THE COUPLING, LONGITUDE AND ONE-YEAR PROPAGATION (CLOP) STRATEGY FOR TIGHT ECCENTRICITY CONTROL

摘要

East/West Station Keeping (EWSK) strategies for Geostationary satellites implemented by Flight Dynamics Software systems in many Operations Control Centres around the world are definitely not optimal. This paper identifies and determines the underlying cause of inefficient EWSK manoeuvres and generates an optimal strategy (CLOP). Simulations of the CLOP strategy show the strategy to be more efficient than the old strategies in all cases and quantify the benefits to be gained. Along the way a software Tool is developed to help plan optimal EWSK manoeuvres quickly and efficiently.