Continuously Visible Satellite Constellations

Abstract

The results of this study show that a minimum of six satellites is required in a controlled-orbit constellation to have at least one satellite continuously visible from all points on the earth's surface. The study also examined the number of required satellites for different heights and various minimum elevation angles. To have two satellites visible at all times it is sufficient to double the number required for a single-satellite condition; to have three satellites simultaneously visible it is sufficient to triple the number required for a single-satellite condition. A constellation that is to have at least one visible satellite every place on the earth results in approximately twice the coverage of the earth's surface, but to date no easy method has been found for assuming that this duplication can be used to reduce the number required for having two, or three, mutually visible satellites at one time.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 30, 1969
Accession Number
AD0688415

Entities

People

  • R. Brescia
  • R. L. Easton

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altitude
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Classification
  • Constellations
  • Elevation
  • Geometry
  • Geosynchronous Satellites
  • Military Research
  • Navigation
  • Port Security
  • Right Angles
  • Satellite Constellations
  • Security
  • Triangles

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Applied Combinatorial Optimization and Logic Circuit Design.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites