Session
Session III: Bold New Missions Using "Breakthrough Technologies" II
Abstract
Earth imaging has traditionally been the domain of large governments and expensive satellites. Progress in earth imaging satellite technology has focused on driving down image resolutions, decreasing re-visit times, and expanding spectral coverage. While imaging capability has increased, costs have grown exponentially, pricing many would-be science applications out of the market. Many scientific groups, especially those in countries with emerging economies, have a compelling need for earth imaging to monitor the use of natural resources, measure changes in climate, quantify and track pollution, and assist in natural disaster warning and recovery—without the high cost of a dedicated system or the restrictions imposed by sharing data from another country’s system. NanoObservatory, shown in Figure 1, is a low-cost solution for users wanting basic earth imaging for science applications. It provides multi-spectral imaging (red, green, blue) with a ground sampling distance (GSD) of 10m, and can be customized to image in other spectral ranges as necessary. The satellite resides in a 600km circular orbit between 0º and 38º inclination. From this vantage point, the satellite images a 50km x 50km area and can store consecutive images to create a seamless view. The satellite uses innovative designs for attitude determination and control (ADCS) and communications to deliver the best performance for the lowest cost. A single, off-the-shelf ground station transmits commands to the satellite and downloads images while it is overhead. The real breakthrough with NanoObservatory is not in capabilities but in cost. Weighing only 25kg, NanoObservatory can ride as a secondary payload on other missions, lowering the cost of launch. NanoObservatory takes advantage of the low radiation environment in LEO by using commercial offthe- shelf parts in novel ways, which lowers nonrecurring engineering costs. In addition, the satellite’s simple command and control system requires only a basic ground station and PC for operation, making its on-going costs a fraction of competing earth imaging systems. Many science applications do not require highresolution imaging, but could benefit from a low-cost, dedicated Earth imaging platform. NanoObservatory fills this gap and delivers the benefits of space-based remote sensing to a new segment of underserved customers. NanoObservatory is a breakthrough technology that makes earth imaging for everyone.
NanoObservatory™: Earth Imaging for Everyone
Earth imaging has traditionally been the domain of large governments and expensive satellites. Progress in earth imaging satellite technology has focused on driving down image resolutions, decreasing re-visit times, and expanding spectral coverage. While imaging capability has increased, costs have grown exponentially, pricing many would-be science applications out of the market. Many scientific groups, especially those in countries with emerging economies, have a compelling need for earth imaging to monitor the use of natural resources, measure changes in climate, quantify and track pollution, and assist in natural disaster warning and recovery—without the high cost of a dedicated system or the restrictions imposed by sharing data from another country’s system. NanoObservatory, shown in Figure 1, is a low-cost solution for users wanting basic earth imaging for science applications. It provides multi-spectral imaging (red, green, blue) with a ground sampling distance (GSD) of 10m, and can be customized to image in other spectral ranges as necessary. The satellite resides in a 600km circular orbit between 0º and 38º inclination. From this vantage point, the satellite images a 50km x 50km area and can store consecutive images to create a seamless view. The satellite uses innovative designs for attitude determination and control (ADCS) and communications to deliver the best performance for the lowest cost. A single, off-the-shelf ground station transmits commands to the satellite and downloads images while it is overhead. The real breakthrough with NanoObservatory is not in capabilities but in cost. Weighing only 25kg, NanoObservatory can ride as a secondary payload on other missions, lowering the cost of launch. NanoObservatory takes advantage of the low radiation environment in LEO by using commercial offthe- shelf parts in novel ways, which lowers nonrecurring engineering costs. In addition, the satellite’s simple command and control system requires only a basic ground station and PC for operation, making its on-going costs a fraction of competing earth imaging systems. Many science applications do not require highresolution imaging, but could benefit from a low-cost, dedicated Earth imaging platform. NanoObservatory fills this gap and delivers the benefits of space-based remote sensing to a new segment of underserved customers. NanoObservatory is a breakthrough technology that makes earth imaging for everyone.
