Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Draim, John E.
• Cefola, Paul J.
• Proulx, Ronald J.
• Larsen, Duane
• Granholm, George

Titel

Elliptical Sun-Synchronous Orbits with Line of Apsides Lying in or Near the Equatorial Plane

Ist Teil von

• The Journal of the astronautical sciences, 2003-04, Vol.51 (2), p.143-178

Ort / Verlag

New York: Springer Nature B.V

Erscheinungsjahr

2003

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

SpringerLink (Online service)

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• This paper explores the characteristics of retrograde, Sun-synchronous elliptic orbits with line of apsides lying in or near the equatorial plane. Coverage plots for a five-satellite ring showing the number of satellites in view and elevation angle data versus latitude and local time are presented. Stability of the orbit is discussed. Also analyzed is the effect of the trapped radiation field environment (Van Allen belts) on these orbits, as well as the exposure to damage by natural and man-made debris. A major advantage seen for these orbits is that they can be used to provide augmented Earth coverage for a selected latitudinal zone and a selected time of day (for all longitudes). This feature should prove useful for non-geostationary satellite communications systems where increased capacity is needed during daytime peak-traffic hours in heavily populated latitude bands.