Development Status of PRECURSOR – ECO, INTA SAR Mission Based on Collaborative Small Satellites

Abstract:
Earth Observation using satellites is a fundamental information source for most activities in the civil and military environment. The design of this kind of systems is moving from the traditional model of big satellites with multiple capacities requiring larger development times, elevated investment and long operation to be profitable to a model based in small, low cost satellite constellations with shorter development times, faster replacements and taken advantage of latest technological innovations. This paper describes the SAR system currently being developed at INTA based in collaborative low cost satellites in order to provide products similar to traditional high performance satellites.