Abstract This work proposes the use of 2D Lattice Flower Constellations (2D-LFCs) to facilitate the design of a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) slotting system to avoid collisions between compliant satellites and to optimize the available orbital volume. Specifically, this manuscript proposes the use of concentric orbital shells of admissible “slots” with stacked intersecting orbits that preserve a minimum separation distance between satellites at all times. The problem is formulated in mathematical terms and three approaches are explored: random constellations, single 2D-LFCs, and unions of 2D-LFCs. Each approach is evaluated in terms of several metrics including capacity, Earth coverage, orbits per shell, and symmetries. Additionally, a rough estimate for the capacity of LEO is generated, subject to certain minimum separation and station-keeping assumptions, and several trade-offs are identified to guide policy-makers interested in the adoption of a LEO slotting scheme for space traffic management.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Definition of Low Earth Orbit slotting architectures using 2D lattice flower constellations


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Advances in Space Research ; 67 , 11 ; 3696-3711


    Publication date :

    2020-04-11


    Size :

    16 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    LOW EARTH ORBIT SLOTTING FOR SPACE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT USING FLOWER CONSTELLATION THEORY

    Arnas, David / Lifson, Miles / Linares, Richard et al. | TIBKAT | 2020


    Low Earth Orbit Slotting for Space Traffic Management Using Flower Constellation Theory

    Arnas, David / Lifson, Miles / Linares, Richard et al. | AIAA | 2020


    4D Lattice Flower Constellations

    Arnas, David / Casanova, Daniel / Tresaco, Eva | Elsevier | 2020



    Positioning System Using Low Earth Orbit Constellations

    Ma, D.-M. / Zhai, S.-Y. / Shen, H.-E. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1999