Elliptical Orbit Design Based on Air-Breathing Electric Propulsion Technology in Very-Low Earth Orbit Space

Abstract

Very-low Earth orbit (VLEO) space below 200 km is essential for high-quality communications and near-Earth space environment detection. Due to the significant atmospheric drag, orbital maintenance is required for spacecraft staying here. Based on air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) technology, this paper analyzed the orbital boundary conditions of the spacecraft under the constraints of parameters including slenderness ratio, thrust-to-power ratio, drag coefficient, and effective specific impulse. The energy balance is the key constraint for low VLEO orbits, which is determined by the drag coefficient, slenderness ratio, and thrust-to-power ratio. Under the existing technical conditions, the lowest circular orbit (along the terminator) is about 170 km. An elliptical orbital flight scheme is also analyzed to reach a 150 km perigee. A half-period control method was proposed based on the on–off control method for the elliptical orbit, which could enable the spacecraft to maintain a stable 150–250 km elliptical orbit.

Keywords

• very low Earth orbit
• air-breathing electric propulsion
• elliptical orbit
• control method