Subsystem support feasibility for formation flight measuring Bi-directional Reflectance

Distributed Spacecraft Missions can be used to improve science performance in earth remote sensing by increasing the sampling in one or more of five dimensions: spatial, temporal, angular, spectral and radiometric. This paper identifies a gap in the angular sampling abilities of traditional monolithic spacecraft and proposes to address it using small satellite clusters in formation flight. The angular performance metric chosen to be Bi-directional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF), which describes the directional and spectral variation of reflectance of a surface element at any time instant. Current monolithic spacecraft sensors estimate it by virtue of their large swath (e.g. MODIS, POLDER), multiple forward and aft sensors (e.g. MISR, ATSR) and autonomous maneuverability (e.g. CHRIS, SPECTRA). However, their planes of measurement and angular coverage are limited. This study evaluates the technical feasibility of using clusters of nanosatellites in formation flight, each with a VNIR (visible and near infra-red) imaging spectrometer, to make multi-spectral reflectance measurements of a ground target, at different zenith and azimuthal angles simultaneously. Feasibility is verified for the following mission critical, inter-dependent modules that need to be customized to fit specific angular and spectral requirements: cluster geometry (and global orbits), guidance, navigation and control systems (GNC), payload, onboard processing and communication. Simulations using an integrated systems engineering and science evaluation tool indicate initial feasibility of all listed subsystems.