CONTINUOUS COVERAGE OF THE NORTH POLAR REGION WITH ONLY TWO COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITES

Abstract

The problem of providing continuous coverage of the north polar region with a small number of communications satellites is considered. The system described requires only two satellites to provide both this coverage and coverage of a considerable fraction of the northern hemisphere. Two orbit planes with 63.43 deg inclination, high eccentricity and 24 hour periods are employed. The regions of the earth from which a satellite is continuously visible from terminals with various minimum elevation angles are shown. The regions in which mutual visibility of a satellite by two terminals is guaranteed are shown. A few comments concerning satellite design for this orbit are included.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 04, 1969
Accession Number
AD0698751

Entities

People

  • John U. Beusch

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Apogees
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Classification
  • Computer Programs
  • Doppler Effect
  • Elliptical Orbits
  • Equatorial Orbits
  • Latitude
  • Longitude
  • Northern Hemisphere
  • Orbits
  • Perigees
  • Polar Regions
  • Satellite Orbits
  • Solar Panels
  • United States

Readers

  • Operations Research
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Satellites