Small-size spacecraft of Earth remote sensing: project Poputchik

Abstract

Project 'Poputchik' offers the creation of the system to obtain Earth remote sensing data with spatial resolution 5 - 20 m and coordinate data binding. At the same time project can provide for data with low resolution (1 km) and astronomic data for amateurs of astronomy. Project supposes creation of orbital group of 1 - 3 spacecrafts 'Poputchik' and network of ground receiving stations with mixed (partly- distributed) access to information. Period of survey of given area doesn't exceed 3 days even in the case of one spacecraft, and resolution of electro-optical equipment is sufficient to solve wide range of tasks. The system is based on launch of small-sized spacecraft of Earth remote sensing with mass not more than 120 kg, which can be delivered on orbit during launches of spacecrafts by launch vehicles of light class (type 'Kosmos,' 'Rokot,' 'Start'). Space system of Earth remote sensing is intended: (1) Operative survey of atmosphere and Earth surface in three spectral bands by means of electro-optical equipment with strip width not less than 50 km and resolution 20, with on board data storage equipment and equipment of data transmission to autonomous data reception and processing centers. Space data, received from spacecraft, by its characteristics: number of spectral bands, strip width, resolution, observation frequency, as well as by possibility of topogeodetic binding and other kinds of subject processing, enables to solve a wide range of tasks: (2) Mapping: (3) Inventory of lands, forest, water and agricultural areas, evaluation of their conditions; (4) Climatology and control of atmosphere alterations; (5) Evaluation of minerals and energy sources, including control of their reasonable use; (6) Control of coastal area of sees and oceans; (7) Monitoring of emergencies disasters.