TanDEM-X: A radar interferometer with two formation-flying satellites

TanDEM-X (TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurements) is an innovative formation-flying radar mission that opens a new era in spaceborne radar remote sensing. The primary objective is the acquisition of a global digital elevation model (DEM) with unprecedented accuracy (12 m horizontal resolution and 2 m relative height accuracy). This goal is achieved by extending the TerraSAR-X synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mission by a second, TerraSAR-X like satellite (TDX) flying in close formation with TerraSAR-X (TSX). Both satellites form together a large single-pass SAR interferometer with the opportunity for flexible baseline selection. This enables the acquisition of highly accurate cross-track interferograms without the inherent accuracy limitations imposed by repeat-pass interferometry due to temporal decorrelation and atmospheric disturbances. Besides the primary goal of the mission, several secondary mission objectives based on along-track interferometry as well as new bistatic and multistatic SAR techniques have been defined, representing an important and innovative asset of the TanDEM-X mission. TanDEM-X is implemented in the framework of a public–private partnership between the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and EADS Astrium GmbH. The TanDEM-X satellite was successfully launched in June 2010 and the mission started its operational data acquisition in December 2010. This paper provides an overview of the TanDEM-X mission and summarizes its actual status and performance. Furthermore, results from several scientific radar experiments are presented that show the great potential of future formation-flying interferometric SAR missions to serve novel remote sensing applications.     

星载SAR多普勒频率计算与全零多普勒中心导引

讨论了在天线坐标系中多普勒频率的计算方法和全零多普勒中心的条件及其实现。证明对近圆轨道SAR卫星,采用与时间延迟积分-电荷耦合器件(TDI-CCD)空间相机相同的计算公式和偏流角补偿技术,能以偏航控制方式实现星载SAR的全零多普勒中心导引。由此可将回波多普勒中心频率的全球变化范围减至最小,显著降低了SAR成像处理的难度。研究具重要的应用价值。     

双星InSAR时间同步误差对相位同步的影响

针对双星编队的InSAR雷达系统,提出了SAR与相位同步一体化的系统框架,在双星时间同步误差的基础上,提出了一种综合考虑时间同步误差、SAR和相位同步发射及接收链路时延的双星相位同步设计方法,给出了相位同步补偿后的辅星回波信号相位和双星干涉相位,推导了两种时变相位误差功率谱密度,经过理论分析和仿真试验证明：相位同步补偿后,时间同步误差不影响相位同步精度,只影响辅星目标位置。辅星回波固定相位误差较大,但不影响成像,双星干涉固定相位误差为千分之几度,对干涉测高精度影响可以忽略,辅星回波和双星干涉时变相位误差与主星相近。     

地球同步轨道SAR曲线轨迹模型和成像算法研究

由于地球同步轨道合成孔径雷达(GEO SAR)轨道高度高,地球自转对其影响较为严重,其相对地球的运动变得更为复杂,低轨SAR中的直线轨迹模型已不能精确逼近其真实成像几何,基于该模型推导的成像算法也不再适用。针对这一问题,本文首先根据GEO SAR平台的运动特点,使用高阶逼近模型建立了适用于GEO SAR长合成孔径时间的斜距方程,并结合级数反演法,推导出该斜距方程下的二维频谱高阶近似表达式。在此基础上提出了一种二维频域成像算法并分析了其运算量。该算法所有操作都由快速傅里叶变换和相位点乘完成,具有较高的效率。点目标仿真结果表明本文斜距方程精度较高,该算法能实现GEO SAR全孔径高精度成像。     

导航卫星应用在双站雷达中的关键问题分析

对导航卫星应用到双站雷达中存在的功率、同步以及干涉等关键问题进行了分析。分析了双站雷达的信噪比的影响因素,得出目标散射面积和允许的最大接收机到目标斜距的关系。分析双站雷达面临的三大同步问题,给出了同步的思路和实现方法。分析了系统的干涉,并提出了解决思路。     

一种基于时间调制的弹性化SAR卫星系统

星载合成孔径雷达(SAR)系统能全天时、全天候观测,在地震、洪涝、台风等自然灾害监测中具有重要作用。双基、多基SAR卫星更具有极高的经济、科学、安全价值。然而,目前在轨的大型星载SAR卫星造价昂贵,且双基SAR卫星需数颗同等规模的卫星。双基SAR卫星系统存在星间同步链路,因此卫星可扩展性不强。提出了一种基于时间调制的低成本弹性化Ka波段调频连续波(FMCW)SAR小卫星星座系统。该系统基于一组独立、模块化的发射卫星和接收卫星。采用Ka FMCW SAR体制和时间调制天线(TMA)技术,可减轻接收星2/3以上的质量。该系统采用自主任务规划技术,具备多样化的工作模式,为单发多收、多发多收等应用需求提供了一种弹性化的解决方案。     

卫星GPS组合姿态确定系统方案研究

采用ＧＰＳ定姿技术作为卫星高精度自主姿态确定系统的备份，可以提高系统可靠性。在小型和微小卫星上采用ＧＰＳ定姿技术，保证在满足重量、功耗和其它技术指标的条件下，姿态和轨道控制系统全面满足任务要求。本方案为探索当今姿态和轨道控制系统基本型的研究迈出了一步。     

Results of the early orbit manoeuvres of the ampte-uks

The Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorers (AMPTE) program consists of three satellites which were launched on 16th August 1984. The scientific aim of the mission is to inject lithium and barium tracer ions inside and outside the Earth's magnetosphere and to detect and monitor these ions as they diffuse through the inner magnetosphere. The first of these three satellites, the U.S. Charge Composition Explorer (CCE) was launched into an elliptical orbit of apogee 8 R_e. The other two satellites are the West German Ion Release Module (IRM) and the U.K. Subsatellite (UKS), both of which were launched on the same vehicle into a highly elliptical orbit of apogee 18 R_e. At discreet intervals during the mission the IRM will release ions into the solar wind, and the movement of these ions will be monitored by the UKS. Depending on the particular scientific requirement, the UKS has to be positioned accurately at a given distance behind the IRM. Initially the UKS has to be located 100 km behind the IRM, and held there for ～9 months. It will then be moved a distance of ～1 R_e behind the IRM. In order to manoeuvre the UKS around its orbit, a cold gas jet system is incorporated on the satellite, allowing impulses to be applied both along and perpendicular to the orbit velocity vector. The orbit control system also has to cater for relative orbit changes due to air drag at perigee, as the IRM and the UKS have different $\text{area}\text{mass}$ ratios. This paper presents an account of the orbit control system implemented on the UKS, together with the mathematical approach adopted, and results from manoeuvres made in the first weeks of the mission.     

微纳InSAR卫星总体技术研究

微纳合成孔径雷达干涉(Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry, InSAR)卫星是对地定量化遥感的重要手段。开展了微纳InSAR卫星系统总体技术研究,给出了使得干涉测量覆盖范围最大的双星编队构型设计方法,建立了低燃料消耗双星轨道参数设计准则,提出高功能密度比InSAR卫星系统的设计方法,包括载荷平台一体化、卫星高集成模块化等总体设计方法,并给出了相应的设计实例。     

分布式小卫星雷达平台沿航向排列研究

以小卫星群作为平台的天基分布式雷达具有多种用途。沿航向直线排列是分布式小卫星群的一种特殊轨道构形。由于阵列的等锥角线和等多普勒频率线重合，给SAR成像和地面运动目标检测的信号处理带来了极大的便利。受到地球自转的影响，多颗卫星采用同一轨道飞行并不能真正实现沿航向直线分布。为了克服地球自转的影响，现提出满足Hill方程的一种基本不消耗燃料的轨道设计，使多颗卫星飞行在不同的轨道上而实现真正的沿航向直线分布。数学分析表明它可以有效消除地球自转的影响。结合SAR成像的仿真结果证明了该方法的有效性。     

搭建地月鹊桥的嫦娥四号中继星（英文）

The far side of the moon is a unique place for some scientific investigations. Chang'e 4 is a Chinese lunar far side landing exploration mission. Relay communication satellite, named as Queqiao, is an important and innovative part of Chang'e 4 mission. It can provide relay communication to the lander and the rover operating on the lunar far side to maintain their contacts with Earth. It was launched by LM-4 C launch vehicle at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on May 21, 2018. After five precise orbit controls and a journey of more than 20 days, Queqiao inserted into final halo mission orbit around Earth-moon libration point 2, located about 65,000 km beyond the moon. It is the world's first communication satellite operating in that orbit. Up to now, Queqiao worked very well and provided reliable, continuous communication relay service for the lander and the rover to ensure the mission success of Chang'e 4 exploration mission. Via Queqiao, the lander and the rover were controlled to work by ground stations and obtained a great amount of scientific data. The mission overview, operation orbit selection, relay communication system design and flight profile were introduced in this article.     

合成孔径雷达卫星地基侦察建模与仿真

对合成孔径雷达（SAR）卫星的侦察可以为合成孔径雷达电子战提供有力的支援。在地基侦收站跟踪侦察SAR卫星的背景下,建立了SAR卫星地基侦察模型,该模型利用真实卫星的天线参数及轨道参数,在空间几何模型基础上,获得不同工作模式下方位向的天线增益,并采用插值算法进行处理获得距离向天线增益,通过仿真分析SAR卫星地基侦察信号,为SAR卫星参数估计及工作模式识别等研究奠定了基础。     

ERDSAT,a satellite concept for Earth observations with combined optical and microwave payload

The concept of a European remote sensing satellite (ERDSAT) launched by ARIANE is characterized by a model payload, consisting of a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and an optical multispectral scanner with 9 channels, for land applications or coastal zone missions. The mission goal of ERDSAT is based on European user requrements where a strong need for optical and microwave sensor operation on board the same satellite in a simultaneous or sequential mode is expressed. A data collection system is included. The proposed spacecraft is three-axes-stabilized and has a Sun-synchronous, near polar circular orbit with 750 km altitude. The selected configuration separates payload module and bus module. A thermostable carbon fibre grating structure is the central framework of the satellite. Each major subsystem is housed in a separate compartment and can be integrated and tested individually. First mass estimates resulted in 450 kg for the payload and 880 kg for the bus. The maximum power needed is 1750 W (for 6 min three times a day), which will be provided by a 1330 W solar array and two batteries. A “low cost” model philosophy is defined; the time schedule envisages a program start in late 1980 and a launch possibility end of 1985.     

星载合成孔径雷达的运动效应

对星载合成孔径雷达的运动效应进行了详细的分析，给出了雷达回波的多普勒参数和距离徒动特性的一般关系式。详细论证了卫星运动对多普勒参数和成像的影响，导出了描述速度误差、加速度误差和姿态误差的一系列定量计算公式，并就运动误差的补偿方法进行了阐述。     

InSAR图像配准雷达几何法处理性能分析

图像配准是干涉合成孔径雷达(InSAR)信号处理的关键步骤。基于雷达几何的InSAR图像配准方法。利用主辅雷达成像几何和外部数字高程模型(DEM)进行主辅SAR图像配准。基于SAR图像距离多普勒定位方程,系统梳理了配准处理精度的影响因素,对各误差因素的作用机理进行了理论分析,并综合分析了该算法对重复航过和单次航过InSAR系统图像的配准处理性能。仿真结果验证了理论分析方法的有效性。分析结果对我国InSAR地面系统建设和相关卫星指标论证具有重要的支撑作用。     

Magnetic dipole moment estimation and compensation for an accurate attitude control in nano-satellite missions

Nano-satellites provide space access to broader range of satellite developers and attract interests as an application of the space developments. These days several new nano-satellite missions are proposed with sophisticated objectives such as remote-sensing and observation of astronomical objects. In these advanced missions, some nano-satellites must meet strict attitude requirements for obtaining scientific data or images. For LEO nano-satellite, a magnetic attitude disturbance dominates over other environmental disturbances as a result of small moment of inertia, and this effect should be cancelled for a precise attitude control. This research focuses on how to cancel the magnetic disturbance in orbit. This paper presents a unique method to estimate and compensate the residual magnetic moment, which interacts with the geomagnetic field and causes the magnetic disturbance. An extended Kalman filter is used to estimate the magnetic disturbance. For more practical considerations of the magnetic disturbance compensation, this method has been examined in the PRISM (Pico-satellite for Remote-sensing and Innovative Space Missions). This method will be also used for a nano-astrometry satellite mission. This paper concludes that use of the magnetic disturbance estimation and compensation are useful for nano-satellites missions which require a high accurate attitude control.     

First results of PRECISE—Development of a MEMS-based monopropellant micro chemical propulsion system

PRECISE focuses on the research and development of a MEMS-based monopropellant micro chemical propulsion system for highly accurate attitude control of satellites. The availability of such propulsion systems forms the basis for defining new mission concepts such as formation flying and rendezvous manoeuvres. These concepts require propulsion systems for precise attitude and orbit control manoeuvrability. Application-oriented aspects are addressed by two end-users who are planning a formation flying mission for which the propulsion system is crucial. Basic research is conducted aiming at improving crucial MEMS technologies required for the propulsion system. Research and development also focuses on the efficiency and reliability of critical system components. System analysis tools are enhanced to complement the development stages. Finally, the propulsion system will be tested in a simulated space vacuum environment. These experiments will deliver data for the validation of the numerical models.     

The Brazilian scientific microsatellite SACI-1

The National Space Research Institute (INPE) is developing the first Brazilian Scientific Microsatellite (SACI-1) based on the vanguard technology and on the experience acquired through projects developed by Brazilian Space Program. The SACI-1 is a 750km polar orbit satellite. The spacecraft will combine spin stabilization with geomagnetic control and has a total mass of 60 kg. The overall dimensions are 640×470×470 mm. The SACI-1 satellite shall be launched together with CBERS (China-Brazil Earth Resource Satellite). Its platform is being designed for multiple mission applications. The Brazilian Academy of Sciences has selected four scientific payloads that characterize the mission. The scientific experiments are: ORCAS (Solar and Anomalous Cosmic Rays Observation in the Magnetosphere), PLASMEX (Study of Plasma Bubbles), FOTSAT (Airglow Photometer), and MAGNEX (Geomagnetic Experiment).     

宽带T/R\|R双基地雷达目标特征提取方法研究

与宽带单基地雷达相比,宽带T/R\|R双基地雷达有诸多优势。研究了宽带T/R\|R双基地雷达目标的特征提取问题,利用两个站同时观测到目标一维像,分别提取了目标单站一维像对应的距离与双站一维像对应的距离和;结合双基地雷达目标定位方法,给出了目标长度和姿态角的估计方法,仿真分析了目标位置和基线长度对估计精度的影响;在此基础上,通过多次观测,给出了目标长度、目标姿态角以及姿态角平均变化率的估计方法。最后,仿真结果表明了所提方法的可行性和有效性。
     

对GEO卫星照相的HEO卫星变轨策略研究

为对地球同步轨道卫星近距离光学照相,设计了大椭圆任务轨道.在考虑地球扁率J2的动力学模型下,研究了大椭圆轨道变轨策略,提出了轨道设计方案,并进行了仿真计算.基于STK软件对变轨方案进行了仿真验证,结果表明所提出的轨道设计方案能够满足对地球同步轨道卫星近距离光学照相要求.