• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.125-138
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• 2020

One of the most important steps to consider in utilizing micro-satellites for surveillance or reconnaissance operations is the design of the satellite constellation. The Walker-Delta constellation which is commonly used in designing satellite constellations is not ideal for this operation in which military satellites are required to monitor specific regions continuously in a stable manner. This study aims to discuss the methodology for designing a satellite constellation that is capable of monitoring the fixed region at the fixed time each day by using the Sun synchronous Orbit. The BB(Beach Ball) constellation that we propose outperforms the Walker-Delta constellation in terms of robustness and it holds the merit of being simple in its design, thereby making future expansions more convenient. We expect the BB constellation will have a high applicability as the operational concept of military surveillance satellites is established in the near future.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.334-343
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• 2017

The optimum design of an SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite constellation is developed herein using a genetic algorithm. The performance of Earth observations using a satellite constellation can be improved by minimizing the maximum revisit time. Classical orbit design using analytic methods has limitations when addressing orbit dynamics due to various disturbances. To overcome this issue, an optimization technique based on a genetic algorithm is used. STK (Systems Tool Kit) is utilized to propagate the satellite orbit when considering external disturbances, and the maximum revisit time on the earth observation area is calculated. By minimizing the performance index using a genetic algorithm, the optimum orbit of the satellite constellation is designed. Numerical results are provided to demonstrate the performance of the proposed method.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.1260-1283
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• 2019

Low earth orbit (LEO) satellite broadband network is a crucial part of the space information network. LEO satellite constellation design is a top-level design, which plays a decisive role in the overall performance of the LEO satellite network. However, the existing works on constellation design mainly focus on the coverage criterion and rarely take network performance into the design process. In this article, we develop a unified framework for constellation optimization design in LEO satellite broadband networks. Several design criteria including network performance and coverage capability are combined into the design process. Firstly, the quality of service (QoS) metrics is presented to evaluate the performance of the LEO satellite broadband network. Also, we propose a network stability model for the rapid change of the satellite network topology. Besides, a mathematical model of constellation optimization design is formulated by considering the network cost-efficiency and stability. Then, an optimization algorithm based on non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II) is provided for the problem of constellation design. Finally, the proposed method is further evaluated through numerical simulations. Simulation results validate the proposed method and show that it is an efficient and effective approach for solving the problem of constellation design in LEO satellite broadband networks.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.217-227
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• 2021

In this study, we describe an analytical process for designing a low Earth orbit constellation for discontinuous regional coverage, to be used for a surveillance and reconnaissance space mission. The objective of this study was to configure a satellite constellation that targeted multiple areas near the Korean Peninsula. The constellation design forms part of a discontinuous regional coverage problem with a minimum revisit time. We first introduced an optimal inclination search algorithm to calculate the orbital inclination that maximizes the geometrical coverage of single or multiple ground targets. The common ground track (CGT) constellation pattern with a repeating period of one nodal day was then used to construct the rest of the orbital elements of the constellation. Combining these results, we present an analytical design process that users can directly apply to their own situation. For Seoul, for example, 39.0° was determined as the optimal orbital inclination, and the maximum and average revisit times were 58.1 min and 27.9 min for a 20-satellite constellation, and 42.5 min and 19.7 min for a 30-satellite CGT constellation, respectively. This study also compares the revisit times of the proposed method with those of a traditional Walker-Delta constellation under three inclination conditions: optimal inclination, restricted inclination by launch trajectories from the Korean Peninsula, and inclination for the sun-synchronous orbit. A comparison showed that the CGT constellation had the shortest revisit times with a non-optimal inclination condition. The results of this analysis can serve as a reference for determining the appropriate constellation pattern for a given inclination condition.

• Journal of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2023

In this paper, we propose an efficient satellite selection method for multi-constellation GNSS. The number of visible satellites has increased dramatically recently due to multi-constellation GNSS. By the increased availability, the overall GNSS performance can be improved. Whereas, due to the increase of the number of visible satellites, the computational burden in implementing advanced processing such as integer ambiguity resolution and fault detection can be increased considerably. As widely known, the optimal satellite selection method requires very large computational burden and its real-time implementation is practically impossible. To reduce computational burden, several sub-optimal but efficient satellite selection methods have been proposed recently. However, these methods are prone to the local optimum problem and do not fully utilize the information redundancy between different constellation systems. To solve this problem, the proposed method utilizes the inter-system biases and geometric assignments. As a result, the proposed method can be implemented in real-time, avoids the local optimum problem, and does not exclude any single-satellite constellation. The performance of the proposed method is compared with the optimal method and two popular sub-optimal methods by a simulation and an experiment.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.401-412
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• 2022

In this study, we investigated the design methods of satellite constellations to conduct near-real-time surveillance reconnaissance of the Korean Peninsula. Also, we designed satellite constellations utilizing the Walker-Delta method and repeat-ground-track method, and taking into account the target area and the feasible number of satellites. The constrains of the Electro-Optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar equipment were also considered in performance analysis. As a result, the designed constellation has mean revisit time of less than 30 min which enables near-real-time surveillance reconnaissance of the Korean Peninsula. This research provides the strategy to design the satellite constellation for reconnaissance. Furthermore, it contributes to suggesting an operating strategy for micro-satellites constellation and guidelines for establishing space force.

• Journal of Satellite, Information and Communications
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.46-51
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• 2009

This paper addresses the calculation method of the interference produced between the LEO(Low Earth Orbit) satellite constellation and Terrestrial system operating in the same frequency and area. We describes the procedure used in the numerical computation of the statistics of the total interference produced by interference system. The presented results are applied for mutual protection of LEO satellite constellation and FS system during system design phase.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.10-22
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• 2022

According to the Space Development Promotion Basic Plan, more than 110 satellites are expected to be deployed by 2031. Accordingly, the operation concept and technology for satellites constellation are required, compared to the existing few multi-satellite operations. It is essential to automate and optimize the mission operation system, for efficient operation of the satellite constellation, and preparations are urgently needed for the operation of satellite constellation in domestic as well. In this study, the development direction and strategy of the mission operation system applying automation and optimization for efficient operation of the satellite constellation are proposed. The framework for evaluating the automation level and priority of the mission operation system was developed, to identify the tasks to which automation should be applied preferentially.

• Journal of Advanced Navigation Technology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.502-509
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• 2023

This study presents a satellite constellation method that achieves optimal revisit performance by utilizing genetic algorithm techniques. The Walker method is a global coverage concept, and there are limitations to target-centered constellation considering the strategic environment of the Korean Peninsula. To overcome these limitations, targets are set in major areas of interest in North Korea, orbit elements with optimal revisit performance for each target are searched, and based on this, the number of satellites optimized for each target is derived using a genetic algorithm. The results of this study demonstrate the performance of the optimized constellation by applying phasing rules to achieve the desired revisit performance.

• Journal of Advanced Navigation Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.337-345
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• 2023

This study analyzes considerations for satellite orbit elements for the national micro-satellite system to effectively perform its mission in accordance with the operational concept, and compares the conventionally used Walker method to improve the performance of the satellite constellation method of the repeating ground track orbit. In satellite orbit element analysis, altitude candidate values of micro-satellite system, use of eccentricity and argument of perigee through frozen orbit, necessity of selection of appropriate orbit inclination, and satellite phasing rules for flying the same repeating ground track orbit are proposed. Based on these analysis results, the superiority of the constellation method of the repeating ground track orbit compared to the Walker method is verified in terms of revisit performance analysis, global coverage characteristics, and orbit consistency.