Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

LEO constellation design methodology for observing multi-targets

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Astrodynamics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

A Correction to this article was published on 11 February 2022

This article has been updated

Abstract

This paper is based on the second problem of the 8th China Space Trajectory Design Competition (CTOC8). The background is LEO constellation design strategy for monitoring discrete multi-targets with small satellite under J2 model. The difficulty is that the small satellite is equipped with low-cost cameras with limited coverage ability and the targets are distributed separately in a key area, which result in long revisit time or large number of satellites based on traditional design method. In this paper, a specific LEO constellation design method is proposed to cope with the problems. First, grid search and numerical method are performed to construct a database consisting of repeating ground track orbits. Then several orbits are carefully selected by pruning method to visit each target. Finally, repeating ground track constellation is constructed to meet the maximum revisit time constraint. The present method provides a systematic constellation design methodology of remote sensing observation with limited coverage ability, and demonstrates the resulting constellation can obtain rapid revisit frequency over discrete multi-targets with the least number of satellites.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Change history

References

  1. Walker, J. G. Satellite constellations. Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, 1984, 37: 559–572.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ballard, A. H. Rosette constellations of earth satellites. IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, 1980, 16(5): 656–673.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Rider, L. Optimized polar orbit constellations for redundant earth coverage. Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, 1985, 33(2): 147–161.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Adams, W. S., Rider, L. Circular polar constellations providing continuous single or multiple coverage above a specified latitude. Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, 1987, 35(2): 155–192.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Draim, J. E. Three-and four-satellite continuouscoverage constellations. Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 1985, 8(6): 725–730.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Draim, J. E. A common-period four-satellite continuous global coverage constellation. Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 1987, 10(5): 492–499.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Mortari, D., Wilkins, M. P. Flower constellation set theory. Part I: Compatibility and phasing. IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, 2008, 44(3): 953–962.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Wilkins, M. P., Mortari, D. Flower constellation set theory. Part II: Secondary paths and equivalency. IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, 2008, 44(3): 964–976.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Ulybyshev, Y. Satellite constellation design for complex coverage. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 2008, 45(4): 843–849.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Circi, C., Ortore, E., Bunkheila, F. Satellite constellations in sliding ground track orbits. Aerospace Science and Technology, 2014, 39: 395–402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Frayssinhes, E. Investigating new satellite constellation geometries with genetic algorithms. In: Proceedings of the Astrodynamics Conference, Guidance, Navigation, and Control and Co-located Conferences, 1996: 582–586.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Ely, T. A., Crossley, W. A., Williams, E. A. Satellite constellation design for zonal coverage using genetic algorithms. Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, 1999, 47(3-4): 207–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Williams, E. A., Crossley, W. A., Lang, T. J. Average and maximum revisit time trade studies for satellite constellations using a multiobjective genetic algorithm. Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, 2001, 49(3): 385–400.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Savitri, T., Kim, Y., Jo, S., Bang, H. Satellite constellation orbit design optimization with combined genetic algorithm and semianalytical approach. International Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 2017, 2017: 1235692.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Zhang, Y. L., Fan, L., Zhang, Y., Xiang, J. H. Theory and Design of Satellite Constellations. Beijing: Science Press, 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Wilkins, M. P. The fiower constellations Theory, design process, and applications. Ph.D. Thesis. Texas A&M University, 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Eagle, D. Repeating ground track orbit design. Available at http://cn.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/39086-repeating-groundtrack-orbit-design.

  18. Jiang, F., Chen, Y., Liu, Y., Baoyin, H., Li, J. GTOC5: Results from the Tsinghua University. Acta Futura, 2014, 8: 37–44.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Xiang, J. H. Study on control and design of configuration for satellite constellation. Ph.D. Thesis. National University of Defence Technology, 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Schaub, H., Junkins, J. L. Analytical Mechanics of Space Systems, 2nd edn. AIAA Education, 2003.

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 91438206).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tsinghua Space Center, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

    Chen Zhang, Jin Jin, Linling Kuang  & Jian Yan

Authors
  1. Chen Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jin Jin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Linling Kuang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jian Yan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chen Zhang.

Additional information

Chen Zhang received his B.S. degree from Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China, in 2008, and Ph.D. degree in astrodynamics from Beihang University, China, in 2016. Currently, he is a postdoctoral fellow at Tsinghua Space Center of Tsinghua University. His area of expertise is in low thrust trajectory optimization, three-body problem, and constellation design.

Jin Jin received his Ph.D. degree in navigation, guidance, and control from Beijing Institute of Technology, China, in 2011. After two years as a postdoctoral research assistant in Tsinghua University, he joined Tsinghua Space Center of Tsinghua University as an assistant professor in 2013. Currently, he is an associate researcher. His research interests are space mission design, spacecraft dynamics, and control

Linling Kuang received her B.S. and M.S. degrees from National University of Defense Techonology, Changsha, China, in 1995 and 1998, respectively, and Ph.D. degree in electronic engineering from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, in 2004. Since 2007, she has been with Tsinghua University, where she is currently a professor in Tsinghua Space Center. Her research interests include wireless broadband communications, signal processing, and satellite communication. Dr. Kuang is a member of the IEEE Communications Society.

Jian Yan received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, in 1998, 2000, and 2010, respectively. From 2001 to 2011, he was with the Department of Electronic Engineering, Tsinghua University. Since August 2011, he has been working with Tsinghua Space Center of Tsinghua University, as an associate researcher. His research interests lie in the area of satellite communications.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, C., Jin, J., Kuang , L. et al. LEO constellation design methodology for observing multi-targets. Astrodyn 2, 121–131 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42064-017-0015-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42064-017-0015-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation