Small Satellite Dispersed SAR - an Exemplary Configuration

Conference: EUSAR 2016 - 11th European Conference on Synthetic Aperture Radar
06/06/2016 - 06/09/2016 at Hamburg, Germany

Proceedings: EUSAR 2016

Pages: 4Language: englishTyp: PDF

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Authors:
Mittermayer, Josef; Lopez-Dekker, Paco; Kraus, Thomas; Krieger, Gerhard (Microwaves and Radar Institute, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany)

Abstract:
The paper reports about a basic analysis of a distributed SAR system realized by several small satellites. The potential for Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF) reduction and the corresponding swath width extension is discussed. It is derived how to maintain a gap-free phase center (PC) sequence while increasing the inter-satellite distance. The paper presents different kinds of configurations. The one that solves the problem combines alternating transmit (tx) and dispersed receive (rx) satellites. An example configuration suitable for ship monitoring is established. It serves to illustrate the problem statement and its solving.