The TerraSAR-X Precise Orbit Control - Concept and Flight Results

Abstract

TerraSAR-X is an advanced synthetic aperture radar satellite system operated in a 505 km altitude sun-synchronous repeat orbit. A tight orbit control requirement, driven by interferometric applications, is formulated as a 250 m radius “tube” defined about an Earth-fixed reference orbit. In this paper we review the orbit control requirements and constraints and discuss the implemented guidance and control concept. Since the launch in 2007 more than six years of in-flight experience have been gained, including almost 500 orbit control maneuvers. The presented flight results proof that both the implemented reference orbit and the orbit control concept work remarkably well, and that the tight control requirement is fully met.