This paper describes PICOSAR (Passive Interferometric ocean Currents Observation Synthetic Aperture Radar), a concept consisting of two small, low-cost and low power spacecraft carrying a passive, receive-only SAR payload. PICOSAR enhances the functionality of a full SAR system such as Sentinel-1 or TerraSAR-X by adding a unique along-track interferometer dedicated to ocean surface current measurements. The passive nature of this system and the focus on a single application and single operation mode allows the implementation of PICOSAR using a very cost effective payload design and the use of a compact and low-cost micro-satellite bus. Besides the clear scientific value of PICOSAR, it would also foster the development of several key technologies: micro-satellite architectures, autonomous formation flying, and multi-static SAR constellations.


    Access

    Download


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Passive Interferometric Ocean Currents Observation Synthetic Aperture Radar (PICOSAR)



    Conference:

    2013 ; Berlin, Germany


    Publication date :

    2013-04-11


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar

    Smith, James A. | NTRS | 2004


    Synthetic aperture radar measurements of ocean surface currents

    Lyzenga, D. R. / Shuchman, R. A. / Rufenach, C. L. | NTRS | 1982


    Observation of Rip Currents by Synthetic Aperture Radar

    da Silva, J. C. B. / Sancho, F. / Quaresma, L. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2006


    AIRBORNE INTERFEROMETRIC SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR

    E. E. Nechaev / K. S. Deryabin | DOAJ | 2016

    Free access