Development of an Innovative Overpass-Management-Tool for Reference Targets Operation

Abstract

Satellite based radar systems need to operate as accurate as possible to provide high-quality image products. To improve accuracy and ensure image quality, these SAR satellites have to be accurately calibrated, using so called reference targets. During this calibration process, the satellite flies over a reference target - this is called an overpass. In order for the target to be eady for the overpass, a startup procedure needs to carried out. The procedure time can vary from several hours to only a few minutes, depending on whether the target is active or passive. Since a target is usually aligned for only one satellite at a time per overpass, it is important to establish a schedule and identify potential time conflicts between overpasses and satellites. For this purpose, the "Overpass-Management-Tool" has been developed. This software tool takes mission data from several satellites as input, then calculates all possible overpasses and checks for conflicts between any acquisitions. It can be used from the early phase in mission projects for commissioning phase planning (before satellite launch) until reference targets’ routine operation during mission lifetime.