Cost-Benefit Analysis of Global Disaster Monitoring Architectures with an On-Orbit Servicing Depot

This paper proposes a framework for the cost/benefit analysis of global disaster monitoring constellation architectures that is operated in two modes: normal weather monitoring mode and disaster monitoring mode. Three architectures are proposed for quantitative cost/benefit analysis: 1) an independent weather monitoring satellite constellation and disposable disaster monitoring satellites, 2) dual-mode satellite constellations supported by an on-orbit fuel depot, and 3) dual-mode satellite constellations without the support of an on-orbit fuel depot. The development, production, and launching costs are calculated by analogic and parametric cost estimations, while the frequency of mode-changes is used as a pseudo metric for benefit. The comparison of iso-performance architectures indicates that the dual-mode satellite constellation without the depot is mostly dominated by the other two concepts. The analysis also indicates that the dual-mode satellite constellation costs less when the frequency of mode-changes is highly required, while disposable disaster monitoring satellites costs less when the frequency of mode-changes is less required. The effects of altitude of the normal mode orbit and the number of satellites in the disaster mode orbit on the total cost of a system are also investigated. The paper is concluded by a summary of findings and suggestions for future work.