Area tasking allows you to use a polygon to define your area of interest and optimize your collections over that AOI. The Capella tasking system will automatically plan and schedule the number of images required to cover your area of interest, complete the collects, and make the data available when ready.
Define your target
An area tasking request can be created for any polygon-based target on the planet in mid-latitudes (between +65°N and -85°S). Areas in high latitude bands need to be submitted as individual, single task requests. Currently, repeat tasking is not available for polygon-based area collections.
The tasking system will only accept polygons with a single line string and less than 250 vertices (clicked points when creating an AOI). It will not accept polylines, multi-polygons, self-intersecting polygons, or polygons with holes.
Capella recommends keeping the size of your AOI to 2,000 sq km or less. If your area is larger than 2,000 sq km, please contact support@capellaspace.com for assistance in submitting your area tasking request.
Set the duration
The Window Open and Window Close dates set how long the Capella tasking system has to collect all the images needed over your area of interest. It can begin now (ASAP) or at any point in the future.
To optimize collection, Capella recommends setting the tasking window for at least a month from the Window Start date. The longer the timeline, the better.
Pick your Imaging Mode
Area tasking is available for all imaging modes:
- Spotlight
- Sliding Spotlight
- Stripmap
The default imaging mode for area tasks is Stripmap. This mode requires fewer images to cover an AOI, reducing the amount of time required for collection.
Pick your Product Category
Area tasking is available for all product categories:
- Standard
- Extended
- Custom
Note: To further optimize collection for an area tasking request, the default length and width of a Stripmap for an area task is automatically set to 100km (length) and 8km (width). These defaults can be overridden by using the Custom product category.
Set any optional parameters
Depending on the imaging mode selected, certain additional optional parameters will be available as they are for single and repeat tasking requests.
All images for an area tasking request are fulfilled by a single satellite in either an ascending or descending pass orientation, with the orientation aligned with the inclination of the orbit of the satellite. If you chose to restrict the Orbital Plane, Orbit State, or Observation Direction, consider extending the Window Close date even further out than a month to increase the number of satellite access times available.