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Design considerations and performance analysis for RODiO distributed SAR mission.
- Source :
-
Acta Astronautica . Sep2023, Vol. 210, p474-482. 9p. - Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- The paper introduces RODiO (Radar for Earth Observation by synthetic aperture DIstributed on a cluster of cubesats equipped with high-technology micro-propellers for new Operative services), an innovative mission concept selected by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) for a phase A study in the framework of Alcor program. The mission relies on a cluster of 4 passive CubeSats flying in formation with ASI PLATiNO-1 (PLT-1) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) mission. The mission is aimed at demonstrating from space the concept of Distributed Synthetic Aperture Radar (DSAR) through the application of multi-platform image synthesis, i.e. the generation of an improved performance image through the coherent combination, so in both amplitude and phase, of a stack of low performance bistatic raw data collected by formation-flying cubesat receivers. RODiO system parameters are discussed and preliminary performance evaluated. Results confirm that multi-static beamforming is able to both improve the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and the level of ambiguities in the generated DSAR images, making the relevant values compliant with high-quality SAR imaging standards. • The brand-new CubeSat based concept of RODiO mission is presented exploiting the principle of Distributed SAR (DSAR). • Basic DSAR characteristics like imaging features and applications are described. • Useful tools for preliminary design and performance evaluation of a DSAR mission are introduced. • Application to RODiO mission case with simulated images is presented, demonstrating mission capabilities and features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00945765
- Volume :
- 210
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Acta Astronautica
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 164285343
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2023.04.001