A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING A CONSTELLATION OF NON-GEOSTATIONARY SATELLITES THAT PROVIDES SIMPLIFIED SATELLITE TRACKING

摘要

Provided is a system and method for implementing a constellation of satellites (22) in inclined clliptical orbits that provides simplified satellite tracking for ground stations on the earth. The satellite orbits fom a pair of repeating ground tracks (130,140) around the earth. In each ground track the satellites operate only in active arcs (132, 134, 136, 142,144,146) well above or below the equator, emulating many of the characteristics of geostationary satellites. The parameters of the satellite orbits are adjusted so that the end points of the active arcs in the two ground tracks coincide; the turn-off point of an active arc in one ground track being the same as the turn-on point of an active arc in the other. For a ground station served by the satellites in these arcs, the active satellites appear to be moving slowly in one direction around a closed, teardrop-shaped path in the sky, at a generally hieh elevation angle.