Design of Satellite Constellations Associated With Regional Positioning Systems

摘要

A low orbit satellite constellation which only provides navigation andpositioning services for a certain specially designated region is capable of achieving the functions of global positioning systems. Preliminary results show that, if it is desired to satisfy this requirement, there is a need for a satellite constellation composed of 27 low orbit satellites in five respective orbital planes in order to provide regional navigation and positioning services. It is shown that the concept of a regional positioning system formed from a low orbit satellite constellation is feasible. Although the number of individual satellites required is not necessarily a lot fewer compared to original global positioning systems, due to the low orbit satellites, however, delivery energies required by the satellites are, by contrast, much less compared to synchronous orbit satellites. This point should be an advantage which making use of low orbit satellite constellations to provide navigation and positioning functions can achieve.