Space Regulatory Glossary Industry

ground sample distance

noun

1. The distance between the center points of adjacent pixels in a satellite image, measured on the ground. A GSD of 30 cm means each pixel represents a 30 cm square area on Earth's surface.
2. GSD is the standard measure of spatial resolution in commercial Earth observation. NOAA remote sensing licenses specify the maximum resolution a system is authorized to collect, with sub-meter GSD historically restricted for national security reasons.

Read: NOAA Remote Sensing Licensing

Related terms

synthetic aperture radar An active remote sensing technology that uses the motion of a satellite or aircraft to simulate a much larger antenna,… remote sensing license A license issued by NOAA authorizing a private entity to operate a system that collects data about Earth from space. NOAA The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A U.S. federal agency within the Department of Commerce that…

Mentioned in The Downlink

• ITAR and Export Controls for Satellite Programs

  How U.S. export controls apply to commercial satellites. ITAR vs EAR jurisdiction, deemed exports, the 2024 reform proposal, and compliance strategies.

• NOAA Remote Sensing License & Part 960 Explained

  Part 960 governs every U.S. commercial Earth observation satellite. Here's how the tier system works and why CRSRA's capacity is now uncertain.

Browse all terms in the Space Regulatory Glossary →