The Air Force Research Laboratory awarded Utah State University and the Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) a $240,000 contract to evaluate different approaches for using small satellites for radar imaging.
The six-month effort called SMART (Space-based Multi-Aperture Research and Technology) will study the use of radar imaging using a constellation of small satellites.
This type of imaging could provide valuable data for the government including precision target locating, target tracking, accurate terrain mapping and elevation data, and some communication capabilities at radar bandwidth.
“This is exciting research,” said Todd Mosher, Utah State principal investigator and assistant professor in mechanical and aerospace engineering. “We will be exploring the capabilities and limitations of small satellites.”
The Utah State/SDL team will be developing designs for small satellites that will fly in cooperating constellations, creating a virtual radar antenna in space.
A series of six different constellations will be designed and studied, each with a different number of small satellites.
One constellation will include a more capable mother ship surrounded by six less capable small satellites, while the other constellations will have small satellites that are the same size and have the same capabilities
“We will be looking at the tradeoffs and benefits of each constellation,” said Mosher. “Each will provide different capabilities at different costs.”
The study will involve five professors from Utah State, three engineers from SDL, and two graduate students. The team will also determine the cost to build the satellites they design, giving the Air Force Research Laboratory more accurate data for determining the resources needed to support an actual program..
“SMART gives us the opportunity to contribute to cutting edge technologies in the small satellite industry,” said Pat Patterson, SDL program manager.
“Our hope is that this will open the door for small satellites to be used operationally for radar imaging.”
The team will use the University¿s Space Systems Analysis Laboratory, located in the new engineering building, and the facilities at SDL.
“The collaborative strength of Utah State and SDL gives us an advantage over many others who could perform this study,” said Mosher.
“It is very beneficial for Utah State and SDL to be able to work together on studies like these. They give us important insight into what is coming next.”
The SMART program will run through June of this year. The contract was awarded through the Missile Defense Agency¿s University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) contracting vehicle. SDL is one of only12 UARCs in the United States.
