Real-Time Mosaic Business Plan
- Paper number
IAC-05-B1.5.06
- Author
Mr. Sean Hodges-Jackson, University of Surrey, United Kingdom
- Year
2005
- Abstract
The role of satellites in medium and high resolution Earth Observation has been well documented through missions such as Landsat, SPOT, IKONOS, EROS, ImageSat and Quickbird. More recently, growth in the utlisation and functional capabilities of SSTL’s small satellites has helped to transform the sector and demonstrate the unique value and utility of operating small Earth Observation satellites within constellation. The SSTL led Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) was the world’s first, internationally coordinated constellation and is a continuing example of the benefits that can be realised from increased temporal resolution. This was demonstrated in the support of aid relief in the tsunami stricken regions as just one such example. The constellation of five satellites, currently under construction at SSTL, for the RapidEye AG consortium will become operational in 2007, which will demonstrate further the commercial opportunities for achieving greater revisits through small satellites constellations. Although Medium resolution data products have contributed significantly to the needs of the Earth Observation community, the commercial and military markets concentrate increasingly on enhancing resolution. Markets for these products are well served and are likely to become even more competitive with further planned high-resolution missions. However, there is a growing need for regular revisit constellations that can provide much faster response, particularly in the military and other key sectors, where time critical tasks are required for tactical use. This is one such area where small satellites can provide distinct advantages in meeting the needs for higher temporal resolution through affordable and effective constellations of low cost Earth Observation satellites. SSTL has developed a concept, labeled Real-Time Mosaic, comprising of a fleet of enhanced micro satellites to achieve higher revisit periods of between two to four occasions per day, to address this growing market need. The analyses show that the proposed concept has a compelling business case for combined public and private investments. The market survey and business plan for Real Time Mosaic will be presented in this paper.
- Abstract document