Orbit Scenarios for a Multistatic InSAR Formation Flying Microsatellite Mission
- Paper number
IAC-08.B4.4.A4
- Author
Ms. Erica Peterson, Canada
- Coauthor
Dr. Robert E. Zee, University of Toronto, Canada
- Coauthor
Prof. Georgia Fotopoulos, University of Toronto, Canada
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Multistatic interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) is a promising future payload for a small satellite constellation, providing a low-cost means of augmenting proven “large” SAR mission technology. The Space Flight Laboratory at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies is currently designing CanX-4 and CanX-5, a pair of formation-flying nanosatellites slated for launch in 2009. Once formation flight has been demonstrated, a future multistatic InSAR formation-flying constellation can exploit inter-satellite baseline knowledge to a few centimeters for interferometric measurements, which can be used for a myriad of applications including digital terrain modeling and moving object tracking. This simulation study evaluates three commonly proposed InSAR constellation configurations for a future formation flight mission, namely the Cartwheel, the Cross-Track Pendulum, and the Car-Pe configuration, and considers three ‘large’ (~kilowatt) SAR transmitters (L-, C- and X-band) and one microsatellite transmitter (X-band, 150W). Each orbital configuration and transmitter case is evaluated with respect to the expected data quality for the selected applications: digital elevation modeling and moving target detection. Previous studies have analyzed orbital configurations and ‘large’ transmitter options. This work adds a microsatellite transmitter option, and focuses on the viability of each orbital configuration and transmitter scenario for the selected applications. The microsatellite X-band transmitter is found to be technically feasible, although the lower available transmitter power severely limits the operating range. The varied configurations and transmit band options present a wide range of application capabilities. Ultimately, the primary application of the data will determine the selected transmit band, baselines, and orbital configurations.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.B4.4.A4.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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