LONGITUDINAL STATION KEEPING OF NEARLY GEOSTATIONARY SATELLITES,

Abstract

An examination of the gravitational effects of the sun, moon, and triaxial earth upon the longitudinal motion of near-synchronous equatorial satellites. Accurate station-keeping of a nominally geosynchronous satellite requires the application of control forces to offset these gravitational effects. This study extends earlier work, complementing latitude motion studies with a corresponding examination of longitude and radial motions. Control system activity, which includes average annual pulse and frequency of pulse application, is related to station-keeping accuracy. Radial and longitudinal perturbations are calculated. The results are particularly relevant to the station-keeping problems imposed by a growing number of satellites in synchronous near-equatorial orbits. The present investigation is restricted to satellites limited to small excursions by periodic applications of impulsive control forces. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1969
Accession Number
AD0698738

Entities

People

  • N. C. Ostrander

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Control Systems
  • Equatorial Orbits
  • Frequency
  • Geosynchronous Satellites
  • Grids
  • Latitude
  • Longitude
  • Orbits
  • Perturbations
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Satellites