GEOScan is a grassroots effort, proposed as globally networked orbiting observation facility utilizing the main Iridium
NEXT 66-satellite constellation. This will create a revolutionary new capability of massively dense, global geoscience
observations and targets elusive questions that scientists have not previously been able to answer, and will not answer,
until simultaneous global measurements are made. This effort is enabled by Iridium as part of its Hosted Payload
Program. By developing a common sensor suite the logistical and cost barriers for transmitting massive amounts of data
from 66 satellites configured in 6 orbital planes with 11 evenly spaced slots per plane is removed. Each sensor suite of
GEOScan's networked orbital observation facility consists of 6 system sensors: a Radiometer to measure Earth's total
outgoing radiation; a GPS Compact Total Electron Content Sensor to image Earth's plasma environment and gravity
field; a MicroCam Multispectral Imager to measure global cloud cover, vegetation, land use, and bright aurora, and
also take the first uniform instantaneous image of the Earth; a Radiation Belt Mapping System (dosimeters) to
measure energetic electron and proton distributions; a Compact Earth Observing Spectrometer to measure aerosol-atmospheric
composition and vegetation; and MEMS Accelerometers to deduce non-conservative forces aiding gravity
and neutral drag studies. Our analysis shows that the instrument suites evaluated in a constellation configuration onboard
the Iridium NEXT satellites are poised to provide major breakthroughs in Earth and geospace science. GEOScan
commercial-of-the-shelf instruments provide low-cost space situational awareness and intelligence, surveillance, and
reconnaissance opportunities.
The Iridium NEXT satellite constellation has designed space to accommodate hosted payloads that
provided not only access to space but also allow the user to leverage Iridium's real time communication
capability. This is ideal for small sensor payloads and mission areas that require real-time data. The
detection of volcanic ash is one such application, meeting a critical need of warning aircraft on the location
of volcanic ash. To this end, we have described a system concept that uses small lightweight sensors the fit
within the Iridium NEXT hosted payload allocation and provide critical data needed to predict the location
and movement of volcanic ash in the atmosphere.
A unique opportunity exists to host up to 66 earth observation sensors on the Iridium NEXT LEO constellation in a
manner that can revolutionize earth observation and weather predictions. A constellation approach to sensing, using
the real-time communications backbone of Iridium, will enable unprecedented geospatial and temporal sampling for
now-casting of weather on a global basis as well as global climate monitoring. The Iridium NEXT constellation, with
66 interconnected satellites in 6 near polar orbiting planes, provides a unique platform for hosting a variety of earth
observation missions.
The opportunity is proposed as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) allowing for the sharing of infrastructure by
government agencies. This has the potential to augment current and planned climate and weather observation
programs in a very cost effective manner not achievable in any other way. Iridium, with the assistance of the Group on
Earth Observations (GEO), NASA, NOAA, and ESA, has evaluated a number of sensing missions that would be a
good fit to the Iridium NEXT constellation. These include GPS radio occultation sensors, earth radiation budget
measurements, radio altimetry, tropospheric and stratospheric winds measurements including polar winds
measurements, and atmospheric chemistry. Iridium NEXT launches start in 2013 and constellation operational life will
extend beyond 2030. Detailed feasibility studies on specific missions are planned to begin later this year.
Conference Committee Involvement (2)
Remote Sensing System Engineering IV
12 August 2012 | San Diego, California, United States
Remote Sensing System Engineering III
2 August 2010 | San Diego, California, United States
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