Optimization of Reconfigurable Satellite Constellations Using Simulated Annealing and Genetic Algorithm.

Sung Paek,Olivier De Weck,Sangtae Kim

doi:10.3390/s19040765

Abstract

Agile Earth observation can be achieved with responsiveness in satellite launches, sensor pointing, or orbit reconfiguration. This study presents a framework for designing reconfigurable satellite constellations capable of both regular Earth observation and disaster monitoring. These observation modes are termed global observation mode and regional observation mode, constituting a reconfigurable satellite constellation (ReCon). Systems engineering approaches are employed to formulate this multidisciplinary problem of co-optimizing satellite design and orbits. Two heuristic methods, simulated annealing (SA) and genetic algorithm (GA), are widely used for discrete combinatorial problems and therefore used in this study to benchmark against a gradient-based method. Point-based SA performed similar or slightly better than the gradient-based method, whereas population-based GA outperformed the other two. The resultant ReCon satellite design is physically feasible and offers performance-to-cost(mass) superior to static constellations. Ongoing research on observation scheduling and constellation management will extend the ReCon applications to radar imaging and radio occultation beyond visible wavelengths and nearby spectrums.

Highlights

Earth observation has experienced unprecedented growth through the use of satellite data [1,2].Space-based, spatio-temporal data is regularly used to remotely measure fresh water elevation [3], explore potential mineral deposits [4], monitor changes in land-cover and land-use [5,6], to name a few practical applications
The reconfigurable satellite constellation (ReCon) framework may be regarded as nonlinear programming (NLP), due to the nonlinear nature of satellite coverage and launch mass
This paper proposes a reconfigurable satellite constellation (ReCon) for Earth observation

Summary

Introduction

Earth observation has experienced unprecedented growth through the use of satellite data [1,2].Space-based, spatio-temporal data is regularly used to remotely measure fresh water elevation [3], explore potential mineral deposits [4], monitor changes in land-cover and land-use [5,6], to name a few practical applications. Earth observation has experienced unprecedented growth through the use of satellite data [1,2]. Earth observation for situational awareness often involves mobile targets, such as hurricanes [7,8] or emergency areas whose locations cannot be determined a priori [9,10]. Crop classification and growth monitoring may be routinely performed on pre-designated areas [11,12], whereas the time and location of flooding or drought cannot be accurately predicted and requires contingent responses. As a way of incorporating responsiveness and agility into Earth observation, the concept of reconfigurable satellite constellation (ReCon) has been proposed [13,14]. The operation of a ReCon comprises the following two modes: Global observation mode (GOM) for normal operations and regional observation mode (ROM) for contingent responses.

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