Date of Award

3-8-2007

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering

Department

Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

First Advisor

Nathan A. Titus, PhD

Abstract

The use of satellites as a tactical asset to support theater operations is a desired capability for future space operations. Unlike traditional satellite systems designed to provide coverage over the entire globe or large regions, tactical satellites would provide coverage over a small region which can be modeled as a single ground point defined by a latitude and longitude. In order to provide sufficient utility as a theater asset, a satellite should be placed in an orbit that provides a maximum amount of coverage of the target ground point. This study examined the optimization of orbit parameters to maximize the number of passes made over a target. An optimization algorithm was developed to maximize the number of passes made while also minimizing the distance from the satellite to the target. Single satellite coverage properties as well as two and three satellite constellations were analyzed.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GA-ENY-07-M17

DTIC Accession Number

ADA469182

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Astrodynamics Commons

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