THE FIRST SSTL 300S1 CONSTELLATION: 1-METRE RESOLUTION IMAGERY AT THE LOWEST COSTS

Paper number

IAC-13,B1,2,1,x16929

Author

Ms. Stefanie Kohl, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), United Kingdom

Coauthor

Mr. Zeger de Groot, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), United Kingdom

Coauthor

Mr. Andrew Cawthorne, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), United Kingdom

Coauthor

Mr. Luis Gomes, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), United Kingdom

Coauthor

Prof. Martin Sweeting, Surrey Space Centre, United Kingdom

Year

2013

Abstract

Surrey Satellite Technology Limited’s DMC3 mission is one of the most promising small satellite constellations to be launched in the next 18 months. Owned by Surrey Satellite Technology Limited’s subsidiary, DMCii, the imaging capacity of the constellation is already leased to a commercial organisation and will be operated as a managed service. Built around three SSTL300S1 spacecraft, the constellation is adequate for high resolution mapping of vast areas of landmass by imaging strips with a length of up to 4000 km. Compared to its predecessor SSTL300i which was first launched in 2011, the onboard storage and downlink capability of the 300S1 spacecraft has increased the maximum strip length by 75% and the data throughput by the factor of two. The high resolution image data products in combination with increased data throughput and the global daily revisit time meets the growing demand for commercial high resolution image data and value added Earth Observation geo-information services.
The image product is ideal for applications such as monitoring land and water resources, precision agriculture, urban development, disaster monitoring and disaster analysis.
The imager used in the 300S1 spacecraft is a modified Newtonian telescope which gives the best optical image quality within the constraints of the platform structure and launch accommodation. The focal plane makes use of a Time Delayed Integration sensor which gives a good Signal-to-Noise Ratio for low albedo targets over extended periods of time independent of seasonal variations.
Compared to its international competitors the DMC3 constellation has the best ratio of cost per square kilometre of image. An SSTL 300S1 satellite has a fast production time around only 24 to 30 months from kick-off to launch and gives the platform owner affordable, private and high priority access to satellite imagery.

Abstract document

IAC-13,B1,2,1,x16929.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-13,B1,2,1,x16929.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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