Space-based Earth remote sensing: Part 1. Satellite orbit theory

Authors

  • Sung Wook Paek 1 1 Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Sangtae Kim 2 2 Department of Material Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18063/som.v3i1.646

Keywords:

satellite orbit, Sun-synchronous orbit, repeat ground track, quasi-synchronization, tide

Abstract

The development of oceanography and meteorology has greatly benefited from remotely sensed satellite data of the atmosphere and ocean. For oceanographers, meteorologists, hydrologists and climatologists to obtain high-quality satellite data, orbits along which the satellites move must be designed carefully. For this reason, Sun-synchronous, repeat ground track orbits have traditionally been used for visible-wavelength and infrared Earth observations. As the needs for varied datasets are growing, however, new classes of Earth-observing missions are emerging such as interferometry and radiometry to name a few. On the other side, satellite platforms and onboard sensors are getting more compact and less expensive, allowing developing nations to launch their own satellites and under-researched parts of the Earth be studied. In light of these changes, this paper introduces new types of satellite orbits from celestial mechanics perspectives, whose applications will be detailed further in the follow-up work.

Author Biography

Sung Wook Paek 1, 1 Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Sung Wook Paek received his PhD degree in Space Engineering from the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As a member of Space Systems Laboratory, he participated in a 3U cubesat project MicroMAS-1 and developed a microwave sounding platform for typhoon and hurricane monitoring. He also collaborated with EPFL in Switzerland for a conceptual study of small satellite constellations observing lakes and vegetation environments. In addition to airborne and space-based remote sensing, Dr. Paek is also interested in utilizing renewable energy sources to enable climate-friendly air and sea transportation.

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Published

2018-04-01

Issue

Vol 3 , No 1 （Published）

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Articles

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