Luca Milani

In this work we propose a model for the Probability Density Function (PDF) of the elevation angle and the PDF of the attenuation conditioned to the elevation angle at W-band and in all-weather conditions. The proposed models are suitable to retrieve the PDF of the total attenuation at variable elevation for application to non-geostationary satellit...

The weather-forecast based Radio Meteorological Operation Planner (RMOP) model for the dynamical link-budget design in satellite communications at Ka-band is described and validated. For the first time, actual received Ka-band data from a deep-space satellite mission (Hayabusa2 mission from JAXA and supported by ESA) were available for operational...

Ground-based microwave radiometer (MWR) observations of downwelling brightness temperature (TB) are commonly used to estimate atmospheric attenuation at relative transparent channels for radio propagation and telecommunication purposes. The atmospheric attenuation is derived from TB by inverting the radiative transfer equation with a priori knowled...

Ground-based microwave radiometer (MWR) observations of downwelling brightness temperature (TB) are commonly used to estimate the atmospheric attenuation at relative transparent channels for radiopropagation and telecommunication purposes. The atmospheric attenuation is derived from TB by inverting the radiative transfer equation with a priori know...

An improved weather-forecast-based link-budget design technique for space-to-Earth links is described. The aim is the stochastic optimization of both transmission symbol rate and received signal-to-noise ratio. The proposed radiometeorological operations prediction (RadioMetOP) model takes into account the forecast uncertainty by a space–time ensem...

An anomaly detection and estimation technique, using a pixel-based modified version of the Kalman temporal filter, is presented. To detect the anomalies of the observed variable, the proposed Kalman-based anomaly masking (KAM) algorithm relies on the background state models of the expected measurement cycle of each pixel in nominal (abnormal) condi...

In the framework of the PROBA -V Mission Exploitation Platform (PROBA-V MEP), the “Detection of fires and burned areas” research activity is part of the PROBA-V MEP Third Party Services aimed at better facilitating the exploitation of PROBA-V data across the EO open science community. Progressive Systems carried out this research activity dedicated...

A multispectral temporal-based remote sensing technique based on a modified Kalman filter is presented for clear-air detection by using Geostationary visible-infrared radiometric passive measurements. The Kalman estimate relies on a model of the daily measurement cycle of the considered pixel in clear-sky conditions. If the measurement significantl...

Sun-tracking (ST) microwave radiometry is a technique where the Sun is used as a microwave signal source and it is here rigorously summarized. The antenna noise temperature of a ground-based microwave radiometer is measured by alternately pointing toward-the-Sun and off-the-Sun while tracking it along its diurnal ecliptic. During clear sky the brig...

The optimization of the received data volume is one of the key objectives of deep-space missions. Recently, the Ka-band is being investigated for its possible employment as complementary channel of X-band that, to date, is one of the more diffuse for deep-space transmissions. In this context, Bepi Colombo (the ESA mission to Mercury planned in 2018...

Sun-tracking microwave radiometry is a groundbased technique where the Sun is used as a beacon source. The atmospheric antenna noise temperature is measured by alternately pointing toward-the-Sun and off-the-Sun according to a beam switching strategy. By properly developing an ad hoc processing algorithm, we can estimate the atmospheric path attenu...

Sun-tracking millimeter-wave radiometry exploits the Sun as a beacon source by tracking it along its diurnal ecliptic. The atmospheric brightness temperature is measured by alternately pointing toward-the-Sun and off-the-Sun according to ad hoc switching strategy. By properly developing a retrieval algorithm, we can estimate the atmospheric path at...

The increasing demand for high data rate services of space exploration missions lead to the designation of the downlink Ka frequency band (31.8 – 32.3 GHz) as the standard for deep space telecommunications. This paved the way to a new era of deep space exploration programs, with respect to the more conventional X frequency band (~8.4 GHz). This cho...