• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.627-636
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• 2021

Although many studies on ship detection using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite images are being conducted around the world, there are still very few employing SAR microsatellites, as most of the microsatellites are optical satellites. Recently, the ICEYE and Capella Space have embarked on the development of microsatellites with SAR sensor, and similar projects are being initiated globally in line with the flow of the new space era [e.g., for the ICEYE: 18 satellites (~2021); Capella Space: 36 satellites (~2023); and the Coast Guard SAR: 32 satellites in the early development stage]. In preparation for these new systems, it is important to review the SAR microsatellite system and the recent advances in this technology. Accordingly, in this paper, the current status and characteristics of optical and SAR microsatellite constellation operation are described, and studies using them are investigated. In addition, based on the status and characteristics of the representative SAR microsatellites, specifically the ICEYE and Capella systems, methods for using SAR microsatellite data for ship detection applications are described. Our results confirm that the SAR microsatellites operate as a constellation and have the advantages of short revisit cycles and quick provision of high-resolution images. With this technology, we expect SAR microsatellites to contribute greatly to the monitoring a wide-area target vessel, in which the spatiotemporal resolution of the imagery is especially important.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.225-235
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• 2023

This paper presents the structural design of a planar synthetic aperture radar (SAR) antenna applied to a microsatellite. For micro-satellite applications, the SAR antenna structure must be lightweight, flat, and designed to withstand the launch environment. To satisfy these conditions, our novel antenna structure was designed using aluminium (AL) alloy. Structural analysis was performed for quasi-static load, random vibration, and shock load to verify its robustness in the launch environment, and the results are presented here.

• Journal of Space Technology and Applications
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.364-374
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• 2021

This research discusses the change in radio frequency (RF) characteristics according to the number of Gores on the deployable mesh antennas for potential micro-satellite applications. The deployable type of lightweight mesh antenna can be used for various space missions such as communication/SAR/ SIGINT. In order to implement an ideal curvature of antenna surface, sufficient number of antenna rib structures are required. However, the increase in antenna ribs affects various design factors of the antenna system, especially total system mass, complexity of deployable mechanism and reliability. In this paper, the proper number of ribs for the mesh antenna were derived by comparison of electro-magnetic (EM) simulation results of example of antenna model in accordance with the various number of ribs.