Interferometric baseline design and performance evaluation for 3-dimensional formation flying SAR satellites system

The orbital elements determination method for 3-demensional Formation-flying SAR satellites system is developed, basing on the closed form solution to the free orbit movements acquired from Kepler's equation. The quantificational relationship between the interferometric baseline, the orbital elements and formation configuration parameters is induced. The general baseline design approach is proposed, basing on the analysis of critical space baseline and critical time baseline. Typical configurations are selected for the L-band FF-SAR satellite systems, including circular configuration, circular horizontal projection configuration and linear horizontal projection. The efficiency of the baseline design technique is validated by the computer simulation results with measurement accuracy of terrain height and velocity.