Analytical design and performance analysis of LEO mega chain satellite constellation

Abstract

With the development of microsatellite technology and the growth of ground reconnaissance demand, the rapid design of a LEO constellation with minimum satellite number, low revisit time (within 10 minutes), and permanent inter-satellite links has become a hotspot and difficulty in constellation design. Aiming at the problem to use the minimum satellite number to achieve low revisit time coverage, a LEO (low earth orbit) Walker-chain constellation and its design method is proposed. The difference between the chain constellation and the classical Walker constellation is that it has one or more closed chain configurations. According to the coverage requirements and sensor field of view angle, the analytical design method is derived. A LEO chain constellation containing 132 satellites is designed for the ground reconnaissance mission. Comparing with the classical Walker-δ constellation and repeat ground track constellation, the chain constellation has fewer satellites, lower revisit time and the permanent inter-satellite links.

Keywords

• chain constellation
• constellation design
• low revisit time
• inter-satellite links