SATELLITE NETWORKS FOR CONTINUAL GLOBAL COVERAGE,

Abstract

Solutions are obtained to the problem of providing continual surveillance of latitudinally bounded zones of the globe by means of a particular family of satellite networks. Each network considered consists of satellites equally divided among and uniformly distributed around circular orbits of common altitude; the orbit planes are equally inclined with respect to the equator and are uniformly arranged about the polar axis. It is shown that by properly choosing the number and inclination of the orbit planes, the required coverage may be obtained; furthermore, a rational procedure is presented for minimizing the total number of satellites required at a given altitude. Results obtained by this optimization technique are displayed graphically for several representative cases of coverage requirements. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 20, 1960
Accession Number
AD0607586

Entities

People

  • R. David Luders

Organizations

  • TRW Inc.

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altitude
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Circular Orbits
  • Networks
  • Optimization
  • Orbits
  • Satellite Networks
  • Space Systems
  • Surveillance

Readers

  • Operations Research
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Theoretical Analysis.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Satellites