF). The main goal of the system is to capture color images of the Earth?s surface, to be used as a communication tool to increase the awareness of the general public on the ISS and as a promotional tool to demonstrate the use of the ISS for observation purposes to the potential user community.

Principal Investigator

  • M. Sabbatini

    • Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

    Information Pending

    Payload Developer

    Carlo Gavazzi Space S.p.A., Milan, Italy

    Sponsoring Agency

    European Space Agency (ESA)

    Expeditions Assigned

    |16|17|18|

    Previous ISS Missions

    Information Pending

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    Experiment/Payload Description

    Research Summary

    • The Earth Viewing Camera (EVC) will highlight the availability for European users of the Columbus External Facilities and European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF) in particular. At the same time it will demonstrate to the public that the utilization potential of the ISS is not restricted to research under micro-gravity conditions, but that it also comprises other disciplines like Earth observation and atmospheric studies and analysis.


    • Specifically, the EVC will be able to take medium resolution color images of the Earth surface both in daylight and at nighttime. Not being mounted onto a specific pointing tool, EVC Field of View shall be sufficiently large to allow potential users to distinguish and recognize geographical features and landmarks.

    Description

    The Earth Viewing Camera (EVC) payload is as a fixed-pointed Earth-observing camera. It shall be situated under the EUTEF Support Structure, nadir pointed.

    The main goal of the system is to capture colour images of the Earth surface, to be used as a communication tool to increase the awareness of the general public on the ISS and as a promotion tool to demonstrate the use of the ISS for observation purposes to the potential user community.

    The footprint of the ground pictures is of 200 Km x 200Km with a resolution of 100 meters per pixel. The acquisition system shall acquire and be able to send one image every 20 seconds via the main data interface to the ISS. EVC shall provide the capability to continuously observe the Earth surface and record and store images when the downlink is not available: up to 20 minutes of continuous acquisition.

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    Information Pending

    Earth Applications

    Information Pending

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    Information Pending

    Operational Protocols

    Information Pending

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    Results/More Information

    Information Pending

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    Related Web Sites
  • Columbus Mission - European Experiment Programme

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    Publications

    Results Publications

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      Related Publications
      • Reibaldi GG, Gianfiglio G, Feltham S, Galeone PC. The ESA Pressurized and Unpressurized Payloads in the Columbus Laboratory. 55th International Astronautical Congress, Vancouver, Canada. ; IAC-04-T.4.06. 2004

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      Images

      imageNASA Images s124e010226 (background) and s123e009654 (foreground): This image shows the location along with a close up view of the European Space Agency?s European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF) platform located externally on the Columbus module. EuTEF houses nine experiments including Earth Viewing Camera (EVC).
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      Information Provided and Updated by the ISS Program Scientist's Office
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