Utilisation of Methane Bacteria as Renewable Power Source in Martian Environement and Other Potential Applications of Microorganisms in Space Exploration
- Paper number
IAC-04-W.2.04
- Author
Mr. Daniel Pereda, Spain
- Year
2004
- Abstract
TopSat is a UK Earth Observation technology demonstration satellite, which launched in October 2005. This paper will discuss imagery obtained by TopSat during its third year of operations, and the challenges faced in exploiting a technology demonstrator system.
The TopSat programme has been used to demonstrate the ability to build and operate a low-cost optical small-satellite capable of generating timely, high quality imagery. The system combines a responsive tasking process with a rapid down-linking capability – giving users the ability to receive near-real time imagery of commercial quality.
Remarkably, the spacecraft (and operations) were developed, built and launched for under $25M, resulting in a world leading performance-to-cost ratio. TopSat’s rapid end-to-end timeliness capability makes it ideally suited to working within tight timescales; whether for disaster relief, news gathering or security applications. Typical image turnaround is a few days and the system has been used to demonstrate the tasking, imaging, down-linking and image processing of a scene within an hour.
The programme, originally funded by the British National Space Centre (BNSC) and the UK Ministry of Defence, has since become a commercial venture between the TopSat Consortium partners. TopSat has exceeded its one year mission design lifetime and built up a large archive of imagery from around the world for use in a wide range of applications, including: disaster monitoring, cartographic updates and civil and security operations planning.
In 2008, TopSat was accepted into the International "Space and Major Disasters" Charter, a joint initiative by international space agencies to provide relief agencies with rapid access to satellite data. This paper will discuss imagery obtained by TopSat on behalf of the Charter, and its subsequent exploitation.
TopSat has also supported the LANDMAP project, which provides satellite imagery to UK academic institutions; and been involved in research activities such as ESA’s GMOSS (Global Monitoring for Security and Stability). Results from these projects will be presented.
The UK consortium behind TopSat was formed and is led by QinetiQ, the owner of the satellite. Day-to-day operations are performed by QinetiQ, in partnership with the data exploitation lead organisation, Infoterra. The consortium also includes the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, who designed and built the camera, and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), who built the spacecraft bus.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-04-W.2.04.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.