Mission Design & Implementation of Satellite Constellations: Proceedings of an International Workshop, held in Toulouse, France, November 1997 (Space Technology Proceedings (1))

The papers contained in this Volume of Proceedings have been collected from an international Workshop entitled 'Mission Design and Implementation of Satellite Constellations' which was held in Toulouse, France, in November 1997. This Workshop represented the first international gathering of the specialists in this currently very active field of research activity. The initiative to organise a Workshop around this theme was conceived during the Congress of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) in Beijing, China, in October 1996. On that occasion, the IAF explored concepts and possibilities for the conduct of small specialist Workshops and Symposia of current interest. Topical, interesting, and focused themes in the general field of space technology (both theories and applications) will be selected for these Symposia. They aim at offering a dedicated forum at international level for specialists and experts to exchange their views and experiences on recent and future developments within the selected theme. These specialist Workshops and Symposia supplement the comprehensive annual IAF Congresses which cover all aspects of space technology and draw a correspondingly diverse audience. Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Towards an Integrated Space System....Pages 3-7 Front Matter....Pages 9-9 Design Guidelines for Post-2000 Constellations....Pages 11-21 Satellite Constellation Design: Searching for Global Cost-Efficiency Trade-Offs....Pages 23-31 A Generalized Analysis Methodology for Distributed Satellite Systems....Pages 33-49 A Comparison of Satellite Constellations for Continuous Global Coverage....Pages 51-62 Constellations for High Elevation Angles....Pages 63-79 Hybrid Configurations for Satellite Constellations....Pages 81-89 The Skymed/Cosmo Project....Pages 91-96 Back Matter....Pages 97-99 Front Matter....Pages 101-101 Mission Design of the ORBCOMM Constellation....Pages 103-112 Launching and Building the IRIDIUM® Constellation....Pages 113-121 Optimization of the ELLIPSOTM and ELLIPSO 2GTM Personal Communications Systems....Pages 123-131 The Skybridge Constellation Design....Pages 133-140 The West Project: An Hybrid Constellation Dedicated to the Ubiquitous Access of the ‘Information Society’....Pages 141-151 A Teledesic Space Infrastructure Overview....Pages 153-156 Back Matter....Pages 157-159 Front Matter....Pages 161-161 Constellation Studies for Future Navigation System....Pages 163-168 Satellite Constellation Design for Navigation Needs....Pages 169-177 Transition Phase for a New Navigation System Based on a Constellation of LEO Satellites....Pages 179-189 KEOPS: Krystal European in Orbit Positioning System....Pages 191-195 COMRING — A Constellation of Small Satellites for Real-Time Data Relay....Pages 197-206 Dial-A-Satellite: First Results from a Feasibility Study....Pages 207-218 Back Matter....Pages 219-222 Front Matter....Pages 223-223 An Optimal Orbit Control Strategy for the Archimedes Mission....Pages 225-235 Orbit Design Analysis for Remote Sensing Satellite Constellations....Pages 237-242 Enhanced Formation Flying for the New Millennium and Mission to Planet Earth Progams....Pages 243-254 Autonomous Orbit Determination and Control in Constellations of Satellites....Pages 255-261 Autonomous Constellation Maintenance....Pages 263-273 Automated Station-Keeping for Satellite Constellations....Pages 275-297 Back Matter....Pages 299-302 Front Matter....Pages 303-303 Monitoring Objects in Space with the U.S. Space Surveillance Network....Pages 305-315 Orbital Debris Collision Risks to Satellite Constellations....Pages 317-326 Interaction of the Satellite Constellations with the Low Earth Orbit Debris Environment....Pages 327-335 Determination of Close Approaches for Constellations of Satellites....Pages 337-345 The ‘Terminator Tether’: An Efficient Mechanism for End-of-Life Deorbit of Constellation Spacecraft....Pages 347-365 Back Matter....Pages 367-370 Front Matter....Pages 371-371 Orion — A Constellation Mission Analysis Tool....Pages 373-393 A Workshop for Constellation Dimensioning in CNES....Pages 395-401 An Integrated Software System for Constellation Mission Analysis....Pages 403-410 Performance Analysis Tools for Constellations of Navigation Satellites....Pages 411-418 Application of Computer Modelling to Assess Constellation Performance....Pages 419-429 Mission Planning for Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation....Pages 431-437 Back Matter....Pages 439-440 Front Matter....Pages 441-441 Concluding Remarks....Pages 443-445 Back Matter....Pages 446-457

This volume of proceedings contains papers presented at an international Workshop entitled Mission Design and Implementation of Satellite Constellations in Toulouse, France, in November 1997. This Workshop represented the first international gathering of specialists in this currently very active field of research. The rise of satellite constellations during the last few years is undoubtedly the most important and most exciting development in the satellite commercial domain since the beginning of GEO (geostationary earth orbit) communication services in the early 60s. A total of 37 papers are presented on topics covering constellation mission design, mission analysis and simulation, orbit selection, constellation deployment, maintenance, services and operations.
The papers compiled in this volume are of strong topical appeal in view of the present rapid evolution of satellite constellation applications in the fields of telecommunications, navigation, and earth observation. Real-world applications that are addressed include voice and data communications, navigation, and data relay services as well as earth observations. Specific studies and experiences are provided on many actual constellation projects for telephone, data messaging, and broad-band data communications services such as Iridium, Orbcomm, Skybridge, Celestri, Teledesic, among others. Constellations for navigation services (for instance the Global Navigation Satellite System or GNSS) and for earth observation applications (for instance SkyMed/Cosmo) are also addressed. Finally, collision and orbital debris risk issues associated with satellite constellations as well as the proposed mitigation measures receive notable attention.
The unique and novel characteristics of satellite constellation systems have not only rejuvenated satellite system design but have also brought new life to classical flight dynamics disciplines such as orbital mechanics, station-acquisition and station-keeping concepts: all of these aspects are addressed in detail in this volume of proceedings.
The book will be of considerable interest to both engineers and managers who are active in the design and implementation of satellite constellation projects. Even a non-specialist reader with a fascination for recent technological developments may profit from reading this book. The reader will find a large number of stimulating ideas and interesting results which will enable him to achieve a good understanding of the issues pertinent to an effective design and implementation of satellite constellations and to the implementation of the associated real-world services.