Every satellite orbiting and observing the Earth uses a satellite bus to carry all necessary electronic equipment. Satellite buses are the main structural components of satellites, in charge of scientific instruments, aka payload.
For example, a bus for Earth Observation Satellites (EOS) will carry scientific equipment suitable for its specific mission goals — usually, special cameras that provide wide-spectrum pictures of our planet, its atmospheric and water levels.
Obviously, the more we know about Earth, the better we can predict what will happen with the weather and climate. Knowing these things, we can prevent natural disasters, thus ensuring that our future generations will have a safer planet to live on.
What Is Satellite-Based Earth Observation?
With the help of EOS, we observe our planet’s chemical, biological, and physical processes. Earth-observing satellites and their buses use remote sensing technology and send images to the ground. They assess and monitor any changes in industrial and natural surroundings.
Technologies based in space, such as EOS and their sensor-carrying buses, deliver the most reliable coverage datasets on repeat. Scientists on the ground combine this data with the development and research of tested methods to find out more about what’s happening with our planet. Examples of satellite-based Earth observations include monitoring the evolution and current state of our planet’s climate or assessing a crisis during extreme weather.
Using the most accurate and reliable information gathered by EOS, we can forecast weather, analyze the effects of any natural or industrial disasters on our environment, etc. As a result, we can study and possibly alleviate climate change consequences, too. Today, EOS technologies are the most efficient at helping us protect our planet, even if sometimes costly.
What Are Satellite Buses for Earth Observation?
All EOS have a satellite bus that’s developed for specific technical needs. The bus is a central controller with many remote terminals. Terminals receive commands and read sensors to send the results back to ground controllers.
To make Earth observations in real-time, satellite buses used for this purpose need to transfer and distribute time data very fast. Scientists on the ground need valid and accurate data to make assumptions about how the weather will change when there’s a hurricane, a tsunami, or when weather manifests itself extremely in certain parts of our planet.
A satellite bus for EOS is rigorously tested before going on a mission. If this bus fails to function during a natural disaster, then the entire spacecraft structure would no longer function. If a bus can no longer transmit or record data in times of crisis because it is faulty, rescue operations would turn into chaos. Luckily, space companies build some of the most reliable satellite buses for Earth observation.
What Kind of Observations Can Be Made by Satellites Orbiting Earth?
EOS satellite bus system often relies on optical sensors to measure ground surface temperatures, vegetative conditions, cloud conditions, ground elevation, water distribution, etc.
Active microwave sensors measure water distribution, ground elevation, vegetative, and cloud conditions. When it comes to passive microwave bus sensors, they measure sea surface temperatures, cloud conditions, or ground surface temperatures.
Today, we use many different types of EOS spacecraft. And we distinguish these satellites according to the sensors that they carry. For example, sensors with a 185 km swath width and 30 meters spatial resolution identify objects that have 30 meters in width and 30 meters in length in a wide area of 185 km.
There are many other EOS types using satellite bus technology with different kinds of sensors, of course. Here, a lot will depend on mission goals — cyclone monitoring, changing ocean levels, pollution control, etc. All of these EOS examples will carry slightly different sensors to best cope with their goals. And these sensors are a major part of spacecraft bus payload.
