Eccentricity control for geosynchronous satellites

摘要

Eccentricity control for a geosynchronous satellite includes: setting initial conditions, duration, and schedule for the eccentricity control; defining a plurality of parameters including control loci for centroid, semi-major axis, semi-minor axis, uncontrolled eccentricity radius, right ascension of ascending node, and inclination, wherein the plurality of parameters are defined such that when the eccentricity control is applied, a mean geodetic longitude of the geosynchronous satellite is maintained within a predefined distance from a station longitude.

主权项

1. A method of eccentricity control for a geosynchronous satellite having a geosynchronous orbit and an orbit line of nodes, the method comprising:
setting a schedule for eccentricity control of the geosynchronous orbit using a two-dimensional eccentricity vector ellipse describing target eccentricity vector components over an annual period, each of the eccentricity vector components indicating a magnitude and direction for eccentricity vectors from the geosynchronous satellite to a perigee of the geosynchronous orbit; defining a plurality of parameters for the two-dimensional eccentricity vector ellipse including
a centroid for a control locus, the control locus defining the target eccentricity vector components for the eccentricity vector ellipse in two-dimensional space,a semi-major axis and a semi-minor axis of the control locus determining an elliptical shape of the two-dimensional eccentricity vector ellipse, the semi-major axis of the control locus aligning with the orbit line of nodes and defining a maximum natural uncontrolled eccentricity of the geosynchronous orbit; and transmitting operational commands to the geosynchronous satellite for eccentricity control based on the schedule and the two-dimensional eccentricity vector ellipse, the operational commands defining maneuvers and inter-maneuver uncontrolled eccentricity coast segments to maintain a geodetic longitude of the geosynchronous satellite within a predefined distance from a station longitude.