Miniaturized SAR payload for Earth Observation with nanosatellites

Paper number

IAC-24,B1,IP,12,x83851

Author

Mr. Julien Marini, ARESYS, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Paolo Falcone, ARESYS, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Samuele Antinori, ARESYS, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Daniele Marchisotti, ARESYS, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Nicola Centrone, ARESYS, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Antonio Giordano, ARESYS, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Davide Giudici, ARESYS, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Fabio Gerace, ARESYS, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Davide Daria, ARESYS, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. FRANCESCO TATARANNI, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, Viale Liegi 26, 00198 Roma - Italia, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Roberto Luciani, ASI - Italian Space Agency, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Vincenzo Martucci, ASI - Italian Space Agency, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Silvia Natalucci, Italian Space Agency (ASI), Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Alberto Fedele, ASI - Italian Space Agency, Italy

Year

2024

Abstract

Distributed SAR imaging from space exploits the distribution
of the key system resources, normally concentrated in a
single, large and complex satellite, among many small-sized
and simpler systems, thanks to the proper combination of the
signals from each single node of the swarm. The
simultaneous operation of the satellites represents a Multiple-
Input-Multiple-Output SAR system (MIMO-SAR), for which
several concepts have been presented in the scientific
literature.
Indeed, the theoretical maturity of this technique is
significant, however the practical feasibility has not yet been
demonstrated. In 2020, the demonstrative Mission SATURN was proposed and is currently being studied with the
support of the Italian Space Agency (ASI). The main target
of the SATURN mission is to demonstrate the key technology
“Cooperative Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO)
Swarms of SAR MicroSats” for innovative, low cost and
versatile Earth Observation applications.
In this work, we present the architecture and the
implementation of a miniaturized SAR payload, called
MINISAR, suitable for operation in a MIMO SAR system.
The paper reports the design, the choice of the components
and the qualification of the SAR payload by means of testing
in thermo-vacuum chambers and vibration facilities.

Abstract document

IAC-24,B1,IP,12,x83851.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-24,B1,IP,12,x83851.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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