A low cost satellite constellation is presented for environmental monitoring of the Amazon basin with unprecedented performance-to-cost ratio. The constellation design is based on the unique characteristics of the small Brazillian launcher VLM-1. Launched from the near-equatorial Alcantara base, the vehicle allows for direct injection of about 150 kg in equatorial LEO. Such orbital configuration, actually used very seldom because of its limited ground coverage (restricted to equatorial regions only), proves to be ideal for near-continuous monitoring of the Amazon region. We present a possible low cost microsatellite constellation that allows for high quality imaging of the Amazon basin with near-continuous coverage.
Environmental Monitoring of the Amazon Basin with a Low Cost Small Satellite Constellation in Equatorial LEO
Salvo Marcuccio
Primo
;
2018-01-01
Abstract
A low cost satellite constellation is presented for environmental monitoring of the Amazon basin with unprecedented performance-to-cost ratio. The constellation design is based on the unique characteristics of the small Brazillian launcher VLM-1. Launched from the near-equatorial Alcantara base, the vehicle allows for direct injection of about 150 kg in equatorial LEO. Such orbital configuration, actually used very seldom because of its limited ground coverage (restricted to equatorial regions only), proves to be ideal for near-continuous monitoring of the Amazon region. We present a possible low cost microsatellite constellation that allows for high quality imaging of the Amazon basin with near-continuous coverage.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
