TopSat: Brief to Ground Segment Coordination. Presenter Ian Pilling. By : W.A. Levett. Co author: E.J. Baxter.

Transcription

1 TopSat: Brief to Ground Segment Coordination Board Presenter Ian Pilling By : W.A. Levett Co author: E.J. Baxter

2 Contents Space Division overview The TopSat mission Overview Development Programme Launch Imagery Operations architecture Rapid end-to-end timeliness demonstration Landslide monitoring Mission status The future Portsmouth. 18 th April

3 QinetiQ Space Division Diverse organisation (Verhaert acquired 2005) Example heritage Space Technology Research Vehicle Microsatellite Series Medium Wave Infrared Telescope Mars Express and Beagle Communication Transponders Example current programmes TopSat Solar Electric Propulsion (Ion Drives) GOCE Mission Bepi Colombo Mission to Mercury 3

4 TopSat overview An electro-optical small satellite Launched on 27 th October 2005 Jointly funded by UK MoD and British National Space Centre A technology demonstrator showing what can be achieved with low-cost small satellites 4

5 The TopSat Consortium Camera Mission Management / System Engineering Authority Payload data handling unit Payload communications Data ground stations Payload operations Platform TT&C Data exploitation 5

6 Low cost approach Design, develop, build and launch cost < 20M Build to cost philosophy (de-scoping where required, not cost growth) Low cost small satellite platform Radical new high performance camera Risk sharing with the customer Customised PA approach Low-cost shared commercial launch Low cost operations use of COTS software where practicalbe Existing ground stations 6

7 Development Programme - Platform Enhanced micro satellite bus 108kg including payload (40kg) Proven low cost modules power orbit determination on board computing telemetry/telecommand Purpose designed structure high precision Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) TDI manoeuvre 7

8 Development programme - camera Requirements Compact Low Mass Extremely robust M1 Mirror M3 Mirror CFRP Structure Linear Focal CCDs Plane Array Maximum performance Three mirror off axis design No aperture blockage Maximum light gathering Maximum contrast (MTF) Broad field of view Blade Mount CFRP Shroud Door M2 Mirror Monocoque CFRP structure Credit: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory 8

9 Camera qualification test Primary project risk retired 9

10 Flight model camera aligned to specification #2 Project Risk retired 10

11 Assembly, Integration and Testing 11

12 TopSat The Satellite in June 2005, Ready for Packing and Shipping. 12

13 TopSat integrated to launch vehicle for 5 microsat multiple launch 13

14 Launch 27 th October

15 In orbit performance 696km sunsynchronous orbit 3-4 day revisit capability 4 images per day capacity 1 year nominal mission life now exceeded In orbit MTF=on the ground MTF 15

16 Imagery Panchromatic images (17x17km) and overlapping multi-spectral (rgb) images (18x12km) Antwerp, Belgium. 15 th April

17 Imagery 2 Dartford, UK, 7 th December m resolution multi-spectral images Oil refinery, Los Angeles, 3 rd December m resolution panchromatic images 17

18 Imagery 3 Geo-rectified image Basrah, Iraq. 7 th January 2007 Geo-rectification of panchromatic images to better than 50m absolute localisation using 4 GCPs 18

19 System Implementation - Concept of Operations SSTL TT&C Ground Station TC + TM TopSat Image Data Payload Command Files Payload Telemetry Payload Operations Centre (POC) Infoterra Image Request Image Delivery Image Data Image Scene TopSat User West Freugh PGS RAPIDS PGS 19

20 Ground Stations Fixed ground station in West Freugh, Scotland 13m dish used for daily downlinks of 4 images from TopSat Allows global imaging using on board storage Mobile ground station - RAPIDS In-theatre tasking and downlinking Data on ground within 2 minutes of imaging In-situ image processing Proven capability in TopSat timeliness demonstrations 20

21 Rapid end-to-end timeliness demonstration Magenta: Command ground station Blue: West Freugh X & S band downlink Green: RAPIDS 21

22 Rapid end-to-end timeliness demonstration Command, acquisition, download and processing of imagery within a single spacecraft pass Responsive image tasking followed by rapid downlinking to the user QinetiQ Payload Operations Centre RAPIDS mobile ground station RAPIDS mobile ground station Image responsiveness (tasking to imaging) Image freshness (imaging to delivery) End-to-end timeliness 21m 21s 15m 7s 36m 28s 22

23 Web access to imagery Online hosting of full resolution geo-rectified imagery 23

24 Durham Landslide Centre Landslide centre study investigating the use of TopSat for rapid, blind assessments of disaster impact Press release issued with casualty estimate from Typhoon Bilis High potential for TopSat-like constellations in landslide monitoring and relief efforts Landslide, Kashmir 27 th September

25 Korea Image 25

26 Korea Image Analysed image fragment 26

27 Mission status In orbit and operational for ~18 months No sign of system degradation Imagery has been provided to MoD, BNSC, the academic community and commercial customers The TopSat Consortium has completed a successful technical development programme Operations underway on a commercial basis Venice, Italy. 14 th March

28 Lessons Learned The challenges associated with developing an extremely compact, high performance camera can be overcome Launching a sensitive, high-performance optical payload on a micro-satellite platform is possible Low cost ground segment facilities can enable extremely fast data turnaround A disparate consortium can be made to work cost effectively without large administrative overheads, as long as significant face-to-face contact is maintained Tabarjal, Saudi Arabia. 20 th January

29 Future Independence / assured access (vs. increased reliance on commercial imagery) Higher resolution (~1m) using existing system design Daily repeat cycle with 3-4 satellite constellation (single launch) All weather/ day night capability with optical/sar mix Timely imagery from responsive space systems ESTEC, Netherlands. 8 th April

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