On the Connectivity Optimization of a Potential CONAE's Network of LEO Satellites

SANTIAGO MARTÍN HENN; JUAN ANDRÉS FRAIRE; DENIS FERNANDO MARTÍNEZ

Buenos Aires

Simposio; 2nd International Academy of Astronautics Latin American Symposium on Small Satellites: Advanced Technologies and Distributed Systems; 2019

International Academy of Astronautics and Instituto Colomb

Mission design plays a crucial role in projects based on networked satellite constellations. Among the several aspects to optimize, the interaction and access of each mission segment requires of non-trivial numerical approaches involving a careful inspection of control parameters such as orbital elements, ground station locations and communication constraints. Moreover, the consideration of auxiliary relay satellites whether of the bent-pipe or store-carry-and-forward type, further complicates the efficient calculation of optimal mission parameters. Argentina?s space agency, CONAE (Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales) focuses on Earth observation satellites in Low-Earth orbits, that in most cases use or have used sun-synchronous orbits. In this work, we apply state-of-the-art informatics techniques based upon heuristic algorithms, to analyse a potential network comprising Inter-Satellite Links (ISL) among current and planned CONAE?s Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Earth observation satellites and available ground stations. Specifically, we evaluate the case where an extra nanosatellite is deployed to increase the rate at which commands and telemetry are delivered to and from each of the agency?s satellites. Orbit constraints and possible locations for ground facilities are considered on the task of selecting the optimal combination of orbital parameters for the assets of a space mission. The Maximum Asset Accessibility Algorithm (M3A) is applied to determine appealing orbital parameters for such relay, to then introduce possible mission configurations that would increase the overall satellite accessibility. Results show that configurations that increase accessibility can be obtained through the use of a parametric search algorithm, considering a relay satellite at several altitudes.