Conceptual scenarios for development of ground infrastructure for receiving mission payload data from a perspective Earth remote sensing satellite constellation

In view of the considerable number of elements in space and ground segments of a heterogeneous space ERS system, a mechanism is required for developing its concepts with obtaining refined baseline data for determining measures to optimize the ERS ground segment configuration geography-wise and outfit receiving systems for receiving mission payload data from high-performance ERS satellites. The development trends for equipment and technologies for transmitting ERS mission payload data are given, in particular the status of the high data rate optical backbone network in order to determine possible locations for ground segment elements of a space ERS system. Indicators are introduced which systemically characterize the capabilities of a wide-area network of remote sensing data receiving stations. Based on the obtained data, system-level patterns were determined in the development of the ground segment for receiving the ERS mission payload data depending on the state of the ERS satellite constellation, driving further development of strategy for the ERS ground infrastructure.