HORUS: Feasibility of an Earth Imaging Mini-Satellite in Very Low Earth Orbit

In recent years, the miniaturisation and standardisation of space-qualified hardware have enhanced the capabilities of small satellites, enabling them to perform cheaper and faster missions in orbit, intended as missions with shorter development cycles and reduced time from conception to in-orbit operations. In parallel, the need for Earth observation satellites is rising. Among the topics of interest, climate monitoring, environmental protection, and disaster management are included. Newest, more compact, lighter, and more efficient systems for space propulsion are also opening the possibility of using very low Earth orbits, which allow better on-ground resolution, faster end-of-life re-entry, and cheaper in-orbit insertion. The following paper aims to bring an overview of the potentialities and the feasibility of a small platform, HORUS, flying at a very low altitude for Earth imaging and observation, with a payload consisting of a telescope for high-resolution ground imaging. The proposed mission is a system-level assessment and, consequently, many of the performed analyses are preliminary. Fo this reason, preliminary mission planning and analysis is included, imposing only the spacecraft’s size and attitude. The paper will explore the different possibilities for Earth imaging given by this type of platform. Different configurations for ground station and picture collection combinations are proposed, suggesting that the proposed design could be employed in a large number of operational missions.