This chapter discusses a spaceborne P-band synthetic aperture radar concept based on a distributed architecture and formation flying technologies. This approach can in principle allow overcoming physical constraints that limit the performance of monolithic SARs, leading in the P-band case to huge antennas and hard swath/resolution trade-offs. The proposed SAR is based on a larger transmitting satellite and a set of lightweight receiving-only platforms. This architecture also enables multi-mission capabilities. In particular, forests observation and biomass estimation based on side-looking SAR data can be in theory combined with near nadir interferometric ice sounding. Payload concept is clarified, and a preliminary performance analysis in terms of ambiguity and coverage is proposed. Then, mission analysis, preliminary spacecraft design, and formation control architecture are briefly described.
P-Band Distributed SAR / Fasano, Giancarmine; M., D’Errico; G., Alberti; S., Cesare; G., Sechi. - ELETTRONICO. - 31:(2013), pp. 527-545. [10.1007/978-1-4614-4541-8_18]
P-Band Distributed SAR
FASANO, GIANCARMINE;
2013
Abstract
This chapter discusses a spaceborne P-band synthetic aperture radar concept based on a distributed architecture and formation flying technologies. This approach can in principle allow overcoming physical constraints that limit the performance of monolithic SARs, leading in the P-band case to huge antennas and hard swath/resolution trade-offs. The proposed SAR is based on a larger transmitting satellite and a set of lightweight receiving-only platforms. This architecture also enables multi-mission capabilities. In particular, forests observation and biomass estimation based on side-looking SAR data can be in theory combined with near nadir interferometric ice sounding. Payload concept is clarified, and a preliminary performance analysis in terms of ambiguity and coverage is proposed. Then, mission analysis, preliminary spacecraft design, and formation control architecture are briefly described.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
