NASA NTRS · 19880040356
Communications satellites in non-geostationary orbits
Abstract
The design of a satellite communications system in an orbit lower than GEO is described. Two sun-synchronous orbits which lie in the equatorial plane have been selected: (1) the apogee at constant time-of-day equatorial orbit, a highly eccentric orbit with five revolutions per day, which allows 77-135 percent more satellite mass to be placed in orbit than for GEO; and (2) the sun-synchronous 12-hour equatorial orbit, a circular orbit with two revolutions per day, which allows 23-29 percent more mass. The results of a life cycle economic analysis illustrate that nongeostationary satellite systems could be competitive with geostationary satellite systems.
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Price, Kent M., Doong, Wen, Nguyen, Tuan Q., Turner, Andrew E., Weyandt, Charles. 1988-01-01. Communications satellites in non-geostationary orbits. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19880040356
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