UK-DMC2 and Deimos-1, stimulating small satellite based Earth Observation Services
- Paper number
IAC-08.B4.4.A12
- Author
Dr. Adam M. Baker, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., United Kingdom
- Coauthor
Mr. Zeger de Groot, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., United Kingdom
- Coauthor
Mr. James Penson, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., United Kingdom
- Coauthor
Mr. Paul Stephens, DMC International Imaging Ltd., United Kingdom
- Year
2008
- Abstract
This paper makes the case for small satellites as enabling tools for business case driven Earth observation and climate change monitoring, in support of an increasing range of user needs. Critical to this development are the latest spacecraft to be launched as part of SSTL’s Disaster Monitoring Constellation spacecraft, UK-DMC-2 and Deimos-1.
Deimos-1 is under contract with the Spanish company Deimos Imaging SL, while UK-DMC2 is SSTL’s first self-funded Earth Observation mission. The two Microsat-100 spacecraft are expected to be the first small EO missions to be funded completely from projected data sales, and will launch together in 2008.
The current DMC constellation produces 32m multi-spectral imagery in three bands (red, green and near-infrared) equivalent to LandSat L1T images but at much wider swath (600+km); and has enabled DMC Imaging International, DMCii to become a profitable and successful business unit of the SSTL group. The next generation spacecraft will improve the resolution to 22m, while maintaining the 600km wide swath. Improved power and data handling subsystems allow a greater imaging capacity so that swath lengths of up to 1280km along track can be captured. The higher imaging capacity will be augmented by an X-band downlink operating at up to 80Mbps, enabling download in near real time of data collected during any given pass. These performance characteristics in combination with the low mass (<95 kg), short schedules (15-18 months) and SSTL’s evolutionary design approach leading to low mission risk and low mission costs (£5-10M range) make them attractive to numerous programmes. These include LandSat data continuity; for developing countries who need to obtain timely data tailored to their national needs; and as a significant contributor at low cost to Europe’s GMES programme.
This paper will outline the technical design of UK-DMC2 and Deimos-1, including the latest developments and experimental subsystems such as a new high-speed data recorder, an innovative GPS-receiver, enhanced sun-sensors, COTS heatpipes and a low-cost star camera.
The paper will further describe how SSTL-UK and its business unit DMCii are marketing small satellite based integrated services to customers in both developed and developing nations. The potential to fuse firstly data sets from different spacecraft, to give high resolution, multi-spectral and rapidly updated data; and secondly datasets from other platforms will be explored. The value of broadcasting data using the unique UK-DMC2 near real time direct downlink to generate timely value added data products for specific user groups will be discussed.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.B4.4.A12.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.