OPTIMAL OPERATIONS PLANNING FOR SAR SATELLITE CONSTELLATIONS IN LOW EARTH ORBIT

Abstract

Satellite constellations for Earth observation are remarkably useful, powerful and exible tools, but their realisation and maintenance pose a big issue on costs. From a design engineering perspective building up a constellation with small and simple satellites is a key to contain or reduce costs, while from a mission operations engineering point of view, optimal constellation management is a key in cost reduction and an important performance driver. In this paper the problem of the optimisation of planning and scheduling the operations for a remote sensing satellite constellation is addressed.