Asian Surveying & Mapping
Breaking News
Australia’s Gilmour Space Technologies ready to launch maiden Eris Test flight the nation’s first orbital launch in over 50 years
Gilmour Space Technologies is the leading launch services company...
Korea’s space agency seeks revision of plan to modify next-gen rockets into reusable system
South Korea's aerospace agency said on Thursday that it...
UAE Space Agency Signs Agreement With Technology Innovation Institute to Execute the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt’s Lander Project
In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin...
Private Japanese lunar lander enters orbit around moon ahead of a June touchdown
A private lunar lander from Japan is now circling the moon, with...
Indian astronaut to travel soon to ISS as part of ISRO-NASA Mission
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said by 2040, an Indian’s...
China issues regulatory framework to support direct-to-device satellite services
HELSINKI — China has released comprehensive regulations for direct-to-device...
Astranis clinches $115 million Taiwan deal despite satellite setback
TAMPA, Fla. — Astranis has signed a $115 million...
UAE and Egypt Strengthen Space Collaboration with New MoU
In a milestone development for Arab space collaboration, the...
Seoul launches 4th spy satellite to boost North Korea surveillance
South Korea’s military now operates an increasingly integrated cluster...
Indonesia seeks space defense cooperation with Japan’s military
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Defense of Indonesia...

January 24th, 2024
Space project to boost map-making and environmental monitoring

January 23, 2024:  A Birmingham researcher is working on a space project that will bring map-making, environmental monitoring and natural hazard forecasting to a new level.

The Radar Cluster for Earth Remote Sensing (RaCERS) project will deliver ‘swarms’ of cooperating microsatellites (smallsats) that fly in tight formation and provide a highly accurate profile of the earth’s surface, and enhanced image resolution revealing, for instance, deforestation or forest thickening, the height of rivers or waterways, and areas of urban growth.

Professor Marco Martorella from the Department of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering is working with partners GeoOptics Switzerland, Tyvak International, National Interuniversity Center for Telecommunications, Pisa, and the Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich on the project.

Professor Martorella, who is Chair in Radio Frequency and Space Sensing at the University of Birmingham, U.K., is working on an academic consultant on the project, which will use his expertise in radar systems, sensing and signal processing to co-develop the advanced instrumentation needed for small satellites.

Flying in constellation will enable the RaCERS smallsats to simultaneously use altimetry, which measures height using the upward reflection of the radar beam, scatterometry, which passively senses the surface from many angles at once, providing more, and more precise, information and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), which allows for active and high-resolution imaging of the earth surface.

Radar has strong benefits over visual light wavelengths for these types of measurements.  It can sense during day or night and is not interrupted by cloud cover, which means it can deliver a continuous feed of highly accurate data about the surface of oceans, ice and land.

Professor Martorella said: “Spaceborne radar is central to earth environmental monitoring and forecasting, and the constellations of RaCERS satellites, flying in a tightly orchestrated formation will deliver more accurate measurements than conventional, single satellites enabling more accurate determination of severe weather, soil moisture, surface winds, ocean circulation, and much more.”

The feasibility study, which will involve developing bespoke equipment that pushes the boundaries of radar equipment and constellation flying, has now started.  The second stage of the project would be funded by the European Space Agency.  Delivery is expected by 2029.

 

For media information contact Ruth Ashton, University of Birmingham Enterprise, email: [email protected]

The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 8,000 international students from over 150 countries.

University of Birmingham Enterprise helps students and researchers turn their ideas into new services, products and enterprises that meet real-world needs. We also provide incubation and bio-incubation, support innovators and entrepreneurs with mentoring, advice and training, and manage the University’s Academic Consultancy Service. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.