Author Topic: The Airbus Very High Resolution constellation  (Read 8125 times)

Offline gosnold

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The Airbus Very High Resolution constellation
« on: 09/15/2016 07:03 pm »
Airbus Defense & Space just announced it will launch a constellation of 4 Very High Resolution (VHR) optical earth observation satellites, in 2020 and 2021. This will be a follow-on to the Pléiades constellation. The press release is there:
https://airbusdefenceandspace.com/newsroom/news-and-features/airbus-defence-and-space-invests-in-very-high-resolution-satellite-imagery-from-2020-onwards/

It will most likely be made up of 4 30cm resolution satellites in 2 orbital planes. I published a quick analysis of the announcement on my blog:
https://satelliteobservation.wordpress.com/2016/09/15/the-airbus-very-high-resolution-constellation/

Offline Sam Ho

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Re: The Airbus Very High Resolution constellation
« Reply #1 on: 09/18/2016 01:25 pm »
Peter B de Selding article on this, focusing on the fact that Airbus is financing this privately.

http://spacenews.com/airbus-invests-in-4-high-resolution-optical-earth-observation-satellites-with-no-government-net/

Offline Rik ISS-fan

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Re: The Airbus Very High Resolution constellation
« Reply #2 on: 09/18/2016 10:17 pm »
#speculation mode# First launch of A62 in 2020 and a second A62 launch in 2021. /speculation

Offline gosnold

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Re: The Airbus Very High Resolution constellation
« Reply #3 on: 09/19/2016 09:23 am »
I would bet on Vega launches. 4 Vega launches is 4x30=120M€, 2 Ariane 62 is 2x75=150 M€. By 2020 Vega will also have a dozen flights under its belt. Since Airbus is financing this directly, I think they will prefer the cheaper and less risky option.

Offline Mike Jones

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Re: The Airbus Very High Resolution constellation
« Reply #4 on: 09/19/2016 04:02 pm »
Vega is nowhere near 30 M$

Offline Rik ISS-fan

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Re: The Airbus Very High Resolution constellation
« Reply #5 on: 09/19/2016 09:24 pm »
The CSO/MUSIS satellites weigh 3500kg, that's far to much for Vega and even Vega C and E.
I expected these Airbus D&S VHR sats to roughly the same. (AstroBus XL). But possibly they could be smaller AstroBus L/M 900-2400kg. At airbus they will know, but we have to weight until more details come out about these earth imaging satellites.
I really applaud Airbus for improving their earth imaging system, and continuing the service they provide with these satellites. It's a good service and a nice way to showcase their capabilities. 

Offline gosnold

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Re: The Airbus Very High Resolution constellation
« Reply #6 on: 09/20/2016 10:20 am »
The CSO/MUSIS satellites weigh 3500kg, that's far to much for Vega and even Vega C and E.
I expected these Airbus D&S VHR sats to roughly the same. (AstroBus XL). But possibly they could be smaller AstroBus L/M 900-2400kg. At airbus they will know, but we have to weight until more details come out about these earth imaging satellites.
You are right, it could weigh as much as CSO, which are surprisingly heavy. If the 3.5t for CSO are correct, this means the first will be launched on CSG Soyuz or on Ariane 5 (less likely). Maybe the Airbus birds will be launched on those rockets, although I think Airbus will try to keep the mass low: they did a study and concluded 30cm resolution satellites could fit on a Vega.

Vega is nowhere near 30 M$
Depending on the source, the price is quoted at 30 or 40M:

http://seradata.com/SSI/2015/11/rispace-2015-oxford-expensive-vega-has-market-nearly-to-itself-for-now-but-will-face-strong-competition-although-probably-not-from-a-bird-cooking-electric-rocket/

http://spacenews.com/vega-expected-be-price-competitive-russian-rockets/

Online Skyrocket

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Re: The Airbus Very High Resolution constellation
« Reply #7 on: 06/20/2017 12:05 pm »
The four satellites will be launched in pairs on two Vega-C rockets starting in 2020.

https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/877101280874856448

Offline gosnold

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Re: The Airbus Very High Resolution constellation
« Reply #8 on: 06/20/2017 08:59 pm »
The four satellites will be launched in pairs on two Vega-C rockets starting in 2020.

https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/877101280874856448

I'm really surprised they manage to pack 2 30-cm resolution sats on a single Vega C. CNES had a lot of trouble packing one in a single vanilla Vega. Does Vega C have a bigger fairing?

By the way the name of the constellation has been announced as VHR2020.
« Last Edit: 06/20/2017 09:13 pm by gosnold »

Offline calapine

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Re: The Airbus Very High Resolution constellation
« Reply #9 on: 06/21/2017 08:10 pm »

I'm really surprised they manage to pack 2 30-cm resolution sats on a single Vega C. CNES had a lot of trouble packing one in a single vanilla Vega. Does Vega C have a bigger fairing?

Yes.

Offline gosnold

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Re: The Airbus Very High Resolution constellation
« Reply #10 on: 09/12/2017 03:48 pm »
Airbus has rebranded the VHR20 constellation as Pleiades Neo, and released a first picture:
http://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2017/09/Press-release-SpaceDataHighway.html

The solar panels are interesting. I still don't see how they pack two of those in a 3.3m fairing if they have a 1.5m aperture, as needed for 30cm resolution from 700km up. So I think they are going to pull the same thing as with Pleiades and their resolution is going to be 30cm resampled from a 40cm native image, and they will use 1.2m apertures.
« Last Edit: 09/14/2017 08:10 pm by Jester »

Offline calapine

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Re: The Airbus Very High Resolution constellation
« Reply #11 on: 09/13/2017 07:49 pm »
I still don't see how they pack two of those in a 3.3m fairing if they have a 1.5m aperture, as needed for 30cm resolution from 700km up. So I think they are going to pull the same thing as with Pleiades and their resolution is going to be 30cm resampled from a 40cm native image, and they will use 1.2m apertures.

I have been told (by someone I have no reason to doubt) that it is 30 cm native.

Offline gosnold

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Re: The Airbus Very High Resolution constellation
« Reply #12 on: 09/13/2017 08:34 pm »
I still don't see how they pack two of those in a 3.3m fairing if they have a 1.5m aperture, as needed for 30cm resolution from 700km up. So I think they are going to pull the same thing as with Pleiades and their resolution is going to be 30cm resampled from a 40cm native image, and they will use 1.2m apertures.

I have been told (by someone I have no reason to doubt) that it is 30 cm native.

I just had the same info, but I'm still perplexed by the packing inside a Vega C+ fairing. The best I got is vertical stacking with an evolved VESPA, or a lower orbital altitude than Pléiades v1.

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: The Airbus Very High Resolution constellation
« Reply #13 on: 09/14/2017 02:44 am »
I still don't see how they pack two of those in a 3.3m fairing if they have a 1.5m aperture, as needed for 30cm resolution from 700km up. So I think they are going to pull the same thing as with Pleiades and their resolution is going to be 30cm resampled from a 40cm native image, and they will use 1.2m apertures.

I have been told (by someone I have no reason to doubt) that it is 30 cm native.

I just had the same info, but I'm still perplexed by the packing inside a Vega C+ fairing. The best I got is vertical stacking with an evolved VESPA, or a lower orbital altitude than Pléiades v1.
Well the Spacecraft is lighter than its predecessor due to redesign and technological advances in addition to change in propulsion. the new busis capable of flying as an integrated stack without using a VESPA.

Offline gosnold

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Re: The Airbus Very High Resolution constellation
« Reply #14 on: 09/14/2017 06:30 am »

Well the Spacecraft is lighter than its predecessor due to redesign and technological advances in addition to change in propulsion. the new busis capable of flying as an integrated stack without using a VESPA.

Are you certain of that? If yes, would they be stacked one on top of the aperture of the other?

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: The Airbus Very High Resolution constellation
« Reply #15 on: 09/14/2017 03:49 pm »

Well the Spacecraft is lighter than its predecessor due to redesign and technological advances in addition to change in propulsion. the new busis capable of flying as an integrated stack without using a VESPA.

Are you certain of that? If yes, would they be stacked one on top of the aperture of the other?
The bus is multipurpose. I do not know if they will fly stacked in this configuration.

Offline Ragmar

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Re: The Airbus Very High Resolution constellation
« Reply #16 on: 05/02/2018 04:56 pm »
Have we seen anything on whether this will be an upgraded version of Airbus' NAOMI sensor, or an upgraded Thales HiRi sensor?  The HiRi was on the previous Pleiades satellites, but as Airbus and Thales appear to have shifted away from teaming to trying to vertically integrate their EO spacecraft, I wonder if the Pleiades NEO satellites will feature a new NAOMI sensor.

Offline gosnold

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Re: The Airbus Very High Resolution constellation
« Reply #17 on: 05/04/2018 03:17 pm »
Have we seen anything on whether this will be an upgraded version of Airbus' NAOMI sensor, or an upgraded Thales HiRi sensor?  The HiRi was on the previous Pleiades satellites, but as Airbus and Thales appear to have shifted away from teaming to trying to vertically integrate their EO spacecraft, I wonder if the Pleiades NEO satellites will feature a new NAOMI sensor.

Thales is not part of Pleiades Neo, it's a purely Airbus affair.

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