Mission Concept and Trade-Off Study

• Published in: Hyperspectral Satellites and System Design Vol. 1; pp. 183 - 222
• Main Author: Qian, Shen-En
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: United Kingdom CRC Press 2020; Taylor & Francis Group
• Edition: 1
• Subjects: Sun Sensors; Hyperspectral Mission; VNIR Channel; OU; Hyperspectral Imaging; Molniya Orbit; Battery Charge Regulator; Mission Concept; Hyperspectral Sensor; Hyperspectral Imagery Data; Sun Synchronous Orbit; Temporal Revisit; SWIR Region; Detector Array; Spacecraft Bus; Launch Vehicle; Hyperspectral Satellite; Hyperspectral Data; Repeat Coverage; Hyperspectral Imagery; LVF; VNIR Region; Hyperspectral Remote Sensing; Torque Rods
• ISBN: 9780367217907; 0367217902
• DOI: 10.1201/9780429266201-4

Mission concept and trade-off is the first step in the development of a hyperspectral satellite mission. This chapter intends to show readers a mission concept development process. It starts with the description of the configuration of a hyperspectral satellite. Then it describes different kinds of orbits that can be considered for hyperspectral satellites for fulfilling the mission objectives. After the description of mission development phases, it provides detailed description of users' needs of a hyperspectral satellite mission that drive the mission concept and trade-off study. The users' needs in the application areas, including environment, coastal and inland waters, agriculture, forestry and mining, defense and security, are analyzed as the examples. Finally, the chapter provides a thorough case study as an example to bring readers into a real world of hyperspectral mission concept and trade-off study. The case study includes the space segment, ground segment, system calibration, and operation concept. In the payload concept study, both optical subsystem and instrument control subsystem are described. In the spacecraft concept study, eight subsystems are described, including selection of spacecraft, spacecraft structure, attitude and orbit control, power, thermal control, telemetry/telecommand and data downlink, onboard control and data handling, and propulsion. The case study also includes launch options. This chapter intends to show readers a mission concept development process. It starts with the description of the configuration of a hyperspectral satellite. After the description of mission development phases, it provides detailed description of users' needs of a hyperspectral satellite mission that drive the mission concept and trade-off study. The users' needs in the application areas, including environment, coastal and inland waters, agriculture, forestry and mining, defense and security, are analyzed as the examples. A variety of orbits are used for different types of Earth observation missions. The most common orbits, in order of increasing altitude, are low Earth orbit, geosynchronous orbit, and highly elliptical orbits (HEO). Low Earth orbits are those whose maximum altitudes are less than approximately 2000 km and have the shortest orbital periods, on the order of an hour and a half. Almost all Earth observation hyperspectral satellites use sun-synchronous orbits. The highest common orbit type is HEO orbit, such as Molniya and Tundra orbits.