The TerraSAR-X Ground Segment

Buckreuss, Stefan; Schättler, Birgit

doi:10.1109/tgrs.2009.2031432

Cited by 45 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…In the frame of an ESA contract [3], a complete performance analysis and a demonstration of the TOPS mode with TerraSAR-X (TSX) [17], [18] were carried out. This was possible since TSX is a versatile space SAR platform.…”

Section: He Terrain Observation By Progressive Scan (Tops)mentioning

confidence: 99%

TOPS Imaging With TerraSAR-X: Mode Design and Performance Analysis

Tandem-X Mission: Overview, Status and Outlook

Steinbrecher

Zink

Moreira

et al. 2013

Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci.

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ABSTRACT:TanDEM-X (TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurement) opens a new era in spaceborne radar remote sensing [1]-[3], [9], [12]. Realized in the framework of a public-private partnership between the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and EADS Astrium GmbH, a single-pass SAR interferometer with adjustable baselines in across-and in along-track directions was formed by adding a second (TDX), almost identical spacecraft to TerraSAR-X (TSX) and flying the two satellites in a closely controlled formation on average orbit height of 514 km. This allows the acquisition of highly accurate cross-track and along-track interferograms without the inherent accuracy limitations imposed by repeat-pass interferometry due to temporal decorrelation and atmospheric disturbances. With typical across-track baselines of 150 to 500 m a global Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with 2 m relative height accuracy at a 12 m posting is being generated. TANDEM-X Mission ObjectivesBeyond the generation of a global TanDEM-X DEM as the primary mission goal, local DEMs of even higher accuracy level (posting of 6 m and relative vertical accuracy of 0.8 m) and applications based on Along-Track Interferometry (ATI) like measurements of ocean currents are important secondary mission objectives. Along-track interferometry also allows for innovative applications to be explored and can be performed by the so-called dual-receive antenna mode on each of the two satellites and/or by adjusting the along-track distance between TSX and TDX to the desired value. Combining both modes provides a highly capable along-track interferometer with four phase centers. The different ATI modes can e.g. be used for improved detection, localization and ambiguity resolution in ground moving target indication and traffic monitoring applications.Furthermore TanDEM-X supports the demonstration and application of new SAR techniques, with focus on multistatic SAR, polarimetric SAR interferometry, digital beam forming and super resolution.TanDEM-X has an ambitious time schedule to reach the main mission goal. After the commissioning phase, the first three years are dedicated to the global DEM acquisitions. To facilitate dual-baseline phase unwrapping all land masses will be covered at least twice in the same looking direction but with different baselines. Difficult mountainous terrain requires additional acquisitions viewing from the opposite direction to allow filling gaps due to shadow and layover. The baseline geometry in these first years is optimized for DEM performance. A limited number of scientific acquisitions are being included during this mission phase depending on the available satellite resources and the suitability of the baseline values for fulfilling the scientific requirements. The TanDEM-X SpacecraftThe TDX satellite is a rebuild of TSX with only minor modifications. This offers the possibility for a flexible share of operational functions for both the TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X missions among the two satellites [4].During the last phase of the TSX spacecraft ...

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“…As the number of satellites increases, the frequency of visibility conflicts increases; additionally, allocation of communication data within the visibility becomes problematic, and operational and mechanical considerations increase exponentially. Currently, mission control operations, including satellite-antenna scheduling, are performed manually [2][3][4][5]. However, manual scheduling generates unexpected errors and is inefficient.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic algorithm-based scheduling for ground support of multiple satellites and antennae considering operation modes

Lee¹,

Kim²,

Chung³

et al. 2016

International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences

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Given the unpredictability of the space environment, satellite communications are manually performed by exchanging telecommands and telemetry. Ground support for orbiting satellites is given only during limited periods of ground antenna visibility, which can result in conflicts when multiple satellites are present. This problem can be regarded as a scheduling problem of allocating antenna support (task) to limited visibility (resource). To mitigate unforeseen errors and costs associated with manual scheduling and mission planning, we propose a novel method based on a genetic algorithm to solve the ground support problem of multiple satellites and antennae with visibility conflicts. Numerous scheduling parameters, including user priority, emergency, profit, contact interval, support time, remaining resource, are considered to provide maximum benefit to users and real applications. The modeling and formulae are developed in accordance with the characteristics of satellite communication. To validate the proposed algorithm, 20 satellites and 3 ground antennae in the Korean peninsula are assumed and modeled using the satellite tool kit (STK). The proposed algorithm is applied to two operation modes: (i) telemetry, tracking, and command and (ii) payload. The results of the present study show near-optimal scheduling in both operation modes and demonstrate the applicability of the proposed algorithm to actual mission control systems.

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The TerraSAR-X Ground Segment

Cited by 45 publications

References 25 publications

TOPS Imaging With TerraSAR-X: Mode Design and Performance Analysis

TOPS Imaging With TerraSAR-X: Mode Design and Performance Analysis

Tandem-X Mission: Overview, Status and Outlook

Genetic algorithm-based scheduling for ground support of multiple satellites and antennae considering operation modes

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