Conceptual scenarios for development of ground infrastructure for receiving mission payload data from a perspective Earth remote sensing satellite constellation

The paper addresses the problem of cooperative development of ground space infrastructure and orbital constellation of Earth remote sensing spacecraft (ERS). In view of the considerable number of elements in space and ground segments of a heterogenous space ERS system, a mechanism is required for developing its concepts involving acquiring updated inputs for determining measures to optimize the ERS ground segment configuration geography-wise and outfit receiving systems for receiving the mission payload data from high-performance ERS spacecraft. The paper describes trends in the development of equipment and technologies for transmitting ERS mission payload data, in particular, the current status of the high data rate optical backbone network in order to determine possible locations for ERS Ground Segment elements. It introduces indicators which provide system-level characterization of the capabilities for a distributed network of data receiving stations. Based on the obtained data, system-level patterns were determined in the development of the ground segment for receiving the ERS mission payload data depending on the state of the ERS orbital constellation, driving further development of growth strategy for the ERS ground space infrastructure. Key words: Earth remote sensing, concept, mission payload data, receiving system, data reception station.