Distributed Synthetic Aperture Radar (DSAR) is defined as a SAR in which the signal emitted by the transmitter and scattered from the area of interest is not collected by a single receiver but by many, conveniently distributed, formation flying, receivers. The concept of distributed aperture can enable new SAR working modes, but more important, thanks to passive operations, can achieve very high performance through a series of very compact, low weight, agile, satellite platforms. Such a distributed space system can be regarded as a system in which the payload functionality is broken apart and distributed among the different elements of the system. While fractionation and formation flying may lead to many advantages, distributed space systems pose a number of technological and operational issues at system and subsystem level. This paper focuses on basic system requirements and formation flying aspects relevant to DSAR. In particular, trajectory design approaches that can fulfil payload requirements while relaxing formation control issues are addressed. Long term stability is also investigated.
Small Satellite Formation Flying for Distributed Synthetic Aperture Radar / Fasano, Giancarmine; Graziano, MARIA DANIELA; Moccia, Antonio; Opromolla, Roberto; Renga, Alfredo; Grassi, Michele; Rufino, Giancarlo; Iervolino, Mariano; Sarno, Salvatore. - (2018), pp. 1-8. (Intervento presentato al convegno 69th International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2018 tenutosi a 2018 nel 1-5 Ottobre).
Small Satellite Formation Flying for Distributed Synthetic Aperture Radar
Giancarmine Fasano;Maria Daniela Graziano;Antonio Moccia;Roberto Opromolla;Alfredo Renga;Michele Grassi;Giancarlo Rufino;Salvatore Sarno
2018
Abstract
Distributed Synthetic Aperture Radar (DSAR) is defined as a SAR in which the signal emitted by the transmitter and scattered from the area of interest is not collected by a single receiver but by many, conveniently distributed, formation flying, receivers. The concept of distributed aperture can enable new SAR working modes, but more important, thanks to passive operations, can achieve very high performance through a series of very compact, low weight, agile, satellite platforms. Such a distributed space system can be regarded as a system in which the payload functionality is broken apart and distributed among the different elements of the system. While fractionation and formation flying may lead to many advantages, distributed space systems pose a number of technological and operational issues at system and subsystem level. This paper focuses on basic system requirements and formation flying aspects relevant to DSAR. In particular, trajectory design approaches that can fulfil payload requirements while relaxing formation control issues are addressed. Long term stability is also investigated.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.