The present invention relates to satellite systems and more particularly, to the provision of a novel, non-geostationary satellite system and method for weather and climate monitoring, communications applications, scientific research and similar tasks, with global coverage. Contrary to the teachings in the art it has been discovered that global coverage may be obtained using a constellation of six satellites in two orthogonal, 24 sidereal hour orbits (geosynchronous) with inclinations of 70° to 90°, and eccentricities of 0.275 - 0.45. By placing three of the satellites in a first orbit with an apogee over the north pole, and three of the satellites in a second, orthogonal orbit with an apogee over the south pole, global coverage may be obtained. As well, the satellites in these orbits avoid most of the Van Allen Belts.
SATELLITE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GLOBAL COVERAGE
SATELLITENSYSTEM UND VERFAHREN FÜR GLOBALE ABDECKUNG
SYSTÈME DE SATELLITE ET PROCÉDÉ DE COUVERTURE GLOBALE
2021-02-17
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
IPC: | B64G Raumfahrt , COSMONAUTICS |