Target-Oriented Satellite Constellation Method for Revisit Performance

Abstract

This paper presents an optimization method for satellite constellations, oriented for observation targets in an area of interest. Specifically, the satellite constellation is optimized considering the observation priority and weight for dispersed targets in the region and can be intensively deployed for dense targets. The extensively studied Walker constellation is limited in terms of the mission design, which is based on the observation weights and intensive observations of targets, owing to the characteristics of the globally regular distribution. Thus, this study proposes a method to apply various optimization problems based on the number of accesses of the satellite to the observation target while solving the limitations of the typical Walker technique. The optimization and targeting of this study is achieved by constellation design based on dynamic model of repeating ground track, approximate solution of sensor swath through geometric analysis of ground track, and implementation of Access Matrix for multiple targets. These findings dramatically reduce the revisit performance compared to the Walker constellation and suggest an optimized constellation design technique of the satellite group for multiple targets.