One objective of the Mission to Planet Earth (MTPE) program involves comparing data from various instruments on multiple spacecraft to obtain a total picture of the Earth's systems. To correlate image data from instruments on different spacecraft, these spacecraft must be able to image the same location on the Earth at approximately the same time. Depending on the orbits of the spacecraft involved, complicated operational details must be considered to obtain such observations. If the spacecraft are in similar orbits, close formation flying or synchronization techniques may be used to assure coincident observations. If the orbits are dissimilar, the launch time of the second satellite may need to be restricted in order to align its orbit with that of the first satellite launched. This paper examines strategies for obtaining coincident observations for spacecraft in both similar and dissimilar orbits. Although these calculations may be performed easily for coplanar spacecraft, the non-coplanar case involves additional considerations which are incorporated into the algorithms presented herein.


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    Title :

    Obtaining Coincident Image Observations for Mission to Planet Earth Science Data Return


    Contributors:
    L. K. Newman (author) / D. C. Folta (author) / J. P. Farrell (author)

    Publication date :

    1994


    Size :

    15 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Obtaining coincident image observations for Mission to Planet Earth science data return

    Newman, Lauri Kraft / Folta, David C. / Farrell, James P. | NTRS | 1994


    Obtaining Coincident Image Observations for Mission to Planet Earth Science Data Return

    Newman, L. / Folta, D. / Farrell, J. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1994




    Mission to Planet Earth

    Tilford, S.G. | Online Contents | 1994