NovaSAR-1 - first year of operation
- Paper number
IAC-19,B4,4,1,x53175
- Author
Dr. Philip Whittaker, United Kingdom, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL)
- Coauthor
Mr. Alex da Silva Curiel, United Kingdom, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL)
- Coauthor
Mr. Jonny King, United Kingdom, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL)
- Coauthor
Mrs. Rachel Bird, United Kingdom, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL)
- Coauthor
Mr. Andrew Cawthorne, United Kingdom, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL)
- Coauthor
Mr. Luis Gomes, United Kingdom, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL)
- Coauthor
Prof. Martin Sweeting, United Kingdom, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL)
- Year
2019
- Abstract
The NovaSAR-1 small radar imaging satellite was launched in September 2018, and includes several innovative features. Imaging at night time or through cloud cover from space using radar has traditionally required large and expensive spacecraft. Various technological advances have made it possible in recent years to reduce both the size and cost of such missions, and NovaSAR-1 is a first attempt to create a radar spacecraft that supports economically sustainable radar imaging. Key factors in making this possible have been to leverage the latest high-efficiency semiconductors to reduce the needed on-board power, the choice of S-band as the transmission band, and the approach to defining modes of operation to serve a range of applications. Coupled with this, NovaSAR-1 was the first to include AIS within the radar spacecraft design, and employs a novel funding model allowing geographically disparate users to each act as owner-operator sharing the mission costs. This paper describes the novel aspects of the NovaSAR system and the results these have provided during the first year of operations.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-19,B4,4,1,x53175.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.