Monitoring of hazardous chemical deposition at either underground sites or in the atmosphere with the aid of a remote, chemical-sensing network that is satellite-based

This paper addresses preliminary system engineering for a disposable, remote, chemical-sensing network. This network could interconnect a satellite hub, LEO (low Earth orbiting) satellites, remote sensors, and a fiber optic interface that interlinks remote chemical sensors, situated underground in aquifers or directly beneath hazardous chemical/waste disposal sites, with remote transmitter/receivers on the Earth's surface. Some essential technical considerations as to orbital analysis, telemetry, satellite transponder access, modulation techniques, antenna selection, criteria for remote power, hardware tradeoffs, and the execution of a feasibility study of the proposed network via primarily a link budget analysis are then evaluated. This network is suited either to detect hazardous chemicals in the atmosphere or underground.