Abstract Distributed space missions can offer significant advantages in cost and complexity over traditional, monolithic spacecraft. The ability of a distributed space mission to perform synthetic aperture radar interferometry for the purpose of sea surface height monitoring is assessed. A multiobjective genetic algorithm is used to vary payload distribution, payload parameters and orbital parameters and to explore the impact of these parameters on measurement error, mission cost, revisit time, and resilience to failure. It is shown that a distributed space mission offers an estimated savings of 26% compared to the upcoming monolithic Surface Water and Ocean Topography mission, suggesting that distributed space missions can meet requirements at similar or reduced costs while offering benefits such as reduced payload complexity and schedule flexibility. Additionally, an extension of the Helix formation to an arbitrary number of satellites is presented.

    Highlights Distributed space missions can measure sea height with sub-decimeter accuracy. Identifies a distributed formation for InSAR that costs less than monolith. Presents a formation with consistent baseline, good near-nadir performance.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Distributed space missions applied to sea surface height monitoring


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Acta Astronautica ; 178 ; 634-644


    Publication date :

    2020-09-26


    Size :

    11 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    Distributed space missions for earth system monitoring

    International Academy of Astronautics | TIBKAT | 2013


    LONG-LIFE SPACE OBERVATORY S/W EXPERIENCES APPLIED TO ON-DEVELOPMENT MISSIONS: LESSONS LEARNED FOR DISTRIBUTED MISSIONS

    Vallejo, J. C. / Vazquez, R. / European Space Agency | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2007


    Very-Small-Satellite Design for Distributed Space Missions

    Barnhart, D.J. | Online Contents | 2007


    Integrating Collaborative Distributed Simulations for Space Exploration Missions

    Crues, Edwin / Chung, Victoria / Busto, Juan et al. | AIAA | 2008


    Very-Small-Satellite Design for Distributed Space Missions

    David Barnhart / Tanya Vladimirova / Martin Sweeting | AIAA | 2007