JP2001266119A - Celestrial body observation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To promote the diversification of operations with simple constitution and to realize highly reliable and highly precise observation. SOLUTION: First to third space navigation bodies 10, 11 and 12 are installed at the different altitudes A, B and C of the same orbit face in the orbit of the earth. The first to third space navigation bodies 10, 11 and 12 obtain picture data A, B and C of desired observation areas in the earth 9 and the earth is observed based on picture data A, B and C.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an astronomical observation system for acquiring image data of an observation area of an astronomical object such as the earth and observing the astronomical object.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an astronomical observation system of this type has an altitude of 400 km in order to observe the global environment.
An artificial satellite is deployed in a regression or non-regression orbit of about 1000 km from the satellite, and image data of the surface of the earth, the ocean, etc. is acquired by imaging means such as an imaging camera or a synthetic aperture radar mounted on the artificial satellite to perform earth observation. Earth observation systems are known. In such an earth observation system, when an artificial satellite orbits and arrives at a desired observation area, its imaging means is driven and controlled to take an image of the observation area and acquire image data of the ground surface, the ocean, and the like. Is performed.

When the above-mentioned earth observation system performs observation of a local area, first, a wide field of view of an imaging means is taken, and a wide area is imaged.
The low-resolution general image data is acquired, and a local region to be observed is specified based on the general image data. afterwards,
A method has been adopted in which a local region specified based on the schematic image data is imaged using a high-resolution imaging unit, and high-resolution image data is obtained to observe the local region.

However, in the above-described method, it is difficult to align the mutual image data between the general image data of the wide area and the image data of the local area to be specified, and the handling including its operation is extremely difficult. The problem is that it is troublesome. Further, according to this, there is a problem that the reliability of observation is deteriorated due to a difference in resolution between the acquired rough image data of a wide area and the image data of the local area.

[0005]

As described above, the conventional astronomical observation system has a problem that handling including operation thereof is very troublesome and the reliability of the observation is low.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can be simplified in configuration to promote diversification of operation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a astronomical observation system that can easily and easily realize highly reliable and accurate observation.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a plurality of space vehicles deployed at different altitudes in the same orbital plane around the celestial body, and mounted on the plurality of space vehicles, Image acquisition means for acquiring image data of observation targets having different resolutions, and setting the observation area by operating the plurality of space vehicles based on the image data for each of the plurality of space vehicles acquired by the image acquisition means The astronomical observation system is configured to include an operating means for performing the operation.

According to the above configuration, the image acquiring means of a plurality of space vehicles image the same observation point from the same orbit around the celestial body at different periods to acquire image data, and details of the same observation point are obtained. It is possible to realize observations over a wide range almost simultaneously. Therefore, image processing including alignment of image data is facilitated, the handling thereof can be simplified, and various image data can be easily obtained. In addition, it is possible to improve the reliability of observation.

Further, the present invention is configured so that the plurality of space vehicles operate at a constant surface velocity. According to this, by observing the same observation point with the image acquiring means of each spacecraft, it is possible to acquire detailed image data in a short cycle and acquire image data of a wide area in a long cycle. Can diversify observations.

[0010] The present invention also provides the image acquisition means,
The system is configured to acquire image data at a different cycle for each altitude of a plurality of space vehicles. According to this, by observing the same observation point by the image acquisition means of each spacecraft, it is possible to selectively acquire image data of details and a wide area at different periods, thereby diversifying the observation. Can be achieved.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an astronomical observation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 2, the third spacecraft 10, 11, and 12 are deployed at different altitudes A, B, and C in the same orbit plane of the orbit of the earth 9 as shown in FIG. It sails at a constant speed. As a result, the first to third spacecrafts 10, 11, and 12 move in the same orbital planes at the same observation point X, and there is a time difference according to the altitudes A, B, and C. The distance is different,
The number of times of passing through the same observation point X in the order of the altitude A, the altitude B, and the altitude C is reduced.

The first to third space vehicles 1
0, 11 and 12 are operation control units 13 provided in the ground station.
In response to commands from the operation control unit 13, for example, different altitudes A, B, and C on the same orbital plane are set to the same plane speed in response to commands from the operation control unit 13. It is sailed by.

The first to third space vehicles 10, 1
Similarly, an imaging unit (not shown) is mounted on each of the imaging units 1 and 12.
A, B, and C image data (see FIG. 4) of different regions A, B, and C (see FIG. 3) are obtained by photographing the same observation point of
For example, the data is transmitted as mission data to the observation unit 14 provided at the ground station.

The observation section 14 has its output end connected to the first to third image processing sections 15, 16 and 17, and is transmitted from the first to third space vehicles 10, 11 and 12. A, B, and C image data are converted into first to third image processing units 1
5, 16 and 17. As the imaging unit (not shown), an imaging camera, a synthetic aperture radar, and the like are appropriately set and mounted according to the observation target.

A, B, C transmitted to the observation unit 14
The image data includes the first to third space vehicles 10, 1
It depends on the number of times 1, 12 pass through the same observation point,
The data amount is increased in the order of the altitudes A, B, and C.

The first to third image processing units 1
A database 18 is connected to 5, 16, and 17, and the input A, B, and C image data is subjected to signal processing and stored in the database 18. Here, the database 18 contains
For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the data amount differs depending on the altitudes A, B, and C. A large number of A image data corresponding to the altitude A are stored, and the B image data corresponding to the altitude B is the A image data. Less data is stored and its altitude C
Is stored in a smaller amount of C image data than B image data.

A recognition judging unit 19 is connected to the database 18. This recognition processing unit 19 is configured as shown in FIG.
The reference points a, b, c, d of the A image data, the reference points a1, b1, c1, d1 of the B image data, and the B image The reference points A, I, U, and E of the data match the reference points A1, I1, U1, and E1 of the C image data, and mutual image data recognition is performed.

The first to third image processing units 1
5, 16, 17 include first to third operation planning units 20,
21 and 22 are connected, and the A, B, and C image data subjected to the image processing is converted into first to third operation planning units 20, 21, and 22.
Output to The first to third operation planning units 20, 2
1 and 22, the operator drafts each spacecraft operation control based on the input A, B, C image data, and transmits the operation control information to the first to third via the operation control unit 13. The first to third space vehicles 10, 11, 12 are transmitted to the space vehicles 10, 11, 12 to control the operation.

For example, the first to third operation planning units 20 and 2
1, 22 are the first to third space vehicles 10, 1, respectively.
Based on the above A, B, and C image data, 1, 12 are operated at different altitudes in the same orbital plane at a constant surface speed in the same direction, or navigate in the opposite direction to acquire image data as described above. Operation control.

Further, the first to third image processing units 1
First, second, third, and third display devices 23, 24, and 25 are connected to 5, 16, and 17, respectively. The first to third display devices 23, 24, and 25 selectively display the A, B, and C image data generated by the first to third image processing units 15, 16, and 17, respectively, to display the image data. Realize image recognition.

In the above configuration, the database 18 stores the first to third A-C image data having different resolutions (fields of view) in the desired observation areas obtained by the first to third space vehicles 10 and 11. Image processing units 15, 16, 17
Is stored via Then, when observing the target observation target, the operator calls and displays the A to C image data stored in the database 18 on the recognition determination unit 19, and, for example, as described above, the reference point in each image data is The observation target is recognized and determined by matching so as to match.

Then, the operator operates the first to third display devices 23, 24, 25 as necessary to photograph the first to third space vehicles 10, 11, and 12A.
~ C image data is displayed, and the observation target is determined by directly recognizing the image data.

As described above, the astronomical observation system has different altitudes A, B, and C on the same orbit plane in the orbit around the earth.
A, B, and C images of a desired observation area of the earth 9 are provided by the first to third space vehicles 10, 11, and 12, respectively. The system is configured to acquire data and perform earth observation based on the A, B, and C image data.

According to this, A, B, and C image data obtained by imaging the same observation point from the same orbit at different periods are obtained, and observation over a wide range from the details of the same observation point can be realized substantially simultaneously. This facilitates image processing including alignment of A, B, and C image data, simplifies the handling thereof, and enables acquisition of various image data, thereby diversifying the observation form. At the same time, the reliability of the observation is improved.

In the above embodiment, a description will be given of a case where the first to third space vehicles 10, 11, and 12 are arranged at different altitudes in the same orbit plane of the orbit as orbits around the earth. However, without being limited to this,
It can be configured to be deployed in a geosynchronous orbit depending on the observation target, and substantially the same effect is expected.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the data is temporarily stored in the database 18 and then called and observed by the recognition determination unit 19, but the present invention is not limited to this. To the third image processing unit 15, 1
The A, B, and C image data generated in steps 6 and 17 may be directly output to the recognition determination unit 19 to perform observation.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the earth 9 is observed as environmental observation. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to observation of other celestial bodies. Similar effects are expected.

Therefore, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0030]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the configuration can be simplified to promote the diversification of operation, and moreover, the observation can be performed easily, with high reliability and high accuracy. An astronomical observation system that can be realized can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an astronomical observation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a deployed state of first to third space vehicles deployed at different altitudes in the same orbit plane of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an imaging region in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the image data of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram shown for explaining a storage state of the database of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a recognition procedure of a recognition determination unit in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 9 ... the earth. 10 The first spacecraft. 11 The second spacecraft. 12 The third spacecraft. 13: Operation management unit. 14 ... Observation unit. 15: First image processing unit. 16 Second image processing unit. 17: Third image processing unit. 18 ... Database. 19 ... Recognition determination unit. 20 ... 1st operation planning department. 21: Second operation planning department. 22 ... Third operation planning department. 23 ... first display device. 24 Second display device. 25 ... third display device.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of space vehicles deployed at different altitudes in the same orbital plane of a celestial body orbit, and image data of an observation target mounted on the plurality of space vehicles and having different resolutions according to each altitude. And an operating means for operating the plurality of space vehicles and setting an observation area based on the image data for each of the plurality of space vehicles obtained by the image obtaining means. An astronomical observation system characterized by the following. 2. The astronomical observation system according to claim 1, wherein the operating means operates the plurality of spacecraft at a constant surface velocity. 3. The astronomical observation system according to claim 1, wherein the image acquiring unit acquires image data at a different cycle for each of the plurality of spacecrafts at different altitudes. 4. The astronomical observation system according to claim 1, further comprising storage means for storing the image data acquired by said image acquisition means in a hierarchical structure. 5. The astronomical observation system according to claim 1, wherein the astronomical object is the earth.