High Resolution AND low cost: Feasibility of affordable mapping systems to change the economics of space in Earth Observation.

Paper number

IAC-08.B4.4.B3

Author

Dr. Arnaud Lecuyot, Surrey Satellites Technology Ltd, United Kingdom

Coauthor

Dr. Adam M. Baker, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., United Kingdom

Coauthor

Mr. Andrew Cawthorne, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., United Kingdom

Coauthor

Mr. Simon Prasad, Surrey Satellites Technology Ltd, United Kingdom

Coauthor

Mr. Dan Lobb, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., United Kingdom

Coauthor

Dr. Andrew Carrel, SSTL, United Kingdom

Year

2008

Abstract

This paper reports on results of internal and external, open and confidential studies performed by SSTL regarding developments of high-resolution mapping missions for Earth Observation, focusing on providing high performance for low cost.

The paper argues that there is a growing demand and large growth potential for EO optical visible image products. These will be needed in support of the burgeoning development of mapping GIS systems for government, commercial, and defense applications. Satellites can play a large part in providing this data, but it is postulated that the major obstacle to this is the significant upfront price of current systems used to provide high-resolution images from space. So the logical step is to look for an alternative, low-cost, "small satellite" approach.

It is then shown that these products, however, need higher performance than that provided so far by small satellites, as they need submeter or meter class resolution. In addition, driving up resolution impacts other parameters thus increasing requirements on satellite and system design.

The paper then proceeds to trade all mission design parameters (payload performance, mission profile, satellite design) to analyse the feasibility of such missions in light of these increased requirements. It then defines a number of possible baselines for individual and constellation missions. These baselines have been examined by SSTL in detail, so the paper reports on these development plans. In particular, it addresses how the key finding is that such missions are actually quite feasible, based on maximimizing cross-platform equipments, architectures, and software, based on previous and current EO small satellite missions. It also addresses how some other parameters can be optimised for cost, such as imaging bands and on-board processing.

The paper concludes by outlining the current and future projects and prospects available to these missions, and finally, the paper extrapolates the results of the study to non-visible EO products, namely Infrared and Radar images.

Abstract document

IAC-08.B4.4.B3.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-08.B4.4.B3.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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