A new method to design in-orbit synthetic aperture radar operational parameters has been implemented for the Korean Multi-purpose Satellite 6 mission. The implemented method optimizes the pulse repetition frequency when a satellite altitude changes from its nominal one, so it has the advantage that the synthetic aperture radar performances can satisfy the requirements for the in-orbit operation. Other commanding parameters have been designed to conduct trade-off between those parameters. This paper presents the new optimization method to maintain the synthetic aperture radar performances even in the case of an altitude variation. Design methodologies to determine operational parameters, respectively, at nominal altitude and in orbit are presented. In addition, numerical simulation is presented to validate the proposed optimization and the design methodologies.
In-Orbit Operational Parameter Calculation and Performance Optimization in KOMPSAT-6 Synthetic Aperture Radar