Session
Session X: Advanced Sensors
Abstract
The Beijing-1 mission was launched at the end of 2005, and has commenced routine operations as a highresolution mapping mission. The space segment comprises a small 168kg satellite carrying a panchromatic imaging instrument providing 4-metre Ground Sampling Distance with 24km swath. This is in addition to a wideangle multi-spectral camera with 32-metre GSD and 600km swath as carried by the other satellites within the Disaster Monitoring Constellation[1,2,3] The spacecraft provides a large data storage capacity with solid-state storage augmented by hard drives modified for use in space, allowing the instrument to map long 3000km swaths. A software configurable image compressor and high speed X-band downlink permit both store and forward, as well as real-time downlinking. Finally, a high degree of agility permits the spacecraft to access a 600km wide field-of-regard. The 4-metre instrument is a compact on-axis telescope designed specifically so that it can be carried by a small satellite. It employs an athermal carbon fibre composite structure to provide good stability, and permits on-orbit adjustment of focus. These design choices for the telescope yield a cost effective solution and the ability to deal with a large temperature range without active thermal control, which significantly eases the satellite design and operating complexity.
Presentation Slides
An Advanced High Resolution Optical Sensor for Small Satellite Mapping Missions
The Beijing-1 mission was launched at the end of 2005, and has commenced routine operations as a highresolution mapping mission. The space segment comprises a small 168kg satellite carrying a panchromatic imaging instrument providing 4-metre Ground Sampling Distance with 24km swath. This is in addition to a wideangle multi-spectral camera with 32-metre GSD and 600km swath as carried by the other satellites within the Disaster Monitoring Constellation[1,2,3] The spacecraft provides a large data storage capacity with solid-state storage augmented by hard drives modified for use in space, allowing the instrument to map long 3000km swaths. A software configurable image compressor and high speed X-band downlink permit both store and forward, as well as real-time downlinking. Finally, a high degree of agility permits the spacecraft to access a 600km wide field-of-regard. The 4-metre instrument is a compact on-axis telescope designed specifically so that it can be carried by a small satellite. It employs an athermal carbon fibre composite structure to provide good stability, and permits on-orbit adjustment of focus. These design choices for the telescope yield a cost effective solution and the ability to deal with a large temperature range without active thermal control, which significantly eases the satellite design and operating complexity.
