A constellation of satellites may include a plurality of satellites in each of two or more different orbits. Satellites in a given orbit may operate in pairs, flying in tandem, one satellite leading, the other trailing closely behind, to be positioned to image the same target(s) of interest with substantially the same orientation (geographical coincident) at substantially the same time (temporally coincident). The first satellite may acquire SAR data, determine a location of a target of interest, assess cloud cover, and based on an extent of cloud cover, can acquire additional SAR data or cause the second satellite to capture optical imaging data (e.g., cross-cueing). Selection of orbits can provide a relatively high revisit rate may be obtained, allowing frequent opportunities to image given locations on a planet (e.g., Earth). One or more ground stations communicate with the constellation of satellites, and inter-satellite communications may be employed.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REMOTE SENSING OF THE EARTH FROM SPACE
SYSTEME UND VERFAHREN ZUR FERNERKUNDUNG DER ERDE AUS DEM WELTRAUM
SYSTÈMES ET PROCÉDÉS POUR LA TÉLÉDÉTECTION DE LA TERRE DEPUIS L'ESPACE
2018-09-12
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
Remote sensing of Earth from space
NTRS | 2018
|Earth Information from Space by Remote Sensing
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|Remote sensing from artificial earth satellites
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