Particularly from the BIROS satellite the position and selected fire parameters of already active or newly emerging fires, like temperature, energy, and surface area, are transmitted directly to mobile devices. To make that possible the image data are processed already on board and the results are sent over a special modem as an “SMS”. In distinction to TET-1, BIROS is equipped with a propulsion system. This makes it possible to make specific changes in the constellations with TET-1. With a new system of especially powerful reaction wheels the satellite can rapidly execute the precise slew manoeuvers that are required for repeated recordings of one target under different viewing angles, for example. This agility also makes it possible for BIROS to rapidly shift from one recording target to another. The three different laser communication systems on board also require precise alignment of the transmitted laser beam to a ground station receiving optical signals. If a station is blocked by cloud cover this agility will be exploited to quickly switch to an alternative station. Laser communication makes it possible for data that would otherwise require an entire day and several radio contacts to be downlinked to a conventional ground station to be transmitted to an optical ground station within just a few seconds of contact time.
Overview of BIROS Mission Main Parameters