Earth Explorer 11 - SEASTAR Phase 0

Abstract:
Seastar is an ESA mission in the frame of Earth Explorer 11 program dedicated to the observation of fast-evolving smallscale ocean surface dynamics in all coastal seas, shelf seas and marginal ice zones. Its science goals are: 1) to understand the role of fast-evolving small-scale ocean dynamics in mediating exchanges between land, the cryosphere, the atmosphere, the marine biosphere and the deep ocean; 2) to determine the ocean circulation and dominant transport pathways in the global coastal, shelf and marginal ice zones; and, 3) to improve understanding of coastal, shelf and marginal ice zones contributions to the global climate system. The instrument designed by OHB/TASI/Aresys consortium founds on the Dual-beam interferometry for the Ocean surface current vector mapping which led to an Along-track single pass interferometric sensor able to simultaneously acquire from three directions +/- 45 deg squinted (FORE/AFT) beams and broadside beam (orthogonal to the flight direction). In the paper is shown one of the two orbit concepts successfully analysed during the study.