In: Wagner W., Székely, B. (eds.): ISPRS ТС VII Symposium - 100 Years ISPRS, Vienna, Austria, July 5-7, 2010, IAPRS, Vol. XXXVIII, Part 7B 
592 
PROSPECTIVE SPACE MISSIONS WITH L-BAND MICROWAVE 
RADIOMETRIC SYSTEMS 
Yu. Tishchenko 3 , V. Savorskiy 3 , M. Smirnov 3 , V. Ablyazov b , A. Khaldin b 
a Fryazino Department, Kotelnikov Institute of Radioengineering and Electronics, RAS, 
Vvedenskogo sq., 1, Fryazino, Moscow region, 141190, Russia - (savor, tishchen)@ire.rssi.ru 
b Special Design Bureau of the Institute of Radioengineering and Electronics RAS, 
Vvedenskogo sq., 1, Fryazino, Moscow region, 141190, Russia - ahaldin@sdb.ire.rssi.ru 
Commission VII, Working Group VII/5 
KEY WORDS: microwave radiometric systems, scientific programs, remote sensing, decimeter waves, small satellite, Russian 
segment of International Space Station. 
ABSTRACT: 
Prospective Russian space missions include aims directed in developing and enhancing Earth remote sensing techniques by means of 
microwave radiometry. New L-band (wavelength about 21 cm) microwave radiometric systems for space applications are 
constructed in the Special Design Bureau of the Institute of Radioengineering and Electronics RAS. Scientific programs of 
experiments with these instruments, which incorporate numerous proposals of Russian scientific organizations, are prepared in the 
Institute of Radioengineering and Electronics RAS. The main goals of scientific programs are: development of radio physical Earth 
remote sensing methods from space in L-band for investigation of physical events and processes in earth surface-atmosphere system; 
investigation of external factors (galaxy emission, ionosphere, etc.) impact into measured parameters of investigated objects; 
analysis of radio interference problems; development of new techniques for processing of data with different space resolution. 
1. INTRODUCTION 
Theoretical and experimental investigations show that L-band 
radiometry is very prospective (optimal) for soil moisture and 
sea surface salinity investigations. These measurements 
practically not influenced by weather conditions in the 
atmosphere. Now one of the most important problems for L- 
band radiometry is the problem of radio interference (RFI). RFI 
may be not so important in open ocean region, but are very 
strong in urban areas. The second important problem consists in 
necessity to make relatively large antenna for reasonable spatial 
resolution of the instrument. 
Despite this difficulties interest to investigations with use of 
microwave radiometers in this band is very high. One of the 
most powerful L-band instruments launched several months ago 
is European project SMOS [1]. It contains very sofisticated 
interferometric imaging radiometer MIRAS with synthetic 
aperture antenna. In USA under developments is a project 
SMAP with combination of microwave radiometer and 
scatterometer [2]. In Russia under development are simpler 
microwave radiometers for small satellite and for Russian 
segment of International Space Station (ISS) [3]. Time of 
SMOS and our instruments operation may overlap and it should 
provide the possibility to compare some results. 
2. SPACE L-BAND MICROWAVE RADIOMETRIC 
SYSTEMS 
Leading scientific organization for creation of payload for two 
space projects with use of L-band radiometers is Kotelnikov 
Institute of Radioengineering and Electronics of RAS (IRE 
RAS). Head design organization of these radiometric systems is 
Special Design Bureau of IRE RAS (SDB IRE RAS). 
The first creating radiometric system PN1 consists of L-band 
microwave radiometer with 2 beams antenna. It is compact 
module and will be attached to the outer side of the small 
satellite (planed launching - 2010). General specification of the 
instrument is presented in the middle column of Table 1. 
PN1 
ALRS 
Main frequency, 
MHz 
1410 
1410 
Bandwidth, MHz 
20 
20 
Radiometric 
sensitivity, K 
0,2-0,3 
0,2-0,3 
Polarization 
linear 
linear 
Number of beams 
2 
8 
FOW, km 
350 
50 
Swath width (at 
orbit height 350 
km), km 
700 
400 
Power consumption, 
VA 
<60 
120 
Weight, kg 
< 13 
35 
Size, mm 
radiomete 
400x300x50 
r 
800x510 
1200x1920 
antenna