The SATURN mission
SATURN (Synthetic AperTure Radar CUbesats FoRmation FlyiNg) is a Cooperative Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) Swarms of SAR MicroSats and it is designed for innovative, low cost and versatile Earth Observation applications.
A disruptive SAR mission
SATURN aims at becoming the first ever Space SAR MIMO mission.
Scalable
Configurable swarm size for optimal budget vs performances trade offs
Low cost
Access to EO is no longer exclusive of big institutional entities
Distributed
A mission with no single point of failure
SATURN is under development in the frame of ASI Alcor programme by an industrial team composed by:
- OHB Italy: Prime contractor
- ARESYS : Mission Concept design and Radar Payload responsible
- AIRBUS Italy: SAR Antenna responsible
- POLIMI : Mission Concept and Requirements Verification
Operational scenarios
Background mission
dedicated to the routinary monitoring of sea areas (as Mediterranean sea) for the application of Maritime Surveillance;
Emergency Mission
applicable on land to acquire specific Areas of Interest that are identified by the Customer on the basis of a priority index