EVALUATING A SATELLITE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM.

Abstract

A simple analytic model is formulated which should prove useful for evaluating a satellite surveillance system. This model describes the fraction of orbits in which a long lived satellite will 'see' a selected position on the earth's surface. The fraction of orbits, denoted by P, is a function of the latitude of the ground position in question, the orbital inclination of the satellite, and the sweep width of the satellite's sensor. P is used to find estimates for the mean time to next sighting of a selected ground position given that position has suddenly become of interest, to estimate the number and locations of ground readout stations, and to estimate the number of times a satellite would sight a transmitting object on the earth's surface. In addition, the application of P to the problems of optimum orbit, evasive countermeasures, and satellite weapon delivery is discussed. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1966
Accession Number
AD0803352

Entities

People

  • Rolf H. Clark

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Countermeasures
  • Grids
  • Latitude
  • Orbital Inclination
  • Surveillance
  • Transmitting
  • Weapon Delivery
  • Weapons

Readers

  • Adaptive Control and Estimation with Uncertainty in Dynamic Systems.
  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Satellites