Estimation of satellite pitch attitude from aster image data

In this study, we demonstrate an automatic methodology for estimating the satellite pitch vibration by using information of sensors with small parallax and correcting the images taken by the sensors themselves. Consequently, We can get corrected digital elevation model (DEM) from the images disturbed by satellite pitch vibration. A satellite often vibrates in roll and pitch directions, and each component has a bad influence on photogrammetry. Since the pitch component directly deteriorates the accuracy of DEM in case of along-track stereo sensor, we focus on estimating and correcting pitch vibration. Our methodology is particularly useful for small parallax stereo system, because sub-pixel image matching precision is needed for small parallax stereo system and satellite vibration causes a critical problem.