Takahē – a Tandem Ka-band & High Altitude Platform Explorer for Ocean & Ice Monitoring

Abstract:
We present Takahe, a mission concept featuring a space-based dual-platform, Ka-band interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) for advanced, synoptic ocean and ice monitoring. The Takah¯e space segment is designed to be accommodated on small SAT-class spacecraft and represents a cost-effective but significant advancement in spaceborne remote sensing capabilities. The concept also includes a stratospheric InSAR segment for persistent, regional monitoring. Maritime domain awareness (MDA) has long relied on the high-resolution mapping capabilities of synthetic aperture radar (SAR). These technologies are critical for detection and characterization of a variety of dynamic features in oceanic and icy regions, such as vessels, wakes, pollutant spills, and sea ice. However, existing SAR platforms face limitations in resolution, coverage, and sensitivity that challenge effective feature detection and classification in complex maritime environments. To address these issues, Takah¯e incorporates a novel correlation-based approach for enhanced target detection. This method significantly improves the identification and characterization of small marine objects. Moreover, the proposed system is versatile, extending its capabilities to broader applications such as sea-ice mapping, comprehensive MDA, and Antarctic ice sheet characterization.