Abstract:

Aiming at the intricate coverage models and inconvenient coverage statistics, a new design method for a quadruple continuous coverage constellation is proposed based on the two-dimensional maps. The preceding two-dimensional space coordinate system is improved and the analytic models of the two-dimensional maps are built via the analysis of the relative positions between the coverage circles and satellite orbits using the spherical geometric knowledge. The models are further studied and the geometric properties of the two-dimensional maps are concluded. By conversion from the continuous coverage of the latitude belt to the continuous coverage of one two-dimensional map in the belt, the single and quadruple continuous coverage conditions are put forward. On this basis, the design and screening methods of the constellation configuration for quadruple continuous coverage are integrated to avoid the complex statistics process of the coverage performance. Finally, the simulation for the two-dimensional theory and constellation design method suggests the feasibility of the new method.

Key words: Constellation configuration, Spherical geometry, Two dimensional maps, Quadruple continuous coverage