ALISIO-1 (Advanced Land-Imaging Satellite for Infrared Observations)

Quick facts

Overview

Summary

Mission Capabilities

ALISIO-1 was developed as an extension to IAC’s initial DRAGO-1 (Demonstrator for Remote Analysis of Ground Observations) mission, and to host the improved DRAGO-2 camera, which offers even more precise characterisations compared to its first generation. ALISIO’s primary mission is to assess the atmosphere, monitor wildfires, desertification and other severe environmental consequences, and create a data archive that can aid in implementing environmental management plans. 

Performance Specifications

The satellite sits in a low Earth, sun-synchronous orbit (LEO, SSO) at 553.2-565.5 km. It has an orbital inclination of 97.6° and orbital period of 95.7 minutes. 
DRAGO-2 observes the Earth in Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) of bands 1.1 and 1.6 microns, with a ground sampling distance (GSD) of 50 m and swath width of 32 km. 

Space and Hardware Components

For communications and data downlink, ALISIO-1 hosts two dual-patch S-Band antennas. The satellite is also equipped with a Laser Communications Terminal operating in the optical light band. 

ALISIO-1 is a 6U cubesat, weighing just under 10 kg. The spacecraft is powered by batteries and a configuration of solar panels, including a single deployable panel, a double deployable panel, and body-mounted panels, which can together produce up to 75 W of power under optimal conditions.
 

Overview

The Advanced Land-Imaging Satellite for Infrared Observations (ALISIO-1) is an Earth observation satellite, developed under the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IACTEC), in collaboration with Open Cosmos, Deimos and D-Orbit. The microsatellite will monitor wildfires, desertification, humidity in crops, floods, ocean spills, and other climate change phenomena with heightened accuracy. The time-based data will help refine environmental models and develop climate crisis plans for natural catastrophes. 1)2)

ALISIO-1 was developed after the success of IAC’s first DRAGO-1 camera which, with its small interface, was able to capture two bands within the short-wave infrared (SWIR) region. Until DRAGO-1, the collection of SWIR images had depended upon large satellites such as the Sentinel-2, as such the aim of DRAGO-1 was to complement the capacity of these large satellites. The compact design demonstrated large cost reduction and potential for further refinement, through which the multi-purpose DRAGO-2 camera was conceived. The ALISIO-1 satellite was developed to host the DRAGO-2 camera, and is a commitment from the Canary Islands to scientific and technological observation of their unique microclimatic regions.

Spacecraft

ALISIO-1 is a 6U cubesat, measuring 300 x 200 x 100 mm and weighing 9.7 kg. The spacecraft is powered by batteries and a configuration of solar panels, including a single deployable panel, a double deployable panel, and body-mounted panels, which can together produce up to 75 W of power under optimal conditions. 3)

The satellite was also used to verify the technologies used by Open Cosmos in building, testing and operating satellites, with data recorded throughout its lifetime. This data logging aspect will allow problems in satellite parts to be identified and resolved at a quicker rate, enhancing the company’s future space missions, increasing reliability and affordability. 4)

Launch

ALISIO-1 was launched on the 1st of December 2023 aboard SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, United States. It orbits in a low Earth, sun-synchronous orbit (LEO, SSO) at an altitude of 553.2-565.5 km. It has an orbital inclination of 97.6° and orbital period of 95.7 minutes. 6) 7) 8)

Mission Status

• February 16, 2024: The first images obtained by ALISIO-1 are presented at a press conference, attended by President of The Canary Islands Government, Fernando Clavijo. 9)

• December 1, 2023: ALISIO-1 is launched aboard Space X’s Falcon-9 rocket.
• January, 2023: DRAGO-2 camera is tested aboard D-Orbit’s satellite carrier ION-SCV 007 Glorious Gratia, on the mission Second Star to the Right. 9)
• February 25, 2022: IATEC announces the start of manufacturing ALISIO-1 at the Spanish Small Satellites International Forum, which will host the next generation ground observing camera DRAGO-2, after exemplary results with the DRAGO-1 camera. 10)
• January 24, 2021: DRAGO-1 is launched on the satellite carrier ION-mk02 by D-Orbit.

Sensor Complement

DRAGO-2 Camera

The second Demonstrator for Remote Analysis of Ground Observations (DRAGO-2) camera is a very small payload which minimises power usage. The camera spans 96 x 96 x 170 mm and weighs only 1160 g. It does not require cooling and can safely operate between −20°C and 60°C, saving the satellite up to 60% of power consumption and using less than 5.5 W to operate. 11)

DRAGO-2’s lens was designed by ASE Optics Europe and observes the Earth in Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) of bands 1.1 and 1.6 microns, with a ground sampling distance (GSD) of 50 m and swath width of 32 km.

Additionally, the camera can independently compress, encrypt and decrypt captured photos. It provides high-resolution images with a SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) greater than 100 for albedo greater than 0.2, forming an efficient and accurate instrument for the mission. 12)

The DRAGO-2 is modelled off its predecessor, DRAGO-1, launched aboard ION-mk02 by D-Orbit, whose success spearheaded the development of the ALISIO mission and its instruments. DRAGO-1 was able to support wild-fire monitoring, desertification and volcanic eruption control. Following suit, DRAGO-2 has captured images of mountains in Turkmenistan and rivers in Queensland, Australia. 13)

CubeLCT (Laser Communications Terminal)

ALISIO-1’s Laser Communications Terminal spans only 90 x 95 x 35 mm, making it one of the world's most compact laser terminals. Weighing just 397 g with a 3 year lifetime in low-Earth orbit, the maximum power it consumes peaks at 10 W, making the instrument both weight and power efficient.

The terminal marks the beginning of a new Space-Earth communication tech, implementing a system that transmits signals and data using light at much higher speeds and encryption compared to traditional satellites that employ radio waves. This terminal bidirectionally transmits collected data to ground stations with a 60 cm aperture. It receives signals in the L-band (1590 nm) at a channel rate of 1 Mbps and downlinks in the Telecom C-band (1550 nm) at 100 Mbps. Additionally, the CubeLCT can attain atmospheric turbulence measurements and characteristics, enriching the data collected on the satellite. 14)

Ground Segment

IAC is developing their own ground station at their headquarters to receive ALISIO-1 data and communicate with the spacecraft. Until the ground station is established, Open Cosmos will operate the mission and extract data. The high-resolution SWIR data is downlinked at a greater velocity than radio and amplifies security and encryption in the process of receiving sensitive information.

Open Cosmos’ end-to-end management makes data available for access on the OpenConstellation platform, and also post-analysis via DataCosmos. 4) 15) 16)

References 

1) The countdown for the launch of ALISIO-1 has begun. Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias • IAC. Published November 2, 2023. Accessed March 12, 2024.https://www.iac.es/en/outreach/news/countdown-launch-alisio-1-has-begun

2) ALISIO 1. Gunter’s Space Page. Accessed March 12, 2024.https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/alisio-1.htm

3) Open Cosmos. Accessed March 12, 2024.https://www.open-cosmos.com/launches/alisio-1

4) Open Cosmos launches its fourth satellite of 2023. Capacity Media. Published December 13, 2023. Accessed March 12, 2024.https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2023/12/Artistic_impression_of_ALISIO-1_satellite_orbiting_Earth

6) Ford D. ALISIO-1. In-The-Sky.org. Accessed April 6, 2024.https://www.esa.int/Applications/Connectivity_and_Secure_Communications/Demonstrating_connectivity_s_latest_technologies

8) First observations of the Canary Islands satellite ALISIO-1 from space. Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias • IAC. Published February 16, 2024. Accessed March 12, 2024.https://www.iac.es/en/outreach/news/first-observations-canary-islands-satellite-alisio-1-space

9) DRAGO-2 makes its first observations from space | Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias • IAC. Published April 5, 2023. Accessed May 16, 2024.https://www.iac.es/en/outreach/news/drago-2-makes-its-first-observations-space

10) The second phase of the ALISIO-1 mission, which will take the latest version of the DRAGO infrared camera into space, gets under way. Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias • IAC. Published February 25, 2022. Accessed March 12, 2024.https://www.iac.es/en/outreach/news/second-phase-alisio-1-mission-which-will-take-latest-version-drago-infrared-camera-space-gets-under-way

11) DRAGO-2. IACTEC-Space. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://www.iac.es/system/files/documents/2022-05/DRAGO-2_data-sheet_2022_05_18.pdf

12) IACTEC Space. Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias • IAC. Published February 16, 2024. Accessed March 12, 2024.https://www.iac.es/en/projects/iactec-space

13) DRAGO unified data-sheet | Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias • IAC. Accessed May 16, 2024.https://www.iac.es/en/documents/drago-unified-data-sheet

14) CubeLCT - CubeSat Laser Communication Transmitter | satsearch. Accessed March 12, 2024.https://satsearch.co/products/tesat-cubelct

15) Hubilla CN. Open Cosmos Launches Its Fourth Earth Observation Satellite; ALISIO-1 to Monitor Volcanic Activity and Wildfires in the Canary Islands. Science Times. Published December 14, 2023. Accessed April 6, 2024.https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/47651/20231214/open-cosmos-launches-fourth-earth-observation-satellite-alisio-1-monitor.htm

16) Mission Booklet. D-Orbit. Accessed March 12, 2024. https://www.dorbit.space/media/4/66.pdf

17) Statement of Work and Technical Specification for the Procurement of ALISIO-1 Satellite, LIC-01-034. Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias • IAC. Issue revised June 15, 2021. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://contrataciondelestado.es/wps/wcm/connect/3ebb56ea-59c7-4e4d-adfc-ff03a37754f0/DOC202109221835082+1+Anexo+PPT+IACTEC+ALISIO+1500+MG+SPE+SoW+and+TS+for+ALISIO+1.pdf?MOD=AJPERES