Satellite orbit maintenance system

Details Satellite orbit maintenance system Satellite orbit maintenance system

1996-04-16

1997-11-11

Louis-Jacques, Jacques

Boots, shoes, and leggings

364424023, 364424013, 244164, 244167, 244171, 244169, 342352, 342354, G06G 778, B64G 124

Patent

active

056870841

ABSTRACT:
A technique for maintaining a satellite in an assigned orbit without control or intervention from the ground. Autonomously obtained navigational data provide a measurement of the actual orbit in which the satellite is traveling. So long as the measured orbit conforms to a desired orbit to within a preselected tolerance, periodic corrections of equal magnitude are made to the satellite's velocity, based on a prediction of the effect of atmospheric drag on the orbit. Measurement of the orbit is made by observation of the time that the satellite passes a reference point in the orbit, such as by crossing the ascending node. If the measured orbit departs from the desired orbit by more than the preselected tolerance, a velocity correction of a magnitude different from the one based on prediction is applied to the satellite. For a decaying orbit, the magnitude of the velocity correction is increased above the correction value based on prediction. For a rising orbit, the magnitude of the velocity correction is decreased below the value based on prediction, and may be reduced to zero, allowing atmospheric drag to bring the measured orbit back within the preselected tolerance range.

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