CONTENTS

1. RISAT-1 Satellite Overview

4.5
2. Mission Overview
2.1 Mission
Specifications
2.2 Mission elements
3. RISAT Specifications
3.1 RISAT-1 Orbit
3.2 RISAT Subsystems with
heritage / new element
3.3 Mechanical Systems
3.3.1 Structure
3.3.2
Coordinate
System
&
Panel
Nomenclature
3.3.3 Mechanisms
3.4 Thermal
3.5 BDH
3.6 SSR
3.7 RF Systems
3.7.1 TTC RF
3.7.2 X-Band RF
3.8 SPS
3.9 Power Systems
3.10 On Board Computer
(OBC)
3.11 AOCS
3.12 Actuators
4. Data Reception Systems
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Station requirements
to track and receive
RISAT-1 data
4.3 IMGEOS configuration
4.4 Data reception station
specifications

4.6

4.7
4.8

4.9

4.4.1 Brief description

of data reception
station
Detailed
functional
reception
of
data
reception station
Antenna and tracking
pedestal
4.6.1 Antenna
4.6.2 Pedestal
4.6.3 Drive chain
4.6.4 Azimuth housing
4.6.5 Elevation
housing
Technical
specifications
Dual Polarized S/X
band feed & RF
systems
4.8.1 Dual Polarized
S/X band Feed
4.8.2 Feed
Specifications
4.8.3 X-band
DPC
(Divider, Phase,
Shifter, Coupler)
4.8.4 S-band DPC
4.8.5 X-band Up/Down
Converter
4.8.6 X-band
down
Converter
4.8.7 X-band
Up
Converter
4.8.8 S-band
Down
Converter
4.8.9 Integrated
tracking system
IF and Base band
Systems
pg.1

6
7

4.9.1 Programmable
IF matrix
4.9.2 IF Fiber optic link
4.9.3 High data rate
demodulators
4.10 Digital servo control
system
4.11 Antenna drive unit
4.11.1
Antenna
control unit
4.12 tracking
network
configuration
4.12.1
Station
automation
system
4.13 Station
Control
computer
Level 0 Systems
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Station
work
flow
manager
5.3 Data ingest system
5.4 Timing systems
5.4.1 IRIG-G
time
code translator
SAR payload for RISAT
6.1 Modes of operation
RISAT data products and
formats
7.1 Raw signal products
(Level-0)
7.2 Ellipsoid
Geocoded
Products (Level-2)
7.3 Value added products
7.4 Image
Quality
parameters
Product quality control
8.1 Meta file verification
8.2 Format validation
8.3 Geometric check

8.4 Radiometric check

8.5 Band
to
band
registration (BBR)
9 Data
Access
and
Distribution
9.1 Services
9.1.1 Polygon based
query / ordering/
collects
9.1.2 Map
sheet
number based
query
9.1.3 Location name
based query
9.1.4 Point (Lat-Long )
based query
9.1.5 Search
for
images
based
on shape file
9.1.6 Search
for
images
based
on date of pass/
ordering
9.2 Product
status
monitoring
9.3 Services for offline
users
10 Payload Programming
10.1 Introduction
10.1.1
Registered
users
10.1.2
Offline
users
10.1.3
Ground
station users
10.2 Payload Programming
activity
10.2.1
Options for
placing
the
pg.2

programming
request
10.2.2
Request
status
10.2.3
PPSSystem
11 Applications
11.1 Forestry
11.2 Crop
11.3 Agricultural
11.4 Flood

1. RISAT-1 SATELLITE OVERVIEW

RISAT mission is envisaged to fly a SAR
imaging payload for supplementing to
the needs of remote sensing
users across the globe.

data

With its

pg.3

capabilities to operate in day, night and

ii) To develop and operate a compatible

all

satellite

weather

conditions,

SAR

is

an

to

meet

the

mission

important sensor, which either in stand-

requirements operating in three axis

alone mode or as complementary to

stabilized mode in 536.38 km circular

electro-optical sensors, will cater to

sun synchronous orbit.

diverse resources and environmental

iii) To establish ground segment to

monitoring

receive and process SAR data.

applications

even

during

cloud cover times. The basic nature of

iv) To develop related algorithms and

data, which is a function of a microwave

data

returned

established application areas and also to

signal,

will

significantly

enhance the scope of satellite remote

products

to

serve

in

well

enhance the mission utility.

sensing and develop newer applications.

RISAT will be launched by ISROs own

2.2Mission elements

PSLV launch vehicle, as the launch

To meet the defined mission objectives,

parameters

the

various components as required by the

capabilities. The interface of the satellite

mission including SAR payload, satellite,

with the launch vehicle is through

orbit, satellite management in orbit and

circular merman band clamp (937VB

data handling on ground have been

Version) to match with PSLV launcher

defined.

are

well

within

interface.
SAR mission will
2. Mission

nature.

2.1Mission Objectives

missions. SAR payload has a multi-mode

develop a multimode, agile SAR payload

modes to provide images with coarse,
fine

and

respectively.

high

spatial

resolutions

Mission specifications are

similar to contemporary international

The objectives of RISAT are, i)To

operating in scanSAR, strip and spot

be operational in

capability for catering to

Continuous fine resolution strip mode

for initial reconnaissance, infrastructure
development

applications,

disaster

management etc. ,

pg.4

Wide swath scanSAR mode for

agriculture, forestry, flood mapping,
geological applications etc.
High resolution spotlight
special applications

mode

for

for maximizing the imaging in highmode,

with

Data

transmission in real time as well as in

storage mode. RISAT technology has
been chosen so that

the continuity is

maintained in follow-on missions of

RISAT.

deg. with repetivity cycle of 377 orbits in

25 days with a descending node local
Main guiding parameter for choosing the
orbit for RISAT-1 is achieving a global
coverage in a systematic way for a
given swath. Other considerations such
as

interferometric

presence

of

applications,

atomic

oxygen

the
and

atmospheric drag have also been kept in

view. Orbit parameters are planned to

Mission

Elements

of

presented in Figure :1 ,
result

kms altitude and inclination of 97.554

time of 6:00 AM +/- 5 min is chosen .

The satellite is fabricated to have agility

resolution

A polar sun synchronous orbit at 536.38

in

RISAT-1

are

and these will

theDevelopment

of

user-

friendly data products and data archival.

Fig.1 Mission Elements of RISAT-1

be variable as per mission operation

requirements

for

various

imaging

Subsystems

with

modes.
3.2RISAT

heritage /new elements

RISAT-1 has 13 new sub systems, and
hertitage and past experience exists for
remaining 10 subsystems.

Power Sub

systems works on 70 V bus, generated

from CFRP based solar panels and 70
AH Ni-H battery. Miniaturized version of
3RISAT Specifications
3.1RISAT-1 Orbit:

TTC-RF sub systems and High data rate

modulator, Phase locked loop based
Xband system are used.
antenna

is

used

for

Phase array
SAR

data

transmission using Dual polarized wave

pg.5

guide radiating elements.

SPS sub

structure to accommodate the solar

system is same as used in Carto-2

arrays, majority of the sensors and

mission.

antennae is provided. The triangular

DSS,

INSAT type SPSS, two axes

IRS-P6

Star

sensor

with

structure with SAR antenna is identified

improvement in update rate, package

as PAYLOAD module and the cuboid

density and satellite interface to MIL-

structure with solar arrays is called as

STD-1553B

Conventional

SOLAR PANEL module. Sufficientgap is

conical earth sensor are used. 50NMS &

available between the payload module

0.3NM Torque wheels , IRU sub systems

and the solar panel module so that

as in Carto-2 and (8+1) 11 N Thrusters

there is no interference between the

are used as actuators. SAR payload is

solar array and the SAR antenna in

based on TR module based architecture.

launch configuration as well as on-orbit

BDH and SSR are new type of sub

configuration.

interface,

systems for RISAT-1.

3.3.2 Coordinate System & Panel
3.3 Mechanical systems

Nomenclature
The center of gravity of the satellite is

Radar Imaging satellite (RISAT) is built

taken as the origin of the co-ordinate

around a bus for ongoing IRS missions

system

in the weight class of 2000kg. RISAT

attitude

weight is 1850 kg out of which SAR

determination

payload weight is around 950 kg.

following figure for axis definition of

3.3.1 Structure

RISAT mission.

considered for the satellite

control

and

purposes.

attitude
Refer

the

The main structure of RISAT consists of

one single cylinder of 2.77 m height
(approx).
cylinder

The
has

bottom
a

side

truncated

of

the

triangular

structure to hold the SAR antenna and

major bus service elements. At the
topside

of

the

cylinder

cuboid

pg.6

control tapes, quartz wool blanket, Sink

plates and heat pipes. Heaters will be
provided

to

maintain

temperatures

during cold conditions. The orbit and

orientation of RISAT gives rise to the
following factors that decide the thermal
design approach of the Main Bus as well
as payload :No eclipse during winter and
equinox, Eclipse only during summer

Fig. 2 Roll, Yaw and Pitch

(22

minutes

maximum),

Sun

rays

Positive Yaw Axis From CG towards and

incident on SAR radiator with small

perpendicular

incident

to

SAR

antenna

in

angle

resulting

in

high

deployed configuration (towards center

temperature, More earthshine load on

of earth) Positive Pitch Axis From CG

Earth viewing panel due to reduced

towards

altitude.

the

bottom

deck

of

the

triangular structure supporting the SAR

Reduced albedo load due to

6AM/6PM equatorial crossing time

Antenna. Positive Roll Axis Perpendicular

to

+ve

Yaw

and

+ve

Pitch

axis

3.5 BDH

completing the right handed system.

The data handling system of RISAT is

Roll axis is along the deployed SAR

configured in the form of two formatters

Antenna.

for each of

RX1 (V) and RX2 (H)

receivers from the SAR payload. The

3.3.3 Mechanisms
RISAT employs

SAR data is transferred to BDH through

SAR deployment

LVDS Serializer -Deserializer interface

mechanism andSolar array deployment

where each data line is at the rate of

mechanism

218.75 Mbps and clock signal of 31.25

3.4 Thermal

MHz. The de-serialized output (SAR

Thermal control will be provided using

Data) is written in memory as long as

space proven thermal control elements

the data window from SAR P/L is HIGH.

such as OSR, MLI, paints, thermal

In the next data window, the SAR data

pg.7

is read from the memory by the

Main Mode Description

formatter for formatting along with

a) Standby mode

necessary auxiliary data. Two memories

b) Retention mode

per receiver are used for the ping-pong

c) Record mode

operation of memory write and memory

d) Playback mode

read

3.7 RF Systems

simultaneously.

The

formatter

clock is 32 MHz or 10 MHz depending

3.7.1TTC RF

upon the data rates of SAR P/L. All

The TT&C (RF) system for RISAT

clocks are derived from 160 MHz crystal

consists of two chains of PLL coherent

oscillators. Null flag concept is used for

SBand Transponder connected to a

optimum utilization of SSR. When the

common

data rate of SAR P/L and BDH overhead

antennae system consisting of main and

together is greater than 640Mbps, real

null

time transmission is not possible and

configuration is identical to the ones

data have to be recorded in SSR.

employed in earlier IRS missions. The

Recorded data can be played back later.

TC demodulation scheme is PSK/PCM

Differential Encoder is used to remove

with a date rate of 4KBPS.

four-phase ambiguity of QPSK. BDH has

Frequencies:

functionalities like payload interface,

Receiver frequency : 2071.875 MHz

formatter, 1553 interface, differential

Transmitter frequency : 2250.00 MHz

antenna

filling

system

antenna).

(Two

The

basic

encoding clock generation, final parallel

to serial conversion and DC/DC.
3.6 SSR
The RISAT SSR has a capacity of 300 G
bits , realized with six memory boards of
50 G bits capacity each . The memory
boards, by default are configured into
two partitions each of 150 G bits with
three memory boards per partition.

3.7.2 X-Band RF
The X-Band RF is required to do the
following operations:
To accept the payload data from the
base band Data Handling system.
To modulate the above data on two XBand carriers and transmit the
same

to

ground

after

suitable

amplification and filtering.

pg.8

In the proposed data transmission for

computing the state vector of the high-

RISAT, half the data i.e. 320 MBPS will

dynamic platform.

be transmitted in right hand circular

3.9 Power Systems

polarisation (RHCP) and the remaining

Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT) Power

320 MBPS in the left hand circular

System consists of Solar array

polarisation (LHCP); two identical chains

panels

operating at 8.2125 GHz are used to

sandwiched between CFRP face skin and

transmit 640 MBPS of payload data. The

arranged in two wings with three panels

carrier

in each wing in +ve roll and -ve roll

generation

section,

QPSK

of

rigid

Al

with 6

honeycomb

modulator section, filter units, selection

axes,

of Main and redundant chain units are

storage and power electronics for power

identical in all the chains

the

conditioning and distribution. The power

frequency of operation and modulation

system for RISAT is designed to (a)

schemes are identical. Both the chains

meet the 6AM/6PM orbit illumination

have end to end redundancy. The

conditions; (b) to cater to large power

spherical phased array antenna has

requirement of HRSAR (High Resolution

radiating elements distributed almost

Synthetic Aperture Radar) payload; and

uniformly on a hemispherical surface. It

(c)

generates a beam in the required

summer solstice. The power system

direction by switching ON only those

configuration is arrived to meet all the

elements,

contribute

requirements and consists of a fully

significantly towards the beam direction.

regulated 70V Bus, regulated by Solar

It is proposed to use the 64 element

array regulator during sunlit. Battery

array.

Discharge Regulator (BDR) supports

3.8 SPS

power to the bus when the load demand

Satellite Positioning System (SPS) for

exceeds the array generation during

RISAT comprises of 10-channel C/A

payload operation and eclipse conditions

code GPS receiver at L1 (1575.42 MHz)

by regulating the bus to 70V

frequency. SPS is designed for

protected against over voltage, under

which

can

as

chemical Battery for power

solar

eclipse

conditions

during

and

voltage, over current and is single point

pg.9

failure proof. To provide the required

Power

voltage to the subsystems which cannot

consists

of

Domestic

adopt to 70V bus within RISAT time

individual

cell

monitoring,

frame, there is a provision for auxiliary

logic, Battery charge controller, OBC

bus of 42V which is fully protected and

and GC Interfaces.

distributed through two hubs as ABUS1

3.10 On Board Computer(OBC)

and ABUS2 each with separate high

In order to minimize power, weight, and

current fuses. Further distribution to

volume, the spacecraft functions like

individual users is from fuse boxes

command, housekeeping (Telemetry),

placed

To

Attitude and Orbit Control, Thermal

power the core power and uplink even

Management, Sensor data processing

under Battery Emergency conditions

etc., have been integrated into a single

during eclipse two uninterrupted Buses

package called On board computer

are formed by Or-ing Battery and Main

(OBC) which also implements the MIL

Bus. U-Bus1 and U-Bus2 will power Main

STD 1553B protocol for interfacing with

&Redt Domestic & OBC DC/DCs and are

other subsystems of the spacecraft..

distributed

fuses.

The use of MIL-STD-1553B interfaces

SADA is incorporated to compensation

between OBC and other subsystems

for the reduction in power during space

greatly decreases the volume and mass

craft +-36 deg rotations and eclipses.

of

The energy storage system for RISAT

cabling and the associated connectors.

employs a single NiH2 battery of 70AH

The

capacity, consisting of 42 cells. The

following spacecraft functions:

at

convenient

through

locations.

separate

Electronics

OBC

system

subsystem

is

also

Regulator,
Four-cell

realizing

the

protection mechanism exists for battery

Sensor electronics

during over discharge conditions similar

Command Processing

to other spacecrafts. Power Electronics

Telemetry and House-keeping

elements ensure, regulation of solar

Attitude and Orbit Control (AOCS)

array

power

performs

to

battery

regulate

the

bus,

Besides, the OBC interfaces with Power,

managements

and

TM-TTC

distributes power to the various users.

(RF)

for

command

and

telemetry, Sensors, Heaters, Thrusters

pg.10

and Reaction Wheels through special

Actuators

logics. A functionally redundant OBC is

Eight

Numbers

of Canted 11 N

also present. Either of the OBCs can be

thrusters (Mono propellant drazine

selected

also

system operating in blow down

for

mode) with two axis canting from

interfacing with other subsystems of the

+Pitch axis for Acquisition and OM

spacecraft for

operation. One

data transfer - Star Sensor, SPS, WDE,

thruster for OM operation, four

DTG, DH, SSR and PAA.

Nos

11 AOCS

Capacity (0.3 Nm Torque and 50.0

RISAT AOCS modules are derived from

NMS @ 4410 RPM) mounted in

Carto-2B with modifications

tetrahedral configuration about

required for RISAT mission and are

Pitch axis. Maximum Operating

implemented in OBC.

Speed

AOCS Specifications during Imaging are

Reaction

stated as follows :

Normal Mode and for OM Rotation.

Pointing : 0.05 (3)

- 2 Magnetic Torquers of 60.0 A-

Drift Rate : 3.0 e-04 /s (3)

m2 Capacity mounted along Roll

The attitude orbit control system for

and Pitch axis for Momentum

RISAT is configured with thefollowing

Dumping.

for

implements

operation.

the

1553

It

protocol

of

Center 11 N

Reaction

is

upto
wheels

Wheels

4500
are

of

RPM.

used

for

sensors:
4 Sun sensor
2 Nos. Magnetometer
2 Nos. IRU (Inertial Reference Unit)
Digital sun sensor 1 No., Solar panel
sun sensor 2 sets (4 Nos.)
3 Nos., RW 4 nos.and SADA, Star
Sensor 2 Nos., Earth sensor 2 Nos.,

pg.11

Mission Requirements
1.1 Mission Requirements
Basic system configuration of a high
resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar
(SAR) on an IRS platform is outlined in
this chapter. Primarily, the SAR system
configuration is designed to meet the
following basic objectives:
It
should
meet
applications
conforming to national requirements.
It should be multimode one to meet
different resolution and swath
requirements.
It should be agile for minimizing
revisit
time
and
maximizing
operational flexibility.
Technology used should be state of
the art, survive obsolescence and
adaptable
for
other
different
frequency bands in future missions.
As the first development of spaceborne
SAR in ISRO, the SAR will be developed
for single frequency because of
technical complexity and the need for
developing the sensor in shortest
possible time frame. From application
considerations, the SAR will be designed
in
C-band
with
single/dual/quad
polarization capability. For this purpose,
active antenna technology with the
capability of electronic beam steering,
meeting all the above requirements of
multi mode operation, agility and state
of the art features, has been identified.
Implementation of High Resolution SAR
development is planned in two stages:
Development of prototype model
SAR with scaled version of active
antenna
using
commercial
components. The basic aim is to

Basic system configuration of a high

resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar
(SAR)
on
an
IRS
develop and demonstrate expertise
at reduced cost.
Subsequent delivery of flight model
spaceborne SAR within a further
time frame of 2 years.
1.2 Frequency and Polarization
Selection
The selection of operational frequency
and polarization are driven by the
applications demanding a wide range of
resolution / swath / polarization
combinations.
From
resolution
considerations,
resolution cell should be sufficiently
large in comparison with the wavelength
(about 10 times the wavelength).
Hence, typically 3 m is the highest
resolution in L-band, 1.5 to 2 m in Sband, 1 m in C/X-bands and 10-20 cm in
Ku/Ka band. Higher resolutions (1m or
better) are feasible for C-band
frequencies and higher because of
bandwidth allocation considerations.
Total bandwidth allocation for radar
applications is 80 MHz for L-band, 210
MHz for C-band, 350 MHz for X-band
and 500 MHz for X-band. Hence, for
ground
mapping
and
coastal
applications, like oil slick & ships
detection, etc. C- and X-band are
preferred.
For civilian applications like agriculture,
soil moisture, forestry, flood mapping
and ocean related studies both C- and
L-band with cross polarization are
preferred.
Ocean related studies are served best
by VV-polarization and land related

pg.12

studies are aided by HH-polarization.

Provision of both co- and cross- polar
data aids significantly in discrimination
of features. Co-polar return is mainly
affected
by
surface
or
canopy
scattering. Cross-polar return is mainly
governed by volume scattering which
depends
on
penetration
through
canopy/surface.
So,
higher
the
frequency poorer will be the return in
cross-polarization. Hence, polarimetry is
best suited in lower frequency bands
like P, L and C. Polarimetry is not
usually applicable for X and higher
frequency bands.

These considerations have led to the

choice of C-band frequency operation
with
single/dual/quad
polarization
capability to exploit the maximum
gamut of applications.
1.3 Modes of Operation
The RISAT High Resolution SAR will be
operating in C-band at a frequency of
5.35 GHz. The spacecraft altitude has
been fixed at 608.958 km from the 13day repetivity considerations. The SAR
system has been designed to provide
constant swath for all elevation pointing
and almost near constant minimum
radar cross section performance. The
proposed SAR will operate in the
following basic modes, the details of
which
are
given
in
Table-2.1.
(Operational philosophy of the modes is
briefly outlined here for better
comprehensibility of the discussion that
follows. Key issues pertaining to these
modes are discussed later in this
chapter under separate section.)
Fine Resolution Stripmap Mode-1
(FRS-1) with 3 m resolution. This
mode is based on Stripmap imaging,

which is the conventional mode of

SAR. In this, the orientation of the
antenna beam is fixed with respect
to flight path so that a strip of
constant swath (here, 30 km) is
illuminated along the flight direction.
The stripmap SAR image dimension
is limited only in the across track and
not in the along track dimension
(limited only by on-board recorder
capacity).
Coarse Resolution ScanSAR
Mode
(CRS) with 240 km swath. The
ScanSAR mode allows for a multifold
increase of the range swath
dimension. This is achieved by
periodically stepping the antenna
beam to the neighboring subswaths
(in the range direction). In this case,
the radar is continuously ON, but
only a portion of the full synthetic
antenna length is available for each
target in a subswath. This causes a
degradation of the achievable
azimuth resolution with respect to
the strip map case. In other words,
the range swath dimension increases
at the expense of azimuth resolution.
In the CRS-mode of RISAT, there will
12 beams to cover each sub-swath
of 20 km (either side of the
intermediate sub-swaths will have an
overlap of 10 km from the preceding
and succeeding sub-swaths, thereby
reducing the effective sub-swath
width from 30 km to 20 km).
Therefore, total swath in CRS mode
would be 240 km.
Medium Resolution ScanSAR Mode
(MRS) with 120 km swath. This is a
6-beam scanSAR mode, similar to
the CRS mode.
Fine Resolution Stripmap Mode-2
(FRS-2) with quad polarization

pg.13

capability. Philosophically, this mode

is a hybrid stripmap&scanSAR. It is
stripmap in the sense that the beam
orientation is kept fixed with respect
to the flight path and a strip of
constant swath width is covered.
Also, in a way it is similar to
scanSAR, because for part of the
aperture time the beam polarisation
is switched from V-transmit to Htransmit, and vice-versa. Hence, this
mode would be used for polarimetry,
as we can have all the four
combinations of polarisation, viz, VV,
VH, HH& HV.
High Resolution Spotlight Mode
(HRS) with 1 m resolution. In the
spotlight mode, the antenna beam is
oriented continuously to illuminate a
particular spot on the ground. This
way, the target aperture time is
increased which results in improved
azimuth resolution (compared to that
in the stripmap case). The improved
resolution is obtained at the cost of
azimuth coverage. The latter is partly
improved by making use of sliding
spotlight mode (hybrid spotlightstripmap mode). This imaging would
be done over a spot size of 10 km x
10 km. An experimental mode to
extend the azimuth coverage upto
100 km is also planned in this.

47 corresponding to off-nadir distances

of 100 km and 700 km, respectively.
Hence, a repeatability period of 13 days
may be reduced to 2 days. This look
angle variation is effected by electronic
switching of the antenna beam in the
elevation direction. This electronic
switching of the beams is also necessary
for ScanSAR modes of operation (MRS/
CRS).
As shown in Fig.-2.1, SAR will operate
with basic elevation beam width of
2.48o -1.67o, over a total ground
distance of 600 km, starting from an off
nadir distance of 100 km and upto
700km. Radiometric performance is
guaranteed for the swaths covered from
off-nadir distance of 200 km to 600 km
(qualified region) and for the regions
lying between 100 km to 200 km and
600 km to 700 km, the performance is
not guaranteed (unqualified). Figure
2.1 shows the basic system geometry of
the proposed SAR for operation of all
the above-mentioned modes. The
variation of the look angle and incidence
angle for various off-nadir distances is
illustrated in Fig 2.2.

These modes have been illustrated in

Fig.2.1.
1.4 RISAT Imaging Geometry
In order to provide greater flexibility in
the selection of the look angles for
different applications and to increase
the effective repeatability, a region on
the ground may be accessed by
different look angles ranging from 9 to

pg.14

2.480-1.670
EL.BEAM

608.958 km
100

200
490

540

100km
400km
200km

700km

100
km
(UNQUALIFIED
)
100 km
(UNQUALIFIED)

608.958 km

FRS-1/FRS-2
Mode

200
KM
400 km
(QUALIFIED
)

HRS
Mode
CRS
Mode
MRS
Mode

Fig.-2.1 Basic System Geometry and Operating Modes of High Resolution SAR

pg.15

Table-2.1
Major Mission Parameters for Spaceborne High Resolution SAR
Altitude
Orbit
Frequency
Polarisation
Swath coverage

Look angle
coverage

Incidence
angle
coverage

Qualified
(200-600
km)
Total
(100-700
km)
Qualified
(200-600
km)
Total
(100-700
km)

Antenna
Peak Gain
Total no. of beams
On board storage
No. of TR Modules
Transmitted power per
TRM
Antenna peak power
AverageDC Input Power
Range Compression
Pulse width

608.958Km
Sun synchronous (6 AM / 6 PM equatorial crossing)
5.35 GHz
Single / Dual / Quad-polarization
Either side of the flight track
Selectable within 100 700 km off-nadir distance
(100-200 km & 600-700 km regions are unqualified,
the rest is qualified)
18 - 43
9 47
20 49
10 54
Microstrip Active antenna, 6m x 2m
44.5dB
63 on each side of the flight track (total 126)
SSR with 240 Gbits
288
10 W

Imaging Modes
HRS
Applicable Polarization
Single &
combinations
Dual
Swath/Spot
Defined 10 (Az) x
(km)
10(Rng)

2.88 kW
3.86 kW
On Ground
20 s

FRS-1
Single &
Dual
30

FRS-2
Quad
30

MRS
Single &
Dual
120

CRS
Single &
Dual
240

pg.16

Imaging Modes
HRS
Experimenta 100 (Az)
l
x
10(Rng)
Resolution
1m x
(Az x slant range)
0.7m
Minimum sigma naught
-16.3
(dB)
(Qualified Region)
Chirp bandwidth (MHz)
225
Sampling frequency (MHz)
250
96-163
Data window (s)
PRF
3500
200 Hz
No. of
Qualified
27040Complex
(20037120
Samples
600)Km
Total
23960(10040720
700)Km
Data Compression
3-bit BAQ
Data Rate
Considering
3-BAQ
(in Mbps)
(for
100km
azimuth)
Single pol
507-739
Dual pol
10141478
Quad pol
---Data
Considering
3-BAQ
Coverage/
(for
Storage
100km
azimuth)
Single pol
4 spots
Dual pol

2 spots

Quad pol

----

Azimuth Ambiguity
(over qualified region)
Range Ambiguity
(over qualified region)
Radiometric Resolution

FRS-1
---

FRS-2
---

MRS
---

CRS
---

3m x
2m
-17

9m x
4m
-18

21-23m
x 8m
-18

41-55m
x 8m
-18

75
83.3
55-181
3000
200 Hz
742414366

37.5
41.67
55-181
3000
200 Hz
38407168

18.75
20.83
55-181
3000
200 Hz
20483584

18.75
20.83
55-181
3000
200 Hz
20483584

486415104

25607680

12803840

12803840

Onboard BAQ (6/5/4/3/2 bits)

6-BAQ
6-BAQ
6-BAQ
6-BAQ

176-556
3521112
---6-BAQ

2950
km
1475
km
----

-------

44-142
88-284

44-142
88-284

176-556
6-BAQ

---6-BAQ

---6-BAQ

----

11500
km
5750
km
----

11500
km
5750
km
----

----

-21 dB

2950
km
-22 dB

-20 dB

-20 dB
3 dB (single look)

pg.17

Imaging Modes
Performanc Accuracy
e
(over orbit)
(over
Accuracy
qualified
(over
region)
Lifetime)

HRS

FRS-1

FRS-2
2 dB (Goal)

MRS

CRS

TBD

pg.18

In the non-imaging mode antenna will

be looking downwards towards the
nadir. By having an option of roll-tilting
the satellite by 34, SAR can be made
to see either side of the track (one at a
time), thereby improving the revisit time
by a factor of two. The pointing is
chosen such that between two
successive beam positions, swath
overlap of 10 km is always ensured. This
overlap is important for achieving
MRS/CRS mode.
Fast electronic beam pointing and
beamwidth control is achieved by
electronic elevation beam control in the
active antenna. 61 beam-pointing
positions have been identified to enable
sufficient agility in imaging anywhere
over 600 km region (qualified and
unqualified)
with
best
possible
performance. Each beam is centered at
off-nadir intervals of 10 km. Two
additional beams with no pointing (0
w.r.t. antenna orientation angle i.e.

Fig. 2.2 Variation of Angles with Off Nadir

34) are defined for two halves of

antenna, 6m x 1m each. Therefore,

there are 63 beam positions defined for
imaging on each of the sides of the subsatellite track. As a result, a total of 126
beams would be used for imaging on
either sides of the track.
1.5 Antenna configuration in brief
and Elevation beamwidth
considerations
Area of the SAR antenna is dictated by
the frequency band of operation, and is
of the order of 12 m2 for C-band
operation. Hence, RISAT active antenna
is configured with 6m (azimuth) x 2m
(elevation/range) dimensions, with 288
pairs (V & H) of TR-modules. The RISAT
antenna consists of three panels each of
2m2m size, as shown in Fig.2.3, to
facilitate stowing during launch and
later, deployment in the space. The
longer dimension of the antenna is
aligned with azimuth direction and the
width in the elevation/range direction.
Each panel consists of 4 tiles of size
1m1m, each consisting of 2424
radiating elements. In the azimuth
direction (antenna length) 24 elements
are grouped together to be fed by a
single
TR-module
pair
(V/H
polarization), hence we have 6 TRmodule pairs in the antenna length
direction. Each radiating element in the
width direction is fed by a different TRmodule pair, hence there are 48 (=24 x
2m) TR-module pairs in the antenna
width. The total number of TR-module
pairs is therefore 288 (=6m x 48). The
inter-element spacing has been kept
0.7, where stands for wavelength
which is 5.6 cm. If the spacing between
the radiators is more than this, grating

pg.19

lobes will occur in the antenna patterns.

At the junction of two tiles, the interelement spacing is 1.4, therefore, one
blank row of radiating elements may be
assumed which is at a distance of 0.7
from the nearest radiating elements
from the adjacent tiles. In short, 49
rows of TR-modules may be assumed in
the antenna width (for system analysis
purposes), with the centre row as a
hypothetical blank (inactive) one to
attribute to the inter-tile spacing.

achieve pointing-independent swath of

30 km and constant minimum radar
cross section performance. If the
antenna beamwidth is kept constant,
there will be varying footprint size in the
range direction, due to change in slant
ranges. At near off-nadir distances, the
beam footprint will be smaller than the
desired 30 km. Hence, in order to
maintain the constant footprint of 30
km, the beamwidth is increased by
switching off the TR-modules and in
effect reducing the electrical width of
the
antenna
(at
near
off-nadir
distances). The

Elevation beamwidth will be made to

vary with pointing angles in order to
Azimuth
6m
Panel-2

Panel-1

Panel-3

2m

Elevation

1m

Group of 24 patches
fed by single TR
module in azimuth
direction

1m

1 Tile of
24 x 24 radiating
elements

2m

pg.20
2m
Fig.2.3 Distributed Antenna For High Resolution SAR

TR-modules are switched off in the

width direction, equally from outer
edges of the adjacent two tiles, as
shown in Fig.2.4. Hence, elevation
beamwidth is varied from 2.48 to 1.67
corresponding to off-nadir distances
from 100 km to 700 km, respectively, as
shown in Fig.2.5. The corresponding
number of active TR-module rows in the
elevation direction is illustrated in Fig2.6.

1.6 Selection of PRF for different Beam

positions
The Doppler bandwidth corresponding
to antenna length of 6m and spacecraft
velocity of 7.5 km/s will be 2500 Hz.

Azimuth

2m

Elevation
6m
Illuminated region
of the antenna
Fig.2.4: Change of Antenna electrical width to cater to variable elevation beamwidth

Fig.-2.5 Elevation Beam-width with Beam Pointing

Fig.2.6: Variation of No. of Active TR-modules in

the width direction

pg.21

Hence, the PRF should be greater than

about 1.1 times the Doppler bandwidth,
i.e. 2750 Hz. Changes in slant range
corresponding to off-nadir distance
change from 100 km to 700 km, lead to
different echo start times and variable
data windows. To accommodate the
same, variable PRF is necessary.
Therefore all the modes, except HRS,
have PRF between 2800 3200 Hz.
Maximum PRF is limited by the
minimum data window that has to be
accommodated. In the case of HRS
mode, Doppler centroid estimation (for
different
sub-apertures)
requires
additional 500 Hz (over the Doppler
bandwidth of 2500 Hz), therefore PRF
would lie between 3000 3700 Hz.
This large range of PRF is required to
satisfy the slant range change during
pitch tilting of the satellite for azimuth
coverage of 100 km, for each of the
off-nadir distances.

for the PRFs under consideration is

about 0.3 ms. Therefore, echo
corresponding to a transmitted pulse is
received after certain number of pulses.
The number of such pulses varies from
12 to 19 for off-nadir distances starting
from 100 km to 700 km, respectively.
Near margin and far margin as defined
in Fig-2.7 should be more than 20s to
allow for pulse rise & fall times and subsystem switching (like, switching off the
transmitter and switching on of the
receiver(s), data acquisition enabling,
etc.). PRF is optimized for nearly equal
near & far margins within the given PRF
ranges.
The PRF is commandable from the
ground through Payload Controller. The
command is given in terms of 12-bit
count corresponding to a clock
frequency of 3.90625 MHz. Hence, the
PRI should be an integer multiple of the
Start Window

Data window
No. of Pulses after which echo occurs

Near Margin

Far Margin

Pulse Width
Fig.2.7: Representation of Timing Window Parameters

Fig-2.7 presents nomenclature related

to the timing window parameters. As
the slant range varies from 616 km to
928 km for off-nadir positions of 100 km
to 700 km respectively, the echo return
times change from 4.1 ms to 6.2 ms.
Typical PRI (Pulse Repetition Intervals)

clock interval corresponding to 3.90265

MHz. Similarly, data window start time
and number of data samples to be
acquired are also commandable by
ground commands of 12-bit and 16-bit
counts, respectively. Hence, these
parameters should also be integer

pg.22

multiples of the above-mentioned clock

interval.
In addition to the above
requirements, the number of data
samples within a data window should be
a multiple of BAQ (Block Adaptive
Quantization, to be described later)
block size of 128.
Based on the above considerations, two
sets of optimum PRFs have been
generated for all the beam positions:
1) For all the modes, except HRS,
considering a swath of 30 km
2) For HRS mode, considering a swath
of 10 km.

Fig: 2.8 Variation of optimum PRF

with off-nadir distance (for FRS-

Fig.2.10 Variation of data window

with off-nadir distance (for FRS1,FRS-2,MRS,CRS modes)

Figures 2.8 2.11 present the PRF and

timing window parameters for FRS-1,
FRS-2, MRS & CRS modes.
Best and worst case sigma naught
values have been tabulated for MRS &
CRS modes in Tables-2.2 & 2.3
alongwith the corresponding off-nadir
values at which they occur. Fig.2.31 &
2.32 show comparison graphs for the
best and worst sigma naught values for
MRS & CRS mode, respectively.
Table-2.2
Best and Worst Sigma Naught values for

Fig: 2.9 Variation of the number of

pulses after which echo is received (for
FRS 1 FRS 2 MRS CRS
d )

Fig.2.11 Variation of timing pg.23

window
parameters with off-nadir distance (for
FRS-1,FRS-2,MRS,CRS modes)

RISAT-1 : Orbit

deg with a series of maneuvers. When

The following orbit is selected

the spacecraft was launched, the Mean

keeping in view, minimum number of

Local Time of the orbit was 5:51 AM and

days for systematic coverage in MRS

it is going to reach

and CRS mode.

October 2013, as there is a bias of 0.04

Repeat cycle

6 AM around

deg with respect to nominal inclination.

: 377

In the above orbit, ideally it takes

orbits in 25 days
Altitude

25 days for systematic global coverage

: 536.38

with the same set of beams (i.e. with

km
Inclination

same incidence angle) but, being in the

: 97.554

same orbit, it is possible to have global

deg
Path-to-path distance

coverage in CRS mode, every 13 days

: 106.3 km

Mean Local Time

with the same set of beams. The path

: 6 AM at

pattern for the above orbit is provided in

descending node

the diagram below.

PSLV placed RISAT-1 into 476 km

altitude with the inclination 97.63 deg.
Orbit was raised to 536.4 km from 476
km and inclination is corrected to 97.59

Path pattern for the new orbit

( Repeat cycle : 377 orbits in 25 days, h = 536.38 km, i = 97.544 deg )
Paths

Days

10

11

12

13

14

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

pg.24

Fig.1
Path pattern for the new orbit
( Repeat cycle : 377 orbits in 25 days, h = 536.38 km, i = 97.544 deg )
Paths

Days

Fig.2

10

11

12

13

14

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Path 1

Path 2

Path 3

106 km

115 km

223 km
212 km
11 km
Day 1

Day 14

Day 2

T
he above diagram in fig.2 shows that

a set of consecutive 13 days, it is

the images in CRS mode on two

possible to have global coverage. Path -

consecutive days have overlap and with

1 is fixed at 330.3 longitude, to avoid

pg.25

high elevation passes over Shadnagar.

pattern. The maximum revisit time for a

The ground track is maintained within

given region of interest is 2.5 to 3 days

3 km with respect to the nominal

for latitudes between 20 and 40 deg.

Fig.

Fig.7

pg.26

Fig-6 shows the eclipse variation over a

minutes

on

21st Jun. The latitude

year. It is seen that the orbit is free

below which eclipse occurs on the

from eclipse for almost 9 months in a

calendar days is shown in fig.7.

year and the maximum duration is 22

RISAT-1 : Referencing Scheme
The

Referencing scheme implemented

it crosses over many ground

for RISAT-1 is a generalized one due to

the following factors.

traces.
With positive and negative roll

SAR operates in four different

bias, the payload trace reaches

payload modes

latitudes beyond ground trace

The swath for different payload

modes can be placed anywhere
within the range between 107
km and 659 km away from nadir.
Imaging

is

done

in

latitudes
Referencing scheme requirements

well as descending pass, rows

both

over

ascending and descending passes

Roll bias of +36 degand

36

deg are given to view on either

nadir mode
Hence the payload trace never
coincides with the ground trace
of the orbit from which it is
operated.
The payload trace does not
follow any one ground trace, but

full

orbit

have

to

be

addressed

Referencing
address

side of the track.

SAR is always operated in off-

As SAR operates in ascending as

scheme

should

scenes for different

payload modes.

Scenes with both positive and

negative

roll

bias

reaching

latitudes beyond the ground trace

latitude, have to be addressed.
Scheme
Nodal

points

are

defined

along

meridians and parallels

pg.27

 The longitude range of 360 deg is

integers i, j, m, n

divided into 8640 points at the interval

i and j are the latitude and longitude

of 2.5 arc minutes.

of the left-bottom corner of the 1 deg x

The latitude range of +90 deg to 90

1deg grid to which the nodal point

deg is divided into 4320 points at

belongs.

interval of 2.5 arc minutes.

The latitude is biased by 90 deg so that

This means that every 1deg x 1deg

it is addressed as positive number. i

grid is partitioned into

ranges from 0 to 180. 0 is 90 deg

24 x 24 nodal

points. Figure 3.3.2 shows

as an

latitude. 180 is +90 deg latitude. j

example, how 1 deg X 1deg grid with

ranges from 0 to 360. and m, n range

latitude 0 deg and longitude 100 deg as

from 1 to 24.

the left bottom corner, is partitioned

into nodal points.
Nodal points are addressed by four

Partitioning of 1 deg X 1 deg grid

91,100,1,1
(lat 1.0 lng 100.0)

90,100,24,24
(lat 0.9583 lng 100.9583)

91,101,1,1
(lat 1.0 lng 101.0)
90,100,24,1
(lat 0.9583 lng 100.0)

90,100,1,1
(lat 0.0 lng 100.0)

90,100,1,24
(lat 0.0 lng 100.9583)

pg.28

c3

c1

c2

c4

Descending scene
Ascending scene
X

Scene centre

c1

c3

c2

c4

The size of CRS, MRS , FRS and HRS

The duration for scene in each

scenes vary as per their swath and for

payload mode is specified by

CRS and MRS mode, the total scene

payload team. So, there are no

with the combination of selected beams

fixed latitudes for scene centres

is addressed.

and this avoids partial scenes in

the beginning.

Scene framing is done in the

following manner. From the start
time,

center

latitude

()

and

longitude () of the actual scenes

considered for each scene with

are identified with respect to

sufficient

nearest

along

duration

The

is

between

fixed

track

overlap

consecutive scenes.

nodal point addressed

by i, j, m, n.

pg.29

i = int() + 90
j = int()
m = int((- int()) *24) +1
n = int((- int()) *24) +1
For example,
= 1.750 deg and = 30.499 deg
i = int(1.750) + 90 = 91
j = int(30.499) = 30
m = (int(0.750*24)) + 1 = 19
n = (int(0.499*24)) + 1 = 12

Also the pass type Ascending /

Descending has to be attached.

Imaging paths
As the orbit follows the repeat
cycle (377 orbits in 25 days), the
concept of path still holds good

and

these are the nadir ground traces from

which imaging is done. As imaging is
done in both ascending and descending
part of the orbit, the descending ground
trace is extended on both sides (to the
previous ascending node from north
pole and next ascending node from
south pole) to get one path. Hence
there will be a break in the path number
at ascending node.

pg.30

pg.31

4.DATA RECEPTION SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION

for data reception in X-Band is being

375 MHz, the two streams with a

RISAT-1 (Radar Imaging Satellite)

total data rate of 640 Mbps

satellite transmits SAR (Synthetic

transmitted to ground through RHC

Aperture

data

and LHC polarized signals at X-Band

through X-Band carrier using dual

carrier frequency of 8212.5 MHz

polarization. The data is transmitted

using

through

technique.

depending

Radar)

payload

one or two RF chains

on

mode

of

the

frequency

are

re-use

payload

operation. The data stream of each

A new ground station has been

chain is at 320 Mbps data rate and

designed and established under the

modulated using QPSK modulation

project to cater for RISAT-1 data

scheme.

The bandwidth available

pg.32

reception..

The

ground

station

consists of a high efficient 7.5 m

cater for future mission requirements

diameter antenna system with dual

in

shaped

turnaround

reflectors

in

Cassegrain

order

to

achieve

time

for

reduced
the

data

configuration. A new dual polarized

product

generation

feed has been designed, fabricated

dissemination. In IMGEOS scenario,

and integrated with antenna system

four terminals with dual polarized S/X

. The station provides G/T of 32

band feed and identical receive chain

dB/deg K. The new dual polarized

configuration

feed has been designed, fabricated

Two of the four terminals are currently

and evaluated at CATF for primary

completed and made operational.

are being established.

radiation patterns and at BEL Test

Data

range

Configuration

for

secondary

antenna

and

Reception

Station

patterns
All the RF and IF subsystems of the
receive station will handle

higher

bandwidth

Design

of

320

implementation

MHz.

of

individual

subsystems of ground station and the

specifications of each unit are so
drawn out that they will cater for the
required over all ground station link
margin.
Integrated
segment

Multi
for

mission

Earth

4.1Station requirements to track

and receive RISAT-1data

Satellites (IMGEOS) is being

established at NRSC Shadnagar with

circularly

polarized

X/S-Band composite Feed

Reception of high data rate

(320 Mbps) modulated signals

Additional LHCP chain for

X-Band Auto Track

Synthesized
Converter

Ground

Observation

Dual

with

Up/Down
additional

channels

X-Band Auto Track either

through RHCP or LHCP carrier

an objective to have a highly reliable

and an

easily adaptable system to

pg.33

Auto

diversityto

tracking

on

All the subsystems are

facilitate

either

with

of

IF
transfer

Fiber
of

optic

high

link

data

for

High

remote

through

Ethernet interface.

all

subsystems

the

common

rate

network

Thus

are

in

configuration

,controlled and monitored through

modulatedIF spectrums.

for

monitoring and control capability

threetracking Channels

provision

designed

data

a central station control computer.

rate

Demodulators at 320 Mbps (I+Q)

The Data and Tracking IF signals

data rate

from each of the four Primary

RF

antenna systems are driven from

Simulator for simulation of RISAT-

Concrete pedestal to Centralized

1 RF signals

control room through Fiber Optic

High

Data

Rate

links. The IF Outputs

from the

Fiber optic receivers in Control

4.2IMGEOS configuration

room are fed to the common

The

configuration

control

room

of

centralized

in

IMGEOS

architecture is designed to meet the

automation

requirements

of

the

data reception systems. In each of

the

four

primary

systems, some

of

the

antenna
Digital

Servo control and RF subsystems

are

located

in

the

concrete

pedestal , all the IF/base band

subsystems

and Antenna control

computer are located in centralized

control room .

Programmable

IF matrix ,which

routes these IF

signals to the

respective second

down converter

subsystems.

The output

of

the

Second down converter is fed to

the

Multi-mission programmable

Demodulators . The Data and clock

signals

from

each

of

the

demodulators are hard patched to

Data ingest systems.
The data ingest systems are colocated

with

respective

Demodulators. There will be

five

dual channel data demodulators

pg.34

with

dedicated

systems

Data

in order to

ingest
cater to

simultaneous dual carrier

Antenna systems, one of them being

a common redundant system .

data

reception requirements of the four

Fig. 3 IMGEOS Configuration of Data Reception Station

4.3Data
Stationspecifications

Reception

Dual shapedmain reflector

meter dia, parabolic dish
Sub-reflector :
0.8
meter
Hyperbolic dish
Frequency Range
X-Band
S-Band

:
:

:7.5
dia,

8.000 to 8.500 GHz

2.2 to 2.3 GHz

Feed
:
X/S
band
composite, Cassegrain
Single Channel MonopulsePolarization
X-Band
:
Simultaneous RHCP
& LHCP
S-Band
:
RHCP
Cross pol. Isolation :20 dB
Antenna gainX-Band:
54dBi
S-Band:
G/T
X-band
S-Band

40 dBi
:
:

32 dB/K @ 5 EL
16 dB/K @ 5 EL

Half power beam width

X-Band
S-Band
Type of mount

:
:

0.27
1.1

Elevation over Azimuth

Maximum Velocity
:
AZ- 20/sec , EL- 10/sec
Maximum acclration
:
AZ- 10/sec , EL- 2/sec
Data rates : 320 Mbps (I+Q) in each
chain
Tracking
:
S/ X (R) /X (L)
AutoTrack
Program Track as back-up
Threshold Eb/No :13.3 dB for 1X106
BER
4.3.1Brief description of Data
Reception Station

pg.35

The station consists of a dual

Telemetry Data and Tracking signals

shaped antenna system with a

are down converted to 70 MHz IF.

7.5 m

dia

parabolic reflector.

The dual shaped antenna along

The down converted X and S band

with

tracking IF signals

feed

in

are fed to a

Cassegrainconfiguration provides

three channel Integrated Tracking

G/T of 32 dB/ K. The composite

system (ITS), located at antenna

S/X

pedestal. The ITS demodulates the

feed

polarized

is

both

circularly
&

tracking IF signal and extracts

capability

to

and EL DC error information from the

receive LHC and RHC polarized

tracking video. The DC errors are

signals simultaneously.

fed to Digital Servo System to

bands.with

in

dual

the

control
The antenna and feed system is

AZ

the antenna movement for

satellite tracking in Auto Track mode.

mounted over an EL over AZ

drive pedestal. The feed and

The

front-end system realizes single

comprises

channel monopulse tracking. The

Computer, Drive Power Amplifiers

X-Band data is received through

Drive

RHCP

LHCP

Encoders to operate the Antenna in

frequency

different modes of operation viz,

and

simultaneouslyusing
re-use technique.

Digital

Servo

of

motors

System

Antenna Control
and

Optical

shaft

Rate mode, PTS mode, command

angle mode and Auto mode . The

The X Band data and tracking error

System has provision for remote

signals from RHCP & LHCP chains in

control and configuration

identical configuration are amplified

Ethernet interface

through

in LNA and down converted toa first

Intermediate frequency in the range

The Drive system consists of Power

of

Amplifiers, Brush less DC motors, Gear

2.2 to 2.9 GHz IF. The S-band

boxes (Dual drive mode) and Slew-rings

pg.36

in each El. and Az, axis. Each axis is

System for further processing and

driven by two motors in counter torque

product generation. The total data

mode

acquisition

to

avoid

backlash.

optical shaft encoders

Absolute

are used for

measuring the angular position of the

antenna.

All

safety

interlocks

system

for

all

the

Antenna Systems are automated

through Station Control Computer.

are
4.4Detailed Functional Reception of

provided in the drive system.

Data Reception station

The IF outputs from first data down
S band

The data reception station comprises

data IF are driven to the control

of the following major systems. The

room through

functional block diagram of data

converter (2 carriers) and

a multi-core optical

fiber cable. The S band Data IF is

reception station is given in fig 2.

driven to SPS receiver in control

room for further processing of SPS

Antenna &Tracking Pedestal

Data.

Dual Polarized Feed& RF systems

Digital

The twodata IF

signals received

Servo

&

Automation

system

in control room are fed through

IF &Base-Band system

programmable IF Matrix

Data Ingest System

to the

second down converter and then to

The

High data rate digital demodulator.

description and specifications of

The data and clock signals from

each of the subsystems is given

demodulators

in the following sections.

LVDS

interface

aredriven through
to

Data

detailed

functional

Ingest

pg.37

Fig.4 Data Reception Station

4.5
Antenna
Pedestal

&Tracking

over, which significantly affect the

gain of the antenna. The main

4.5.1 Antenna
The

reflector

is

7.5-meter

diameter Parabolic Antenna with a

focal length to diameter ratio (F/D)
of 0.41. The

focal length of

the

reflector is 3.07 meters. The sub

reflector

block age and sub reflector spill

diameter

has

been

selected as an optimum value in

the trade-off between reflector

reflector consists of a machined,

reinforced

circular

supports 16 radial
other

hub,

which

trusses

interconnecting

and

braces.

The 16 trusses support 16 solid

surface reflector panels. Aviation
warning

and

lightening

arrestor are mounted

on the

reflector.

lights
Sub

reflector

is

pg.38

hyperboloid
aluminum

supported

by

quadri-pods.

mounting frame

four

Antenna

attaches

4.5.3Drive chain
The drive chain

is a dual drive

the

system in both Azimuth and

reflector to a pair of Yoke arms

Elevation axes, using brush less

with Counter weight arms.

DC

motors

to

enhance

the

reliability and performance. The

4.5.2 Pedestal
The

drive system is configured with

pedestal system

Elevation over

is an

Azimuth mount

type. The Elevation

precision

anti

backlash

gear

system

and

torque

bias

housing

arrangement to provide better

necessary drive

tracking and pointing accuracies.

system for antenna movement

All the four drive motors are

about an Elevation axis between -

identical

2 (below the horizon) to zenith

tachometer, resolver and brakes.

and Azimuth housing containing

The brushless DC servo motors

the drives to achieve 360

are coupled to the output axis by

rotation about the Azimuth axis.

means of a high efficiency gear

The

reducer and torque coupling.

contains the

Azimuth

housing

(Fig.)

with

integral

fabricated

A cable wrap system will be

stiffened cylindrical steel drum

provided in the pedestal housing

supported

to protect the cable elements

consists

pedestal.

of

on

concrete
drive

from damage due to uncontrolled

mechanism is housed inside it.

cable twist loops, during the

The Pedestal

antenna movement.

of

The

drive

Azimuth

assembly consists
components,

gear

boxes, optical encoders, Electrical

4.5.4Azimuth housing

limit switch assembly and Stow

The Azimuth Slew ring bearing is

lock motors.

supported at the top of the Azimuth

housing which is properly machined

pg.39

to match the Slew ring bearing

surface and attached to it using high
strength bolts. The Azimuth housing
is connected to Elevation housing
using high tension bolts fitted to
inner ring of Azimuth Slew ring
bearing.

4.5.5Elevation housing
The Elevation housing (Fig. 4) is
a

structure

steel

fabricated

plates.

elevation

It

drive

out

of

houses

the

mechanism.

The

bottom of the Elevation housing is

machined to suit the fixed part of
the Azimuth Slew ring bearings
and is fitted to it by high tensile
steel bolts. An access is provided
in the Elevation housing for routing
cables through the hatch. The Yoke

Fig.5 5m Dia. Antenna System

arms are attached through Slew ring

bearings to Elevation housing. The
Physical structure of the antenna
with details of complete mechanical
components

of

the

pedestal

assembly is shown in fig.3.

pg.40

4.7Technical Specifications:

Pointing Error

0.08 peak

Operating Temperature :
Antenna Type

Parabolic

reflector

0 C

to 55 C
Wind Speed

Diameter Main Reflector

(a) Operational wind speed

7.5 meter shaped parabolic solid

dish

60 Kmph

(b) Occasional gusting :

Sub-reflector

0.736 meter

80

Kmph

Hyperbolic dish

( c)Drive to stow :

F/D

(d) Survival wind speed in Zenith

: 0.41

Focal length :

3.077 meters

100 Kmph

200 Kmph

FeedConfiguration :Cassegrain

Natural resonant Frequency

S Band

4 Hz

: 8 Helices

X-band

:4

Conical

dielectric

Weight

1.4 Tons

elements
Overall RMS
(a) Main Dish

0.5 mm

RMS
(b) Sub-reflector

0.05

4.8Dual Polarized S/X Band Feed

&RF Systems
4.8.1Dual Polarized S/X Band
Feed

mm

The feed is of multi-element Single

Sky coverage

channel mono pulse tracking type,

(a) Elevation : 2to182(Mech),-

capable of receiving dual circularly

0to 180 (Electrical)

polarized S & X-band signals. The

(b) Azimuth :360Velocity

feed comprises of an array of 4

(a) Elevation Axis

conical radiating elements designed

(b) Azimuth Axis :

10 / sec.
20 / sec.

for

simultaneous

reception

of

Angular Acceleration

RHCP&LHCP X-band signals and an

(a) Elevation Axis

array of 8 helical

2 /sec

(b) Azimuth Axis

elements, 4

elements for reception of RHCP & 4

:

10 /sec

elements for LHCP signals in S-

pg.41

band. The feed array inmono pulse

which are offset in AZ plane, and

configuration

two beams offset in EL plane .The

beams

receives

corresponding

offset
to Azimuth

feed

assembly

also

contains

and Elevation axes in both Right

waveguide Mono Pulse Comparator

Hand

(MPC)and

Circular and Left Hand

Circular Polarizations .

Mono Scan

Converter

(MSC) for RHCP and LHCP chains

in

X-band

and

micro

stripline

The septum polarizer receives the

MonoPulse Comparator and Mono

signals from feed elements of X

Scan Converter (MSC) for S-band.

Band and provides linear polarized

The

signals corresponding to RHC and

compares each pair of beams to

LHC signals. The linearly polarized

produce the tracking error signals,

signals are in turn fed to a wave

when the antenna RF axis is exactly

guide mono pulse comparator to

on Boresightaxis , each beam has

generate

sum

and

Mono

Pulse

Comparator

difference

signals. The feed elements are

equal

assembled on a cylindrical shroud

comparison results in zero signals in

and covered with a radome casing

difference port. The sum channel is

which

formed in the MPC

gives

protection.

The

environmental
shaped

antenna

amplitude

and

their

by adding all

four beams together. The

AZ and

system together with the RF front-

EL error signals coming out of

end system realizes a G/T of better

the

than 32 dB /deg. K at 5 deg.

which carries out

Elevation in X Band.

multiplexing

MPC

Azimuth
The antenna has highly directive
pattern

with

half-power

are

given

such

to

MSC,

time division
that

and elevation

the

tracking

error signals are combined in to

beam

widths of 0.27 in X-band and 1.1

in S-band. The feed elements are
arranged to produce two beams

pg.42

a single channel tracking signal ,

through driver card in RF junction

with reference to the Azimuth-

box. Fig.4shows the

Elevation Scan pulses and 0, 180

block diagram of dual polarized

phase scan

pulses

feed.

driven

Integrated

from

which are
Tracking

System to the feed. In case of Xband,

these

pulses

are

functional

routed

Fig.6 Block diagram of dual

polarized feed
One output of power divider is taken
The received signals in X-Band are

out as Sum/Data signal and applied

passed through 30 dB test loop

to

coupler and amplified in low noise

generate Data IF. The other output

amplifiers. The loop coupler is used

of power divider is combined with

to introduce the test signal in the RF

the Single channel tracking error

chain

system

signal to generate the Amplitude

performance in Local loop simulation

modulated tracking Signal, which is

mode. The amplified outputs are fed

then down converted to generate

to 2 way in-phase power divider.

tracking IF.

to

evaluate

the

X-band

down

converter

to

pg.43

The input X-band sum signal is

divided
4.8.2Feed specifications
Type

provide two outputs.

: Cassegrain feed

One output is used for data and the

other

Frequency Range
X-Band
S-Band

by a power divider to

: 8.000 to 8.5 GHz

: 2.2 to 2.3 GHz

Polarization

output is given to a 6 dB

coupler, where amplified error signal

is coupled for generation of tracking
error

signal.

directional

X-Band: RHC & LHC

S-Band: RHC & LHC

The

coupler is

loss and good directivity.

Before getting coupled with sum
signal, the difference signal at the
input is passed

Null depth

: Better than 25 dB

Axial Ratio

: 2.0 dB max

through a digital

phase shifter in order to compensate

for phase mismatch between sum
channel and difference channel. The
phase shift is digitally

4.8.3X-Band DPC (Divider, Phase

Shifter, Coupler)
The X-band sum and error signal
amplifier outputs of both RHC and
LHC signals are fed to the input
ports of DPC. The unit has
to

two

provide

tracking and data signals of

and LHC chains.

a 6 dB

connectors. It has minimum insertion

Side lobe level : 14 dB

channels

band

strip line type with SMA coaxial

Half power beamwidth

X-Band: 0.27
S-Band: 1.1

independent

X-

RHC

bit TTL

controlled

using

signals,

driven

from

Integrated Tracking System.

The step size of minimum phase shift

is about 5.6 . These 6 bits can be
optimized
facilitate
carrier

and

programmed

to

tracking through any

frequency

over

X-Band

frequency range.The phase match

can

be

adjusted

periodically

if

required through local or remote

control.

pg.44

The DPC subsystem comprising 2

signal

derived

from

frequency

way power divider, digital phase

synthesizer. The frequency of built-in

shifter and a 6 dB directional coupler

synthesizer is

is wall mounted in pedestal room.

the range 1560-2185 MHz in order

programmable over

to derive the desired Intermediate

4.8.4 S-Band DPC
The

S-Band

Frequency

DPC

has

single

channel to process RHC signals. and

the rest of the configuration and
function are the same as that of Xband DPC.The S band Data signal is
driven to the control room for further
processing of SPS data after down
conversion to 70 MHZ.

of

facilitate

multi

reception.
synthesizer

is

signals is based on dual conversion

technique.The

received

X-Band

signal in the frequency range 80008500 MHZ

is converted into first

IF signal in the range 2345-2845

MHzduring

first

conversion,

by

mixing with a fixed local oscillator

signal at 5655MHz.
In the second conversion, the first IF
signal beats with a local oscillator

mission

data
frequency

controlled

and

interface.
4.8.6 X-Band Down Converter
data and tracking

down

consists

of two

identical channels to support LHCP

&

The up/down conversion of X-Band

and

monitored through TCP/IP remote

The

Down

MHz

The

converters, each
4.8.5 X- Band Up/Down
Converter

720

RHCP

chains

conversion. The
down

for

first

data and tracking

converters are

separate

the

boxes

housed

and

they

in
are

located at antenna pedestal.

The second down converter for
tracking

is located

at

pedestal.

The second IF output of tracking at

720 MHz is fed to

Integrated

tracking system for extraction of AZ

and EL DC

error

signals

and

drive the digital servo system. The

second data down converter unit is

pg.45

co-located

with

demodulators

in

control room.

carried

out

through

remote

interface.
4.8.8 S-Band Down converter

4.8.7X-Band Up Converter
Up-converter

is

used to

desired IF signal

The S-Band Down converter

convert

at 720MHz to a

based on
down

single

converter

is

conversion. The
consists

of

two

suitable first Intermediate frequency

identical channels to support data

in the range 2345-2845 MHZ in

and tracking. The received S-Band

first

and

data and tracking IF signals in the

to

range of 2.2 to 2.3 GH z are down

frequency in

converted to a 70 MHZ IF. The L.O

conversion

subsequently

unit

converted

desired X-Band signal

the range of 8000-8500 MHz in the

signal

second

derived

conversion unit of up-

converter.
is

located in the control room

the outputs
compatible

and

of up-converter are
to both

bore

sight

system and local loop simulation.

second up-converter unit for

Local

Loop

pedestal
system

is

and
is

located

that

located

at

of Boresight
at

Boresight

room .The selection for routing of

the up-converter
bore

using

is

programmable

frequency synthesizer module.

The first up-conversion unit

The

for down conversion

sight

and

output
local

between
loop

is

4.8.9Integrated Tracking System

The S tracking IF at 70 MHz and X
band (R&L)

tracking IF signals at

720 MHzfrom corresponding

converters are fed

down

to Integrated

Tracking system (ITS).

The ITS

demodulates AM tracking video from

IF

signals.

ITS

works

in

non-

coherent mode and the AM video

detection

is

envelope/peak
ITS

has

achieved

by

detection

built-in

simple
method.

Automatic

gain

pg.46

control modules to provide constant

Monoscan converter module in the

amplitude signal and DC errors for

Single channel monopulse feed and

varying input signal leevls. The AGC

used in the tracking demodulator

bias signal is also provided as an

circuits

output signal for facilitating auto

Azimuth channels for synchronizing

diversity

the process of Error generation and

reception

and

auto

acquisition.

in

both

Elevation

and

demodulation.
The

Azimuth

and

Elevation

DC

Two Spectrum analyzers are required

output errors are applied to the

for real time monitoring of the X

Servo system for driving the antenna

band data and S band tracking IF

towards the target position and to

signals and for carrying out regular

nullify the tracking errors. ITS has

maintenance of the receive chain.

provision for adjustment of various

parameters of the tracking chain like

ITS has auto diversity reception to

Phase shifter adjustments, DC offset

select any one of the two (In case of

error gradient and Acquire /Loss

both S & X band inputs) input

threshold.

signals being present, based on their

signal strength (AGC). ITS uses
separate error demodulator modules
in both Elevation and Azimuth axes

4.9IF
and
Systems

Base

Band

to extract dc error. ITS unit also

consists of a Scan code generator

4.9.1Programmable IF Matrix

module which generates two sets of

Scan pulses. One set of Pulses called

The

AZ-EL scan pulses are of 1 KHz

4X4 (LHCP)

frequency and the other set called

automated inter connectivity of IF

Phase scan pulses are of 500 Hz

signals(Output

frequency.

are

converter) from different Antenna

the

Terminals to the input of the Second

These

simultaneously

pulses

applied

to

Programmable
IF

4X4 (RHCP )

Matrix
of

first

facilitates
down-

pg.47

down-converter

followed

by

the

receivers are placed

at the

Demodulator. The main function of

controlroom

the IF matrix is to facilitate total

signals. The two downlink data IF

automation of the data reception

signals corresponding to RHCP

chain including the IF signal path

and LHCP, two uplink data IF

routing.

signals

the

IF Matrix also eliminates

problems

associated

to

and

receive

S-Band

data

the

IF

with

signals are driven through F.O

manual

patch panel like, loose

link from pedestal to control

contact

problems,

room.

mechanical

wear and tear of the patch chords,

operator

errors

improving

the

system

etc.,

thereby

reliability

of

the

,while

increasing

the

and

reducing

the

flexibility

4.9.3High
Demodulators

Data

Rate

The down converted IF signals of

data channels passed

complexity.

through

band pass filters. The pass band

of band pass filters is 320 MHz

4.9.2IF Fiber Optic Link

with minimum group delay and

The first IF signal in the range of

good

2345-2845 MHz from the output

The filtered signal levels are

of 1st down converter is driven

amplified in IF amplifiers so that

to control room through Fiber

the boosted levels are within the

Optic

link.

linkcomprises

rejection

characteristics.

The

Fiber

optic

dynamic range of demodulators.

of

fiber

optic

The multi mission High Data

transmitters and receivers. The

Rate

transmitters are placed

capability

at the

Receivershave
to

receive

demodulate

transmitter is driventhrough

RISAT, which are modulated at a

Single mode multi core fiber

very high data rate of 320 Mbps.

optic cable.

The

Fiber optic

demodulator

signals

and

Pedestal end and the output of

The

QPSK

the

and

of

bit

pg.48

synchronizer are supported in a

single unit.

The unit receives

IF

and

synchronized

data

provides
and

clock

of ACSS

and Q output data and clock

FO link for remote operation

Built in Test & calibration

Ingest

software

System

further

maintenance

processing

of

data.

of

Automated/unmanned

signals arefed to Direct

for

Control

tracking operations

signals as outputs. The LVDS I

(DIS)

&

through TCP/IP

QPSK modulated signals at 720

MHz

Monitoring

for

comprehensive

The

Demodulator unit has the feature

Specifications:

of

Tracking Velocity
:
20
deg/sec
in
AZ,
10deg/sec in EL
Tracking Acceleration
:
10 deg/sec in AZ, 2
deg/sec in EL
Servo pointing accuracy
:
< 0.03 deg
Position display Resolution
:
0.001 deg
Position Transducer
:19
bit or higher, single turn
Absolute
rotary shaft optical
encoders
Position loop bandwidth
:
Tunable from 0.1 to 2.0 Hz

supporting

any

data

rate

continuously variable from 1 to

320 Mbps.

4.10 Digital Servo Control

System
The Servo Control System has all
the

salient

features

of

modern

digital control system available in

any of the latest ground stations,
using

the

state

of

the

art

technology. The main features of

the system are

DSP based Antenna Control

Unit

Software

based

control loops

digital

Rate loop bandwidth

:
Tunable 1.0 to 10.0 Hz
Operating modes
:
Standby, Slew, Manual, Program,
Designate,X-Auto,S-Auto,Sun/Star,
Auto sequence mode
Type
of
motor/drive

Zenith pass handler

pg.49

Brushless

AC

servo

motor

with
R
e
s
o
l
v
e
r
f
e
e
d
b

in brake/PWM drive
Drive configuration
:
motor Counter-torque
Secant correction
:
Azimuth axis through software
System
Control
Options

a
c
k
a
n
d
b
u
i
l
t
4. Tracking

Two

Local/Remote

&

Control

software
4.11Antenna Drive Unit
The ADU houses the DC servo
drive unit that includes 4 Pulse

The Servo Control System has the

Width Modulated (PWM) servo

following

The

amplifiers to drive the azimuth

complement of above equipments

and elevation Brushless DC servo

shall provide a wide variety of

motors. Two motors are used for

operating modes for the antenna.

each axis.

sub

systems.

The block diagram of servo control

system is shown in fig 4.

current / torque loop with torque

1. Antenna control unit (ACU)

2. Antenna drive unit (ADU)
3. Tracking
configuration

The drive unit operates as a

Network

bias set by the ACU to minimize

backlash and maximize pointing
and
torque

tracking
bias

configurable

accuracy.

The

parameters

are

in

the

ACU

to

optimize performance.

pg.50

ADU contains drive amplifiers and

hardware and firmware to close

logic for azimuth and elevation

each axis position loop with the

axes control, power on sequence

position feedback from the on

and safety interlocks. The ADU

axis position transducers (optical

also provides power and interface

rotary

points

sources

for

the

discrete

I/O

shaft
of

encoders).
the

position

antenna points. The ADU includes

commands

all the required power supplies

internally

for

drive

tracking receiver generated error

electronics, switches, stow pins,

signal. The generated position

alarms and motor brakes. These

error is frequency compensated

status points are controlled and

and converted to rate commands.

monitored

The

For the full motion control, the

additional protections built into

rate command is compared with

the

bus

the motor rate feedback. The

protection,

error is then used to control drive

drive

amplifiers,

by

drive

ACU.

systems

under/over
short

the

voltage

circuit

are

protection,

shall,

The

apart

generated,

from
include

Over

amplifiers that effectively apply

Temperature (Heat sink)., Over

armature supply to the brush less

current trip,

DC

Electronic fusing,

servomotors.
all

The

ACU

manual

and

Resolver connection fault (open

provides

circuit).

automatic target acquisition and

antenna positioning functions.

4.11.1Antenna Control Unit

The ACU communicates with the

The Antenna Control Unit (ACU),

drive

along with the Antenna Drive

through TCP/IP protocol. ACU

Unit, is responsible for closing the

issues drive enable commands as

position

well as to read the various status

position
the

loop,
sensors,

Antenna

reading

the

commanding

azimuth/elevation

system

and

Ethernet

parameters from Drive system

through this interface.

Drives. The ACU contains the

pg.51

The

Antenna

system

shall

Control
have

servo

extensive

operational modes to meet the

antenna requirements for orbiting
satellites. The system shall have

Fig.7

two

control system

operating

control

Block

Diagram

of

servo

environments. One is Local mode

4.12Tracking
Configuration

(operator control) from Remote

antenna control computer (ACC)
at

Control

room

Antenna

The primary operational interface for the

Control Unit (ACU) at Antenna

Antenna control servo system is the

pedestal room and another is

Remote

Remote

(RAC), which provides remote control of

mode

or

Network

via

Station

Control Computer (SCC) system

Antenna

Control

Computer

the

from Earth station control room.

The operating modes supported
by ACU are Standby, Ready,
Manual

Position,

Slew

Rate,

Command angle , Auto track (Xband & S band) and Program

Track.

AZ absolute encoder, cable wrap & limit

S-band
Signal
Generato

GPS
Timing
Signal

RS-232 RS-232

ACU
Computer

Down
Converter

Other
I/O
Signals

Drive

E
AZ Axis

Etherne

Drive

Ethernet
Switch
Etherne

Delta Tau
UMAC
Motion
Controller

Drive

Analo
EL Axis

Integrated
RAC

Tracking

E
Drive

EL absolute encoder & limit signals

Fig 5: Block Diagram of servo control system

pg.52

Ethernet. ACU issues drive enable

commands to the drive system as
well as monitor the status of the
drive

system

through

this

network. The other important sub

systems like Integrated Tracking
System, Multi channel tracking
down

Converter

etc.

are

Antenna control unit (ACU) from

connected on the same network.

the Control room. The Remote

The typical network configuration

antenna

is shown below.

Computer

(RAC)

communicates with the Antenna

Control

Unit

(ACU)

over

dedicated Fiber optic link.

The ACU communicates with the
drive systems of both azimuth
and

elevation

axis

through

pg.53

DRS LAN
Switch
Tracking
Down
Converter

FO Link

Antenna
Drive System

Antenna Pedestal
Switch
Antenna
Control Unit

Integrated
Tracking
System

Fig.8
Tracking
Configuration

4.12.1Station
System

Network

Automation

automation are carried out by

Station

Control

The purpose of the station automation

coordination

system is to operate

Control Computer.

Computer

with

in

Antenna

the ground station in a fully

automated environment aiming
towards unmanned operations.
The main functions of the Station

pg.54

Fig.9

Station

Automation

System Configuration
NRSCground
station has four antenna systems

These

antenna

systems

and five data receive chains and

controlled from the Data

are

its configuration is shown in

Figrue-6. The Antenna Systems

Acquisition Control Room (DACR)

are located in the

by

Antenna Pedestal room and its

Computer (RAC) through Servo

purpose is to track satellite in

Fiber optic (SFO) link.

Remote

Antenna

Control

auto or program track mode.

The 2 GHz Data output from the

Data Receive Chains. Each Data

antenna system is driven by

Receive chain has two streams to

another Fiber Optic link DFO to

support

bring

etc.

to the

DACR.

These

IRS-P5,

Both

the

Resourcesat-2
streams

are

outputs from all four antenna

configured to same in case of

systems are routed through IF

Single

Matrix to connect it to different

Carotsat-2/2A, Oceansat-2 etc.

stream

missions

like

pg.55

receive

chain

and

its

configuration

diagram shown in Figure-7. Each data

4.13Station Control Computer

receive chain has one down converter

Station Control Computer carries out the

automation of IF matrix and Data

Fig.10 Devices connectivity

Station Control Computer

and one demodulator. These systems

are connected on Two 24 Port Ethernet
Switches.

of
configuration parameters in
various configuration file.

The software is developed with the

following features to carry out the above

All the independent modules

are made to run on different

functions

It

facilitates

configurable

highly
environment

which is adaptable to addition,

deletion

or

change

in

threads. This helps in running

other modules smoothly when
a

particular

module

faces

some problem.

pg.56

Two TCP/IP application level

protocols are developed for
message

passing

between

SCC and various ACC systems.

One for SCC server to ACC
client and the other for ACC
server to SCC client.

pg.57

5.LEVEL0 SYSTEMS

Data Ingest and Quick Look

Display System

5.1Introduction
RISAT-1 is the first Microwave Indian
Remote Sensing Satellite. It carries an
Active

Microwave

payload

SAR

(Synthetic Aperture Radar) operating in

C-Band, enabling data collection in
Day/Night and all weather conditions.
The Ground Segment comprises the
Data

Reception,

Processing

&

dissemination facilities.

The following

sections

various

describe

the

sub-

systems of the Level-0 Systems for

RISAT-1.
Level 0 Systems

Ancillary Data Processing System

SPS PB Data Archival System

Data Serializer System

Timing System.

Level-0 Systems will be realized in

IMGEOS Configuration. Each of the
FOUR antenna and Data Receive Chains
have a dedicated Data Ingest System
(Shown in Figure 8) for real-time data
ingest

onto

RAID

and

subsequent

transfer to SAN for ADP Processing.

Based on clash scenario Two antenna &
data receive chains will be assigned for
RISAT-1 as Main & redundant chains.

Station Work Flow Manager for

Event Scheduling and Monitoring

pg.58

AS - 1

AS - 2

AS - 3

AS - 4

IF MATRIX

DEMODULATOR 1

DEMODULATOR 2

Data Ingest System 1

DEMODULATOR 3

Data Ingest System 2

Data Ingest System 3

Fig.11 Data Chain Configuration

5.2 Station
Manager

Work

DEMODULATOR 4

Data Ingest System 4

Control

Flow

assignment

Computer
of

System

Antenna

for

Systems

&

Receive Chains. It also generates WO

for the respective Data Ingest Systems.

Station

Workflow

provides

On receipt of successful data ingest

centralized event monitor and control

message post pass from DI, Work

functions for Station operations with

Orders are issued by SWFM for the ADP

appropriate interfaces with UOPS for

Processing Nodes. Event Monitor &

pass

and

Controller displays Process status and

Urgent/Emergency requests. On receipt

provides control for Process initiation,

of Pass Schedules for a Day, SWFM

restart & abort.

schedules,

generates

Work

Manager

state

Orders

vectors,

for

Station

pg.59

Pass Schedules / Urgent

Requests / SVs

UOPS

Data Exchange Gateway

RAW Data

ADIF
FRED

W O Files
Data Ingest
Systems

ADP Systems

Station Work Flow Manager

Fig.12
Station
Interfaces

Work

Flow
acquires real-time data, provides a real-

5.3Data Ingest System

The Data Ingest systems consist of PC

servers with RAID for real-time data
ingest. 2 Nos of PCI Front End Hardware
(FEH) Cards which are connected to the
Demodulators

with

LVDS

interface.

IRIG-G Time is fed to the Time Code

Translator which translates the serial
time and provides parallel BCD Time to
FEH for time stamping the Raw Data.
TCT provides RS-232 I/F for system
time

synchronization.Data

time display of important parameters

like Sync Status, FS Errors, GRT & Line
Count Jumps, etc. After the completion
of LOS, RAW data acquired in RAID is
transferred over FC network to SAN
along

with

the

quality

report.

Appropriate Event Message indicating

the status of data acquisition is sent to
SWFM for further initiation of ADP
Processes.

Ingest

System gets work orders from SWFM,

schedules

the

supported

passes,

pg.60

Fig.13Data
SWFM
Configuration

IRIG - G
TCT

D
E
M
O
D
U
L
A
T
O
R

Ingest

System

LVDS/ECL

FEH 1
FEH card 1

Stream1

DI Work Orders
Status Messages
PCI (64 BIT, 66 MHZ)

LVDS/ECL

Parallel BCD time I/F

FEH 2

Stream2

4 Gbps FC Link
PCI (64 BIT, 66 MHZ)

Data Ingest Server

RAID
LEVEL-0 SAN

5.4Timing Systems

The NTP server port on the Unit is

Station Timing Systems consist of

used for accurate system Time

XLI Time and Frequency Unit (NTP

synchronization.

Server), Serial Time Distribution

time code from XLI unit is fed to

Unit and Time Code Translator

the Serial Time Distribution Unit,

Units.

which buffers and provides the

Serial

IRIG-G

Serial Time to the Time Code

The XLI Time & Frequency System

Translators

has 12-channel GPS Receiver, GPS

Systems.

synchronized

Time

on

Data

Ingest

Code

Generator, high precision rubidium

oscillator for clocking the TCG.

pg.61

GPS Antenna

NTP Time Unit

NTP Time

N/W Switch

IRIG-G

Serial Time Distribution Unit

TCT 1

Fig.14
Timing
Diagram

5.4.1IRIG-G
Translator

TCT 2

TCT 3

System

Block

Time

Code

TCT 4

Serial Interface provides the ASCII

IRIG-G TCT has been developed

time

in-house for meeting the GRT time

synchronization and scheduling of

stamping requirements of RISAT-

events. The Set-time and Read-

1. The TCT accepts IRIG-G Serial

time Utilities are provided for off-

Time Code and translates it into

line configuration of the system

Parallel BCD format up to 10

and validation of the interface

Microseconds

respectively.

to

Front

End

for

System

Displays

time

DAYS:

Hardware (through 68 Pin SCSI

HOURS: MINUTES and SECONDS

connector) for Time stamping the

on the front panel.

RAW data being ingested. The

pg.62

AGC Logic

DECODER

IRIG A
DC CODE

Frame Sync

Decoded Parallel BCD Code

IRIG -G
MODULATED SIGNAL

MINOR FRAME SECTION

SCAN LOGIC

1 PPS Clock
Load Pulses

MAJOR FRAME SECTION

68 PIN SCSI Connector /

50 PIN Centronics Connector

BCD TO 7 SEGMENT
DECODER / DRIVERS

Parallel BCD Data

7-SEGMENT DISPLAY

Fig.15Time Code Translator

pg.63

provide constant swath for all

6.SAR Payload for RISAT
Radar

elevation pointing and almost

backscattering

depends

near

constant

minimum

radar

upon the sensor parameters such

cross section performance. The

as

and

proposedSAR will operate in the

incidence angle as well as on

following basic modes: Figure-

target

15&Table-1

frequency,

polarisation

parameters

such

as

dielectric constant, roughness and

Fine

geometry. In RISAT, SAR sensor is

Mode-1 (FRS-1): This mode is

selected in C-band (5.35 GHz)

basedon Stripmap imaging, which

with

is the conventional mode of SAR.

both

co-

and

cross-

Resolution

Stripmap

polarization, which will meet most

In

of the resource applications and

antenna

also

high

respect to flight pathso that a strip

SAR

of constant swath (here, 30 km) is

enable

resolution

achieving

capability.

The

this,the

orientation

beam

is

of

fixed

the
with

sensor is based on active phased

illuminated

array antenna technology, which

direction. The intended resolution

will

is 3m for FRS-1 mode.

provide

requiredelectronic

along

theflight

agility for achieving multimode

Coarse

capability.

Mode (CRS): The ScanSAR mode

Resolution

ScanSAR

allows for a multifold increase of

6.1Modes of Operation

the range swath dimension. This

The RISAT High Resolution SAR

isachieved by periodically stepping

will be operating in C-band at a

the

frequency

neighboringsubswaths

of

5.35

GHz.

The

antenna

beam

to

the

(in

the

spacecraft altitude has been fixed

range direction). In the CRS-mode

at

25-day

of RISAT, therewill 12 beams

repetivity considerations. The SAR

(either side of the intermediate

system

sub-swaths will have anoverlap of

536kmfrom
has

the

beendesigned

to

pg.64

7km

from

the

preceding

and

High

Resolution

Spotlight

succeeding sub-swaths). This

Mode (HRS): In the spotlight

results, total swath in CRS mode

mode,

would be 220 km. the resolution

the antenna beam is oriented

offered in this mode will be 50 m.

continuously

Medium Resolution ScanSAR

particularspot on the ground. This

Mode (MRS): This is a 6-beam

way, the target aperture time is

scanSAR mode, similar to the CRS

increasedwhich

mode, providing a resolution of 25

improved

m over a swath of 115 km.

(compared to that in thestripmap

Fine

case) which will be 1m for this

Resolution

Stripmap

to

illuminate

results

azimuth

in

resolution

Mode-2 (FRS-2): This mode has

mode. The improved resolution

quadpolarization

is obtained at the cost of azimuth

capability.

Philosophically, this mode is a

coverage.

hybrid strip mapand scanSAR. It is

partlyimproved by making use of

stripmap in the sense that the

sliding

spotlightmode

(hybrid

beam orientation iskept fixed with

spotlightstripmapmode).

This

respect to the flight path and a

imaging would be done over a

strip of constant swathwidth is

spot size of 10 kmx 10 km.

covered. Also, in a way it is similar

Circular

to scanSAR, because forpart of

(C-HRS,

the

aperture

latter

Polarimetric
C-FRS-1,

is

Modes

C-FRS-2,

the

beam

CMRS,C-CRS): All the modes

switched

from

mentioned above can be operated

Vtransmitto H-transmit, and vice-

inhybrid-circular polarization. This

versa. Hence, this mode would be

is achieved by transmitting H & V

used for polarimetry, as we can

polarized signals simultaneously

have all the four combinations of

but with a relative phase-shift of

polarisation, viz, VV, VH, HH &

90.Hence, the transmit signal is

HV.

in circular polarization and the

polarisation

time

The

is

receivesignal is in linear (dual-pol)

pg.65

this

makes

it

hybrid-

FIGURE-15 Basic modes of SAR

circularpolarization operation. To
keep

the

average

power-

requirements sameas the original

specifications, the pulse-width is

Fig.16 Non Imagable area

reduced to half.
Except FRS-2 mode, which is
inherently quad pol mode, all
othermodes

can

be

operated

either in single polarization modes

(HH, VV,HV, VH), dual polarization
modes (HH+HV / VH+VV) or
Circularpolarization modes.
Also it shouldbe remembered that
as it is a side looking active sensor
around 107 Km either side of the
Sub satellite Track

comes under

Non Imagable area for that orbit

under consideration.( Figure 14)

Fig.17 Basic Mode of SAR

Antenna Pedestal Room

pg.66

Table.2 Payload Modes

DRS
Systems

7.RISAT DATA PRODUCTS &

FORMATS
pg.67

Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT-1) will

acquire data in C band with following
modes:
Fine Resolution Strip map Mode-1
(FRS-1): It provides 2 m slant
resolution image over 25 km
swath in either single or dual
polarisations
Fine Resolution Strip map Mode-2
(FRS-2): It provides 4 m slant
resolution image over 25 km
swath in quad polarisation.
Medium
Resolution
ScanSAR
Mode (MRS): It provides 8 m
slant resolution image over swath
of 115 km in either single or dual
polarisation
Coarse Resolution ScanSAR Mode
(CRS): It provides 8 m slant
resolution image over swath of
223 km in either single or dual
polarisation.
High Resolution Spotlight Mode
(HRS): It generates better than 1
m resolution image fora spot of
10 km (Azimuth) and 10 km
(ground range swath) for either
single or dual polarisation.
The various levels of products defined
for RISAT-1 are as follows:
7.1 Raw Signal Products (Level0):This product contains raw or
unprocessed radar echo data in complex
in-phase and quadrature signal (I and
Q) format. The only processing
performed on the data is the stripping of
the downlink frame format, BAQ
decoded (optional) and re-assembly of
the data into contiguous radar range
lines. Each range line of data is
represented by one Signal Data Record
in the RAW CEOS product. Auxiliary data
required for processing is also made
available along with echo data.

Geo-Tagged Products (Level-1) :The

image is geo-tagged using orbit and
attitude data from the satellite. This
allows
latitude
and
longitude
information to be calculated for each
line in the image. The earth geometry is
assumed to be the standard ellipsoid.
Each image line contains auxiliary
information which includes the latitude
and longitude of the first, mid and last
pixels of the line. The raw radar signal
data is processed to provide SAR image
data pixels. The image pixel data is
represented by a series of CEOS
processed data records, each record
containing one complete line of pixels
lying in the range dimension of the
image. The product can be obtained as
slant range data (16 bit I and 16 bit Q)
or ground range data (16 bit) amplitude
data. Additionally, an auxiliary file
containing a dense grid of geo-locations
is associated along with the data file.
7.2Ellipsoid Geocoded Products
(level-2) : This product contains
geometrically corrected data. There
exists provision for UTM (default) and
Polyconic
map
projections.
For
systematic processing UTM projection
will be provided. The pixel spacing in
the product will depend on mode, no. of
looks and look angle. For a given mode
and a range of look angle, no. of range
and azimuth looks will be worked out in
such a way that pixel spacing in both
range and azimuth direction remain
uniform. The options for product format
are CEOS and GEOTIFF.
7.3Value added products: Beside
the above mentioned standard data
products, additional products such as
precision
geocoded
and
terrain

pg.68

geocoded will be available for FRS-1 & 2

and MRS mode data with user supplied
GCPs information and available Digital
Elevation Map information. Also for FRS2 mode Polsar products will be available
after proper validation.
7.4Image
Quality
Parameters:
RISAT-1
products
will
nominally
provided in CEOS format. This format
will contain various products quality
parameters like range resolution,
ground resolution, azimuth resolution,
peak side lobe ratio, integrated side lobe
ratio, radiometric resolution, geometric
error, resampling option, Datum used,
relative phase error etc depending on
the level of product. Also format will
have information on processing related
parameters such as no. of range and
azimuth looks, azimuth bandwidth,
range and azimuth weighting, Doppler
centroid etc.
The derivation of product code and the
product code list are provided in Table2& Table-3

(ii) Level-1 : Geo-Tagged Products

(iii) Level-2 : Ellipsoidal Geocoded
products
Value added Products:
Precision Geocoded
Terrain Geocoded
Pol-SAR Products
Fig.18 Strip map Imaging: FRS-1

Control Room

Fig.19ScanSAR Imaging: MRS

Definition of RISAT Data Products

LEVELS
(i) Level-0 :Raw signal products
TABLE.3 DPWFM RISAT-1
PRODUCT CODES
Code is 9 chars: PTMREELFM

DATA
SL.NO

Description

1.

Product Type

Typical
Values
ST

pg.69

Meaning
Standard

PT
2.

Map Projection
M

6.
Format
No Projection
F
Polyconic
UTM
7.
Media
M
No Resampling
Cubic Convolution

0
P
U

3.

Resampling
R

0
C

4.

Enhancement
EE

00

5.

Correction Level
L

0
G**
K
N

TABLE.4 DPWFM

C
T

CEOS
GeoTIFF

V
D

DVD
DISK

No Enhancements
Note Please note that geo-referenced
products are corrected for terrain
heights.
Raw
Georeferenced (Terrain Corrected) **
Single Look Complex Slant range
Multi Look Ground range

PRODUCT

CODE LIST FOR RISAT-1

Product type

Map Proj

Resampling

Enhancement

ST

00

User Products
1)

Level 0 Raw Products

Multi Look Ground Range Products

Product type

Map Proj

Resampling

Enhancement

Proc. Level

Format

Media

ST

V/D

2)

Level-1 Geotagged Products

Product type

Map Proj

Resampling

Enhancement

ST

00

Single Look Complex (SLC) Products

pg.70

3)

Level-2 Terrain Corrected Products

8.Product Quality Control

Product type

Map Proj

Resampling

Enhancement

Proc. Level

Medium
/Format

Media
/Size

ST

U/P

00

C/T

V /D

Product Quality Control is responsible

for checking the quality of all satellite
data products that reach users. All
RISAT-1
data
products
will
be
thoroughly verified and are subjected
for stringent quality checks at PQC. Data
products that conform to quality
standards and specifications will be
delivered to users. QC criteria for
digital data products: All digital
products will be verified as per
thefollowing Checksheetthat comprises
of different checks for products
clearance. The main components of the
checksheet are
Meta file verification
Format validation
Geometric check
adiometric check
R
inspection method
Band
to
formultidate
products )

through

Visual

Band
Registration
(
registered & merged

8.1Meta file verification: A meta file

is a .txt file that contains information
about Satellite,Product and User. QC
ensures the generation of a correct
product
from
this
file
by
crossverifyingthe information of user
product with Data Products Work Flow
Manager ( DPWFM ). QC verifies user
specified parameters like Satellite, Mode
,Frequency, Incidence angle, date of
pass,
scene
centre
and
corner
coordinates
,
Projection,
datum
,resampling and product code etc.

pg.71

8.2Format validation: RISAT-1 data

products are supplied in CEOS and
Geotiff formats. Data products are
validated for correctness of format in
auto mode at PQC through indeginous
software.
8.3Geometric check :All digital
products are checked for correctness of
datum,mapprojection,resampling,
resolution, scene centre, area coverage
( in terms of Lat./Long.) etc and should
meet the user requirements ( in terms
of corner co-ordinates and scene centre
Lat./Long. ) and Location accuracy (as
per mission ).
8.4Radiometric check :Radiomeric
quality of data products is thoroughly
verified for all products. . Different types
of radiometric anomalies can be
observed in data due to the complex
nature of SAR data acquisition and
processing. All RISAT-1 data products
are subjected for data qualification
through Visual quality assessment
method. All digital products are
displayed and viewed in full resolution
mode with an option to zoom and roam
in the image.Cent percent visual check
is carried out to ensure good
radiometric quality product.
8.5Band to Band Registration ( BBR
):
BBR is a parameter that is to be verified
for colour composite products . This is
not an applicable parameter for RISAT-1
images since they are in black & white
.But a colour composite product can be
generated by registering different dates
of SAR images or through merge
process with optical data ( multi date
registered product, merged etc). For
such type of products , Band to band

registration check will be carried out

byPQC .

pg.72

Products that meet QC standards will be

delivered to users. Non conformal

products will undergo regeneration and

re-certification.

pg.73

Flow

chart

of

Digital

products

process Chain

RAC Computer

pg.74

9DATA
ACCESS
DISTRIBUTION

AND

Introduction
Data products will be announced to the
users after the initial phase validations
by mission. User will be able to request
for the data products either directly or
through the User Order Processing
System (UOPS). UOPS is an integrated
web based application enables the user
to register, browse and select the
satellite images either from archives or
plan for future collections, perform
account related transactions, place
orders and monitor the order status.
Users, after browsing the images using
the various queries and selecting the
scenes, can place an order for the same
using the ordering tools. Facility to
obtain the status of user accounts and
the orders placed is also available

online. Registered users can also change

their details like address and their login
password and send general queries
through e-mail. ( Figure-15)
Upon connecting to the NRSC User
order processing system site, the user is
presented with a page with various links
which enable the user to navigate
through the application. If the user is
new, he has to register himself for the
ordering service to be enabled. While
registering, the user has to agree to the
terms and conditions displayed. A
registration form is displayed in which
he has to provide details like name, user
identification (uid), password, user
category, mailing address etc.,. Users

Pg58

have to remember their

password for future logins.

uid

and

If the user is a registered user, he can

sign in with his uid and password and
enable the services.

UOPS opening page

Fig.20 Block diagram of User Order

Processing System

Pg59

First page presented to the user.

9.1Services
Pre-requisites
The services provided through UOPS are
Browsing , ordering & future collections.
If the user wants to just browse the
data available in the archives browse
should be clicked. If he wants to order
the data he needs to click the order
button then it will help him to browse as
well as place order. If future collections
are required then click on the collect
button. Browsing / ordering services is a
pre-requisite information provided to the
users for converting the required area of
interest into scenes and checking the
data availability for the required area of
interest. Before placing an order for
data, the users need to browse through
the data, to check for cloud and quality
of the data. To meet this requirement,
NRSC generates sub-sampled and
compressed browse images along with

necessary ancillary information. This

facility is made available to users
through Internet. Compressed JPEG
images are generated only for the
Optical data sets for RISAT-1 no images
are generated only the meta information
is populated. This enables the user to
verify coverage. The Browse facility has
been integrated with data ordering and
payload programming systems. Data
can be browsed online and suitable
scenes can be selected and converted
into and data request by registered
users who have an account with NDC.
The different means of searching the
image catalogue / ordering are :
Either Map based search can be
performed , which allows free draw on
the world map or the options are AOI ,

Pg59

Path
based

and Date options. Under AOI

following options are provided.
Polygon
Mapsheet
Location
Point

Shape file.

Any one of these means can be selected

as per the user convenience.

Browsing / ordering services

9.1.1
Polygon
query/ordering/collects

based

This option is useful to browse/order the

images for a given geographical area.
Users can input their area of interest
either in terms of latitude/longitude in
degrees, minutes, seconds or degrees
decimal format of top left and bottom
right corners or draw the area on a map
with the help of mouse. On submitting
the query, a form requesting the user to

enter the period of interest is displayed.

On submitting, a list of scenes covering
the users area of interest during the
desired period shown to the right of the
screen. On selecting the scenes and
clicking on the layout option the scenes
are plotted on the map. This enables
the user to verify his area of coverage
and also the number of scenes required.
If the order button is clicked then the
scenes selected can be ordered.

Pg59

Polygon based search

Pg59

The next screen presents the valid

products based on the sensor , and
allows
various
combinations
of
projections datum & resampling. The
mode of dispatch also needs to be
mentioned. If courier is opted then the
products will be sent by courier if FTP is
opted then the products will be
uploaded on the web site for the users
to download.
On clicking the estimate button it shows
the cost estimate of the products.

Once the cost estimate is shown Save PI

Append PI and Generate Order are
presented to the user.
The user can Save the PI or Append into
a already existing PI or directly generate
order.

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Once the generate order button is

clicked the complete PI is presented to
the
user
along
with
accounts
handled/allotted to the user. Then the
user needs to select the account
.

through which the data cost has to be

debited. Once the account number is
selected. The Shipping address needs to
be filled and confirm button to be
clicked

After the confirmation a pop-up window

will be shown on the screen showing the
Order No. This order number needs to
be
quoted
for
all
future
correspondences. After generation of
products the status will be updated
automatically. For the products through
FTP mode , a mail will be sent to the
user with the ip address and user name
password. User can download the data
using this.

Map sheet based products are one of

the most popular products. So provision
to query by map sheet number has
been provided to facilitate easy querying
by the user. In this case, apart from
satellite, sensor, user has to select the
map sheet number, either in open series
map or as per the old SOI mapsheet
numbers along with the period of
interest. On submitting the query, a list
of scenes covering the map sheet,
during the desired period, are displayed.
The user can then select the scenes and
click layout option. This will plot the
scenes on the map.

9.1.2
Query

Map sheet number based

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9.1.3 Location name based query

In case the user does not know
anything other than the name of the
location, he can use this query to
browse the images covering the place
during the desired period. The inputs to
be provided by the user are satellite,
sensor and the name of the place.
Option
is available to use the data base of
locations with prefix or suffix
matching. The user is presented with
the details of the scene covering his
place and on what dates it was covered.
The user can then, view the meta along
with the plot on the map.

Location name based search

9.1.4.
query

Point

(Lat-Long)

based

This query takes latitude and longitude

of a single point and it maps to a square

based on the extent chosen. This query

is useful if particular area around a point
is to be viewed. User has to select the
satellite, sensor, enter latitude and
longitude of the point in degrees
minutes seconds or degrees decimal

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format and choose the extent of region

desired. The extent of the region varies
w.r.t. the sensor. On submitting, a list of
scenes covering the extent with the

point as center, during the desired

period, along with a graphical plot, is
displayed. The user can then, view the
meta along with the plot on the map.

Point based search

9.1.5 Search for images based on
shape file
This query is useful for viewing the
images dates when the input is in the
form of a shape file generated in
arcview format with geographic coordinates. The maximum number of
points required in constructing the
shape file should not exceed 10,000

.Users have to choose the satellite and

sensor and submit along with the shape
file in WGS 1984 Geographic /UTM
projection format only. On submitting, a
list of scenes covering the shape file are
displayed.
Provision for viewing the
selected scenes plotted on the shape file
is also provided. The users can then
view the images and select.

Shape file based search

9.1.6Search for images based on
date of pass /ordering
When the date field is not entered at all,
an alert message asking the date is
displayed. However, a calendar is also
provided along the date field for easy

operation. Based on the satellite

relevant
paths
or
orbits
and
sensor/modes are presented to the
user.
Users have to choose the satellite,
sensor and the date of pass in dd-mm-

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yyyyformat . If a wrong value entered,

an alert is displayed asking the correct
This query is useful if the user wants to
browse the images for a specific date.

These scenes can then be ordered in

the way explained in previous options.

Date based search

9.2

ProductStatusMonitoring

Users can view the status of the request

placed through the above options. This
option gives the status as , dispatched ,
under production or alternate action
.After viewing the status of the
products, in case if any of the product
fails due to technical reasons, it can be
re-generated by submitting a different
date using the utility - Alternate date
provided under pending actions.
9.3 Services for Offline Users:
An off-line user is one who has one or
more account numbers with NDC but
has been placing orders for data by
filling a paper order form.
Order
processing facility on Intranet enables
NDC to monitor, distribute, process and
dispatch the generated products to the
customers placed offline.

Order Processing and monitoring on

Intranet by NDC

10. Payload Programming

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10.1 INTRODUCTION
RISAT is the first of the type with
Synthetic Aperture Radar payload.
Radar backscatter depends upon the
sensor
parameters
such
as
frequency, polarization and incidence
angle as well as on target
parameters
such
as
dielectric
constant, roughness and geometry.
The SAR on RISAT will operate in C
band with both horizontal and
vertical polarization. The SAR sensor
is based on active phase array
antenna technology and it provides
electronic agility for achieving
multimode imaging capability. So the
imaging can be done both in
ascending and descending passes of
a day. The payload basically consists
of an antenna 6mx2m in size
consisting of 12X2 = 24 tile each tile
having 24 X 24 radiating elements.
The antenna is capable of generating
126 beams on either side of roll (i.e.,
+34 / -34). The payload is designed
to operate in five different operation
modes varying in swath and
resolution. The swath and resolution
are dictated by the usage of any set
of beams out of 126 beams. (63 on
each side) covering a very large of
look angles. The beam width of the
beams are so adjusted o provide a
constant
swath
on
ground
irrespective of look angle.
Table 1 & Table 2 gives the details
of the modes an polarisations that
are operable.
Table.5 Imaging Modes

Table.6 Mode wise Polarization

RISAT is a programable satellite. The

data will be collected based on the

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user specifications and as users

need to give the look angle, period
mode etc. Details of the inputs are
discussed
in
the
further
sessions.Apart from data from
arriving at the data collection needs
NDC is also responsible in generating
the final schedule files which is used
by ISTRAC to further command the
satellite. ISTRAC uploads the state
vectors and other related files
through the online facility which are
further used
for preparing the
schedules. Total flow of action is
described in the flow chart.

Flowchart of the programming

activities

Various types of users are Handled

by NDC as described below.
6.1 TYPES OF USERS:
For programming
10.1.1 Registered Users: They
are the registered users who can
place programming requests for
data acquisition. The users can
place their programming request
online through Internet . Once the
inputs for collects are fed an online
along with the product details
,proposal is displayed to the user.
The proposal shows the dates on
which the request can be serviced.
Once the confirm button is clicked
the dates are blocked for the user.
After the data collection the status
will be updated as serviced in the
request status. Further the data

will be processed and dispatched to

the user.
10.1.2 Offline Usres:
The usres who do not have online
accounts for placing request or still
follow the conventional methods
send us the request through fax or
email. UOPS INTRANET ( used by
NDC scientists) has a provision for
placing
request
offline.
The
proposals are sent to the usres and
confirmation is saught for the user
before planning.
10.1.3 Ground Station Users:
Ground station users are the
registered users who will acquire
data in real time over their
respective ground stations. These
users are:

Nodal Ground station: They are

responsible for the requests
received from the ground stations
handled by them.
Ex. Space
Imaging, Scanex.
Individual Ground stations: These
stations take care of the requests
planned over their respective
ground stations. Ex; TRN, DIP,
DDN etc.
Virtual Ground Stations: These are
stations, which act as ground
stations and they are governed by
visibility circles. The data is
collected by SSR and dumped at
Svalbard or Shadnagar.

10.2 PAYLOAD PROGRAMMIGN

ACTIVITY
Payload
programming
activity
involves programming the satellite
acquisitions - based on the user
requirements, International ground
station requirements and for
archival buildup.
As RISAT
provides different beam modes and
the incidence angle or "beam
positions, this flexibility makes the

planning and ordering of RISAT

data slightly more complex than
that for other systems such as
Resources at I; This activity is
split across three different systems
located at NRSA and SCC.
The UOPS is the front-end module,
which accepts requests from users
and International Ground stations
online, through a web application.
This system validates and transfers
the requests to Swath planner. The
Swath Planner is a tool, which
calculates the predicted RISAT's
orbit. It allows to generate, view,
edit and analyse swath plans in
order to identify the most suitable
acquisition plan. Then a technical
proposal is displayed to the user
along
with
the
graphical
representation. After receiving the
confirmation from user, PPS at NDC
generates the schedules based on
NDC selected options and sends it
to SCC. At SCC the command
sequence is generated for uplinking the satellite. The flow is
described in the following flow
chart.

10.2.1 Options for placing the

programming request
The different means of placing
request for programming are
Either Map based (free draw on the
map) can be done or the options
are AOI , Path and Date options.
Under AOI based following options
are provided.
Polygon
Mapsheet
Location
Point
Shape file.
Location name is treated as point
request with specific radius around
the point.

5. High resolution spot light

mode
Specify a range
positions
an/or
angles

of beam
incidence

Based on the modes acceptable

beam positions will automatically
be decided while planning.
CRS Mode 12 Beams
MRS Mode 6 beams
FRS Mode
Or
Minimum and Maximum Incidence
angle should will be
taken as
input.

Mapsheet:Can input Open series or

the old SOI mapsheet numbers.

Or
User application will be taken as
input

Inputs required form the user:

Period of Interest

Specify pass direction

1. Ascending mode
2. Descending mode
3. Ascending and descending
mode
Specify the imaging mode
1. Coarse resolution mode
2. Medium resolution mode
3. Fine
resolution
striping
mode
4. Fine resolution strip map
mode

Start Date
End Date
Polarization: Dual /circular
Priority:
Urgent
Normal
Emergency
User can choose one of the priority
options.
Normal: These requests can be
placed 15 days in advance. These
requests will not be charged for
programming.
Urgent: The requests, which are
placed within T-2 days of

acquisition are treated as urgent.

These will be included in the daily
acquisition plan. These requests
will
be
charged
extra
for
acquisition. Ground stations send
their stations request for a period
of one week. The urgent request
can be placed up to T-2 day
Emergency: The user requests are
of highest priorty followed by the
archival build up. However in case
of Natural calamities and man
madeemergencies , all other
requests take a lower priority.
Requests placed in such cases with
have high priority.
10.2.2 REQUEST STATUS
A request can have various
statuses between posted and
closed. The user will be able to
view his request status online by
keying in the request number.
Various statuses are:
Posted: After the requests are
finalized at SWATH PLANNER/UOPS
they are posted at NDC-PPS.
These requests show the status as
posted.
Scheduled: The requests which
are accepted by NDC-PPS and sent
to SCC-PPS

Confirmed: The requests which

are confirmed for acquisition at
SCC-PPS
Serviced:
The requests which
are acquired on the specified day
Cancelled:
The requests which
are cancelled by SCC due to
various reasons
Closed:
The requests which are
successfully
acquired
(good
quality,), will be updated as closed
Repost:
The requests for
which the acquisition is not
successful (bad quality) can be
posted for another date.
The
status of such
requests will be
shown as Reposted. We need to
have three such alternate dates for
reposting. Only normal and urgent
requests can have the reposting
facility. Emergency requests for
natural calamities will have only
one acquisition.
10.2.3 PPS - System
The Payload Programming system
at NDC is designed as a multi
mission
Payload
Programming
system.
It takes inputs from UOPS and
allows for scheduling.

11.Applications

SAR is often used because of its allweather, day or night capability, it

also finds application because it
renders a different view of a target
with synthetic aperture radar being at
a much lower electromagnetic
frequency.Observations of the Earth
using the SAR (Synthetic Aperture
Radar) have a wide range of practical
applications, such as:

11.1Forestry
BACKGROUND

hugely on afforestation / plantation

projects under Forestry / NREGS as
well as social responsibility projects.
In order to sustain them in long term,
it is very important to monitor the
progress of these planting efforts.
Delineation of plantations in the
forested area with optical RS data has
several constraints. Use of high
resolution SAR data has been very
useful in the delineation of different
type of plantations such as teak and
associated species in deciduous forest
areas.

National Programmes as well as

several corporates are investing

INDIVIDUAL TREE
DETECTION
IDENTIFICATION OF

CROWN
AND

FOREST OPENINGS

Forest edges are generally marked by

remnant trees and clearances.

Individual trees are considered as key

resources to sustainable livelihoods;
contribute to above and below ground
carbon stock and play a key role in
the regulation of nutrient cycling.
Forest clearances need to be

monitored for maintaining ecosystem

quality. Hence, an all-weather
observation tool is essential in
tropical forest context. It can be
realized with C-band high resolution
remote sensing for this purpose.

Fig.21 (A) RISAT-2- x-band VV

data (B) FCC of variance
(R),mean(G),Second moment
(B) generated from GLCM
matrix
Fig.22 (A)RISAT-2 X-band data
(B) Cartosat-1 data showing
individual tree crowns(C) FCC
of IRS-P6 LISS-IV data and (D)
RISAT-2 X-band data showing
forest openings

11.2

Crop

One of major applications of SAR data

is in the field of agriculture due to
non-availability of cloud free optical
data during the monsoon season and
presently,

High resolution

Mango-old, Mango-new, Subabul, Trees,

Water

Ur
ba
n

Water

Scrub land

Strip mode

Urban

Scrub
land

Spot mode

Plowed fields, Unplowed

SAR data is useful for delineating field

boundaries, analysis of inter-field

Fig.23Various

Crop

variability and discrimination crops.

Fields

11.3 AGRICULTURE
High resolution SAR data has potential
application in the field of agriculture
especially for generating field level
information.
R IS AT 2

DL R E S AR X

ICRISAT Office

Fig.24
fields

various

11.4 Floods
Identification of flood inundated
areas and
of flood
DL R Eestimation
S AR C
damages are very crucial and difficult
tasks to achieve during/after a flood
wave. Flood mapping is one of the
successful applications of SAR data in
providing a synoptic view of the flood
affected area due to its ability to
penetrate through clouds. SAR data
also helps in monitoring the flood
situation at regular intervals of time.

DL R E S AR L

ICRISAT Office

Mango Subabul Trees Plowed land Urban Water

agricultural

To reduce the impact of flood disaster

on human life and property, various
flood
control
measures
are
implemented to protect the vulnerable
areas. The major thrust was given for
structural
measures
such
as
construction of embankments and
spurs. Monitoring of these flood control
structures are planned by flood control
departments to identify the vulnerable
river reaches after the flood recedes.
High resolution SAR data helps in
monitoring the vulnerability of these
structures and plan for future flood
control structures.

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