Monitoring of hazardous chemical deposition at either underground sites or in the atmosphere with the aid of a remote, chemical-sensing network that is satellite-based

This paper addresses preliminary system engineering for a disposable, remote, chemical-sensing network. This network could interconnect a satellite hub, LEO (low Earth orbiting) satellites, remote sensors, and a fiber optic interface that interlinks remote chemical sensors, situated underground in aquifers or directly beneath hazardous chemical/waste disposal sites, with remote transmitter/receivers on the Earth´s surface. Some essential technical considerations as to orbital analysis, telemetry, satellite transponder access, modulation techniques, antenna selection, criteria for remote power, hardware tradeoffs, and the execution of a feasibility study of the proposed network via primarily a link budget analysis are then evaluated. This network is suited either to detect hazardous chemicals in the atmosphere or underground