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Satellite Inputs and Coverage

Satellite inputs are the upstream observations ClearSKY uses to produce cloudless, Sentinel-2-compatible outputs. When you choose constellations in an order, you are deciding which sensors can contribute evidence for reconstruction.

That choice affects:

  • where data can be produced,
  • how often usable scenes can be generated,
  • how resilient outputs are in cloudy or difficult conditions.
  • which source-attribution notices may be required when outputs are shared externally.

Attribution Implications​

Satellite selection is not only a coverage decision. It also influences source-data attribution obligations for outputs delivered from the selected and fallback inputs used by the accepted model configuration.

For implementation guidance, see Source attribution and external use.

Coverage Types​

ClearSKY supports a mix of:

  • Globally available constellations with broad land coverage.
  • Region-limited constellations that are only available in specific geographies.

Use this page as a planning guide, then confirm your exact area/date with availability checks before large runs.

Globally Available Constellations​

Sentinel-1​

  • Instrument: Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).
  • Role in cloudless workflows: Adds all-weather, day/night radar signal that improves robustness when optical imagery is obstructed by cloud, haze, or low sun conditions.

Sentinel-2​

  • Instrument: MultiSpectral Instrument (MSI).
  • Role in cloudless workflows: Primary optical multi-band source used for Sentinel-2-compatible spectral outputs and vegetation/land monitoring workflows.

Sentinel-3​

  • Instrument: Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI).
  • Role in cloudless workflows: Contributes broad-swath optical context, useful for maintaining temporal continuity over larger areas.

Landsat 8/9​

  • Instruments: Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS).
  • Role in cloudless workflows: Adds cross-mission optical and thermal evidence that helps stabilize temporal coverage and improves reconstruction opportunities.

Region-Limited Constellations​

Region-limited inputs can significantly improve coverage in supported areas, but they are not globally available. In practice, this means two neighboring projects can have different constellation options depending on geography.

Amazonia-1​

  • Instrument: Wide-Field Imager (WFI).
  • Typical value: Broad-area optical coverage for supported regions.

CBERS-4 / CBERS-4A​

  • Instruments: Wide/Advanced Wide Field Imager (WFI/AWFI) and Multispectral Camera (MUX).
  • Typical value: Additional regional optical revisit and complementary spectral observations.

ResourceSat-2 / ResourceSat-2A​

  • Instruments: Linear Imaging Self Scanning (LISS-3) and Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS).
  • Typical value: Medium-resolution regional coverage for land monitoring programs.

EOS-04​

  • Modes: Medium Resolution scanSAR (MRS) and Coarse Resolution scanSAR (CRS).
  • Typical value: Regional SAR coverage that can support cloud-prone operating conditions.
Region-Limited Planning

For region-limited satellites, always validate your exact AOI and date window before committing to recurring pipelines.

Coverage Map​

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Use the leaflet layer panel (upper-right) to toggle satellites and instruments, then inspect historical footprint by region.

The map is a practical guide to where each source can contribute. Final production availability still depends on your order settings and time window.

For model-specific support requirements, see Models: Stratus and Nimbus. For preflight validation, see Check availability.