Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Constellation

In recent years, we have witnessed the launch of multiple constellations of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites operated by private entities, complementing the Copernicus programme developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). The SAR constellation proposed in this Agenda distinguishes itself by focusing on smaller satellites tailored for maritime surveillance applications.

In essence, WP10 encompasses the design, construction, launch, and operation of three SAR satellites, encapsulated in the following key activities:

• Mission Analysis and Feasibility Studies: This phase involves establishing requirements, constraints, and specifications for various mission segments, including space, ground, and launch.
• Systems Engineering and Interface Management: This activity includes defining system models and architectures in both hardware and software. The interfaces will undergo a meticulous definition process, along with the formulation of an assembly, integration, and test (AIT) plan for the satellites
• Production, Integration, and Qualification: This stage begins with the manufacturing and acquisition of different subsystems, followed by qualification tests. Subsequently, it progresses to the integration of satellites and concludes with the qualification of the entire platform;
• Operation and Demonstration of Services: After a phase of commissioning and characterising the satellites in orbit, the focus shifts to demonstrating the potential of future services to be implemented.