Short revisit time for worldwide monitoring or surveillance missions using micro- and mini-satellites

Paper number

IAC-08.B4.4.A3

Author

Mr. Jean-Paul Aguttes, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France

Coauthor

Mr. Jean-Paul Abadie, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France

Coauthor

Mr. Philippe Raizonville, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France

Coauthor

Mrs. Julia LeMaitre, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France

Coauthor

Mr. Vincent ALBOUYS, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France

Coauthor

Mrs. Huguette Conessa, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France

Year

2008

Abstract

Various missions related to earth observation and surveillance require frequent revisit times in order to provide to users a fast access to information. 
Two examples are maritime security and the monitoring of European zones of interest, which include the monitoring of natural and industrial hazards, the monitoring of critical infrastructures and the surveillance of harbors and borders. For both domains, a strong reactivity is necessary contrary to environmental applications.
For maritime security purposes, the overall time to access data must be less than 3 hours in order to be able to follow normal situations, for example to monitor specific zones and for the surveillance of zones of interest, in case of crisis, an evaluation of the situation must be available in 3 hours. 
These specifications will thus require a significant increase of the actual spaceborne capacities. To reach the objectives, the complementarity within GMES with existing and short term planned spatial monitoring systems is a privileged direction. Moreover, the existing ground, airborne and maritime surveillance systems have to be considered.
For such systems, based on data capture, observation and data transmission, it is most of the time necessary to use low earth orbits (600 – 800 km) to reach payload performances and different orbital planes to improve acquisition delays. Several options of constellations can be considered depending on the range of latitudes of interest.
The total cost of a such spatial system intended to security has to be reasonable. Therefore, micro- and mini-satellites are especially attractive, with the possibility to develop a large number of satellites at an optimal cost.
The paper presents the advantages and drawbacks at satellite level for the different options listed above. The impacts on ground segment will also be considered. Finally, the launch possibilities, which are an important part of the system, will be considered.

Abstract document

IAC-08.B4.4.A3.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-08.B4.4.A3.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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