Design of satellite constellations with continuous coverage on elliptic orbits of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Molniya</Emphasis> type

New methods of choosing the structures of satellite constellations (SC) on elliptical orbits of the Molniya type are presented. The methods, using critical inclination and putting the orbit apogee in the Earth’s hemisphere with an area of continuous coverage, are based on geometrical analysis of two-dimensional representation of the coverage conditions and SC motion in the space of inertial longitude of the orbit ascending node and time. The coverage conditions are represented in the form of a certain region. Dynamics of all satellites in this space is represented by uniform motion along a straight line approximately parallel to the ordinate axis, while the satellite system forms a grid. The problem of choosing a minimal (as far as the number of satellites is concerned) SC configuration can be formulated as a search for the most sparse grid. The contemporary advanced methods of computational geometry serve as an algorithmic basis for the problem solution. Design of SC for continuous coverage of latitude belts with the use of kinematically regular systems is considered. A method of analyzing single-track systems for continuous coverage of arbitrary geographic regions is described, which makes a region at any time instant observable by at least one satellite of the system. As an example, SC on elliptical orbits are considered with periods of ～4, 12, and 24 hours.     

Multiple continuous coverage of the earth based on multi-satellite systems with linear structure

A new and wider definition is given to multi-satellite systems with linear structure (SLS), and efficiency of their application to multiple continuous coverage of the Earth is substantiated. Owing to this widening, SLS have incorporated already well-recognized “polar systems” by L. Rider and W.S. Adams, “kinematically regular systems” by G.V. Mozhaev, and “delta-systems” by J.G. Walker, as well as “near-polar systems” by Yu.P. Ulybyshev, and some other satellite constellations unknown before. A universal method of SLS optimization is presented, valid for any values of coverage multiplicity and the number of satellites in a system. The method uses the criterion of minimum radius of a circle seen from a satellite on the surface of the globe. Among the best SLS found in this way there are both systems representing the well-known classes mentioned above and new orbit constellations of satellites.     

Analysis on coverage ability of BeiDou navigation satellite system for manned spacecraft

To investigate the service ability of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) for manned spacecraft, both the current regional and the future-planned global constellations of BDS are introduced and simulated. The orbital parameters of the International Space Station and China׳s Tiangong-1 spacelab are used to create the simulation scenario and evaluate the performance of the BDS constellations. The number of visible satellites and the position dilution (PDOP) of precision at the spacecraft-based receiver are evaluated. Simulation and analysis show quantitative results on the coverage ability and time percentages of both the current BDS regional and future global constellations for manned-space orbits which can be a guideline to the applications and mission design of BDS receivers on manned spacecraft.     

火星卫星的冻结轨道研究

冻结轨道是一种稳定的轨道,地球、火星、月球的卫星因引力场的南北不对称,都存在冻结轨道.由于主星体引力场的不同,它们卫星的冻结轨道也有不同的特性.地球卫星的冻结执道的偏心率非常小,对卫星遥感非常有利,国内外已有相当多的近地遥感卫星采用这种轨道.月球卫星的冻结轨道偏心率随轨道倾角的不同有很大的变化,对月球卫星冻结轨道的研究...     

Capabilities of Kinematically Regular Satellite Systems with Symmetry Groups of the Second Type in the Problem of Continuous Single Coverage of the Earth

The problem of a continuous single coverage of the Earth by systems of satellites in circular orbits of equal radii is considered. The results of calculating the characteristics of kinematically regular systems consisting of 6 to 60 satellites and possessing symmetry groups of the second type are presented. It is shown that, when the number of satellites varies from 20 to 38 inclusive, the best systems of this class surpass all currently known systems with respect to their characteristics.__________Translated from Kosmicheskie Issledovaniya, Vol. 43, No. 3, 2005, pp. 215–223.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Mozhaev.     

Mapping orbits with low station keeping costs for constellations of satellites based on the integral over the time of the perturbing forces

The present paper is concerned with the search for orbits that have potential to require low fuel consumption for station-keeping maneuvers for constellations of satellites. The method used to study this problem is based on the integral over the time of the undesired perturbing forces. This integral measures the change of velocity caused by the perturbation forces acting on the satellite, so mapping orbits that are less perturbed, which generates good candidates for orbits that requires low fuel consumption for station-keeping maneuvers. The integral over the time depends only on the orbit of the spacecraft and the dynamical system considered. The type of engine and the control technique applied to the spacecraft are not considered to search for those orbits. It can be a good strategy to be applied for a first mapping of orbits. For this search, it is analyzed the integral of orbits with different values of the Keplerian elements in order to find the best ones with respect to this criterion. The perturbations considered are the ones caused by the third body, which includes the Sun and the Moon, and the J₂ term of the geopotential. The results presented here show numerical simulations to obtain the integral of those perturbing forces for different orbits. The GPS and the Molniya constellations are used as examples for those calculations.     

面向飞行器自主导航的铱星/星链星座覆盖性及可见性分析

针对低轨星座机会信号导航中单星座构型和可见星数无法同时满足高精度、高可用性的难题,基于铱星、星链轨道参数,建立了单星座和混合星座模型,探究了各个星座覆盖重数、覆盖率及飞行器对上述星座的可见性。研究结果表明：飞行器可见星数随飞行高度增加而减少,随飞行器最小观测仰角增大而减少,星链和铱星的融合可显著增加纬度60°以上区域可见星数。铱星对全球不同纬度、不同时间具有100%全覆盖;星链目前覆盖区域向两极拓展,对全球覆盖重数最大为56,最小为0,未实现全球不同纬度、全时段100%的覆盖率,但中国区域星链覆盖率均优于美国区域。星链和铱星的混合星座使全球覆盖重数优于10,不同纬度、不同时间覆盖率达到100%,显著优于单星座。     

一种低轨卫星星座覆盖性能通用评价准则

针对不同构形卫星星座的统一评价问题,提出了一种低轨星座覆盖性能的通用评价准则,可对不同构形和不同高度的星座对地覆盖性能进行统一评价。该准则将星座的对地仰角特性转化为具有相同覆盖能力的标准卫星数,以之同星座中实际卫星数的比值作为星座覆盖性能指数对星座实施评价。利用该评价准则,计算了Iridium、Globalstar、Celestri和NeLS四种星座构形覆盖性能的评价指数并提出了改进方法。     

Novel mission concepts for polar coverage: An overview of recent developments and possible future applications

The paper provides a survey of novel mission concepts for continuous, hemispheric polar observation and direct-link polar telecommunications. It is well known that these services cannot be provided by traditional platforms: geostationary satellites do not cover high-latitude regions, while low- and medium-orbit Sun-synchronous spacecraft only cover a narrow swath of the Earth at each passage. Concepts that are proposed in the literature are described, including the pole-sitter concept (in which a spacecraft is stationary above the pole), spacecraft in artificial equilibrium points in the Sun–Earth system and non-Keplerian polar Molniya orbits. Additionally, novel displaced eight-shaped orbits at Lagrangian points are presented. For many of these concepts, a continuous acceleration is required and propulsion systems include solar electric propulsion, solar sail and a hybridisation of the two. Advantages and drawbacks of each mission concept are assessed, and a comparison in terms of high-latitude coverage and distance, spacecraft mass, payload and lifetime is presented. Finally, the paper will describe a number of potential applications enabled by these concepts, focusing on polar Earth observation and telecommunications.     

Observations in the thermal IR and visible of a retired satellite in the graveyard orbit,and comparisons to active satellites in GEO

There exists a population of defunct satellites in the geo-stationary arc that potentially pose a hazard to current and future operational satellites. These drifting, non-station-kept objects have a variety of ages and sizes, and many are trapped in libration orbits around the Earth?s two gravitational potential wells (the non-spherical nature of the Earth gives rise to two geo-potential wells or “stable points” that affect objects in geostationary and geosynchronous orbits), whereas others were boosted to higher altitudes into so-called “graveyard” orbits.     

卫星星座的相对几何和区域覆盖重复周期

研究了在设计δ星座或者由几个δ星座的某些卫星构成的星座时经常需要考虑的三个问题：任意两颗卫星是否在同一条星下点轨迹上，同一条星下点轨迹上的卫星通过某一区域的相对顺序和星座对某特定区域或地点覆盖重复周期的计算。首先对δ星座中卫星之间的相对几何关系做了详细的分析，给出了第一个问题的判断准则，并进一步导出了位于同一条星下点轨迹上的卫星通过某一指定地区的相对顺序以及相应的时间间隔的计算方法。在解决前两个问题的基础上，针对由一个或几个δ星座(或子星座)构成的设计星座，给出了计算其区域覆盖重复周期的方法。     

New generation of infrared horizon scanning sensors for low altitude spacecraft

The STD 12 infrared horizon scanning sensor is designed for attitude control, with respect to Earth, of three-axis stabilized satellites in low altitude Earth orbits. The operational accuracy is better than 0.1 arc degree.After presenting the attitude measurement performance required for the SPOT platform, the STD 12 concept is described and the results of qualification and life tests are given.     

Tropical Earth Resources Satellite: is the investment warranted?

All existing and planned Earth observation satellites have near-polar orbits (hence global coverage), but the Tropical Earth Resources Satellite (TERS) will have a true equatorial orbit at 1681 km. The TERS, conceived for the equatorial countries and Indonesia in particular, complements the existing and planned remote sensing satellites and will enable the monitoring of critical processes, such as food production, conservation of the national environment and land usage. The swath-width of the high resolution multispectral instrument can be pointed anywhere between latitude 10°N and 10°S, offering the tropical countries an opportunity to observe any part of their territory four times a day during daylight. A forward looking cloud sensor detects which areas are free of clouds and the pushbroom optical instrument will be pointed to specific clear areas. It is expected that the benefits of the monitoring capability warrant the investment in TERS.     

Kinematics of relative motion of two space bodies in close almost circular orbits

The paper is dedicated to a qualitative investigation of relative motion and close convergences of two space bodies located in close almost circular orbits. This problem is topical due to the asteroid hazard originating from the NEA group asteroids located in the orbits close to that of the Earth. P.E. El’yasberg [1] considered similar problems in the 1960s in relation to Earth’s artificial satellites in close almost circular orbits.     

通信卫星灵活载荷技术综述

通信卫星逐步由高轨地球同步轨道卫星向高、中、低轨结合的全球覆盖卫星方向发展，多业务和多重覆盖的发展趋势对通信卫星的灵活性提出了更高的要求。通信卫星配备灵活载荷已经成为重要发展方向，对面向个人用户的高通量通信卫星及高、中、低轨结合的组网通信卫星来说尤为重要。配备灵活载荷的通信卫星能实现端到端业务，能灵活调整覆盖区，实现灵活组网，并提升资源利用率。分析了国内外通信卫星灵活载荷的发展动态，介绍了通信卫星灵活载荷的技术特点，并给出了有效载荷方案，最后阐述了通信卫星灵活载荷发展的关键技术及发展思路。     

On the features of long-term evolution of a high-apogee orbit of the SPECTR-R spacecraft

The practical tasks related to qualitative investigation of long-term evolution of high-apogee orbits of artificial Earth satellites (AES), for which the main perturbing factors are gravitational perturbations from the Moon and the Sun, are considered. Attention is given to the problem of the ballistic lifetime of similar orbits, and the issues associated with possibilities of the correction of orbits for ensuring the required duration of their ballistic lifetime are considered. The orbit of the SPECTR-R spacecraft launched in July of 2011 is considered as an example.     

玫瑰星座的优化设计方法

玫瑰星座是一种均匀分布的星座，常用于全球连续覆盖。本文对玫瑰星座的基本理论进行了论述，提出了玫瑰星座用于实现全球一重连续覆盖时的优化方法。用本文提出的方法对卫星总数多达３００的玫瑰星座进行了优化计算并给出了计算结果。     

Control of satellite imaging formations in multi-body regimes

Libration point orbits may be ideal locations for satellite imaging formations. Therefore, control of these arrays in multi-body regimes is critical. A continuous feedback control algorithm is developed that maintains a formation of satellites in motion that is bounded relative to a halo orbit. This algorithm is derived based on the dynamic characteristics of the phase space near periodic orbits in the circular restricted three-body problem (CR3BP). By adjusting parameters of the control algorithm appropriately, satellites in the formation follow trajectories that are particularly advantageous to imaging arrays. Image reconstruction and coverage of the (u, v) plane are simulated for interferometric satellite configurations, demonstrating potential applications of the algorithm and the resulting motion.     

长期在轨运行卫星的轨道维持技术

本文研究近地轨道卫星长期在轨运行的轨道维持问题。轨道维持的任务是将卫星的星下点轨迹保持在设计的参考轨迹附近。近地轨道卫星所受的摄动力包括地球引力摄动、日月摄动、大气阻力摄动和光压摄动等,而影响卫星轨道星下点漂移的主要因素是大气阻力摄动。本文给出了一种新的卫星轨道维持策略,数学仿真表明了其有效性。     

LM-11SL:A Sea-Launched Carrier Rocket for Small Satellites and Its Launch Service

Following the successful maiden flight of the Long March 11(LM-11) launch vehicle from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in September 2015, the first sea-launched carrier rocket dedicated to provide a launch service for small satellites and their constellations, the Long March 11 Sea Launch(LM-11 SL) has been under development by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology(CALT) and the China Great Wall Industry Corporation(CGWIC). It is planned to commence launch service in 2018. Based on the LM-11, a land-launched four-staged solid launch vehicle which has entered the market and accomplished launch missions for several small satellites in the past 3 years, the newly adopted sea launch technology enables transport and launch of LM-11 SL from maritime ships, providing flexible launch location selection.After inheriting the mature launch vehicle technologies from previous members of the Long March launch vehicle family and adopting a new way of launching from the sea, the LM-11 SL is capable of sending payloads into low Earth orbits with all altitudes and inclinations, from 200 km to 1000 km, from equatorial to sun synchronous, within a shortduration launch campaign. The LM-11 SL provides a flexible, reliable and economical launch service for the global small satellite industry.