移动通信卫星经济性分析

由小型近地轨道卫星组成星座,实现移动通信服务,是卫星通信发展的重要方向。近地轨道卫星和地球静止轨道卫星用作移动通信卫星网,各有其优缺点。文章从经济性角度对两类卫星网进行了比较,重点是对不同高度的轨道(包括低、中、地球静止)的移动通信系统的空间部分成本——卫星星座的研制成本与发射成本进行分析比较,给出了具体的运算公式和计算结果。其结论是:轨道高度越低,卫星网的成本越高;地球静止轨道卫星网的成本最低。但是,决定是否发展小型近地轨道通信卫星网,不能仅考虑经济因素,还要考虑对技术进步的推动作用。

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF MOBILE COMMUNICATION SATELITES

Mobile communication service implemented by a constellationcomposed of small LEO satellites is a primary trend of development of satellitecommunication.Either of the uses of LEO and GEO satellite constellations formobile communication service has its own strong and weak points.This paperanalyses and compares the two satellite constellations in view of economics withemphasis on cost of space segments,i.e.the development cost of satellites andtheir launch cost,gives the specific calculation formula and results,and finallyconcludes that the lower the orbit height is,the higher the total cost is,andthe cost of GEO satellite constellation is the lowest.But not only its economicsbut also its effects on promoting technology must be considered in decisionmaking on whether or not the LEO communication satellite network need to bedeveloped.