ON THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SYNCHRONOUS ORBITS,

Abstract

This note investigates certain problems associated with orbiting satellites in such a way that they pass over the same point on the earth at the same time each day. It is found that such orbits are possible and can be maintained for several months. It is also possible to choose the orbit so that the satellite spends a negligible fraction of its useful lifetime in the earth's shadow. Because of the specific applications contemplated, only altitudes from 250 to 1000 km are considered. The items of interest are the orbits themselves, their decay times, the injection accuracy required to achieve them, and (because of solar power considerations) the relative durations of shadow and sunlight in each orbit. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1961
Accession Number
AD0428232

Entities

People

  • Douglas Duke

Organizations

  • Institute for Defense Analyses

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Altitude
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Radiation
  • Solar Energy
  • Solar Power Satellites
  • Solar Radiation
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • Sunlight
  • Vehicles

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris