A Traverse Inspection Constellation for GEO Quasi-Stationary Satellites

GEO quasi-stationary satellites are those GEO satellites with an inclination angle below 0.1° which majority of are important strategic satellites for communication, early warning, and other purposes. In the current situation, where the capabilities of ground-based optical and radar equipment are insufficient, space-based observation is the only mean to obtain detailed information of space targets, especially GEO quasi-stationary satellites. Space-based observation can achieve close range, long-term, and multi-angle tracking and observation of space targets. It is also an important prerequisite and guarantee for developing GEO on-orbit service and operational technologies, and conducting relevant technical verification experiments. Traverse inspection, which means to observe and image all targets on GEO at close range by using one or more satellite, is one of the most important technologies. This paper focuses on the traverse inspection of GEO quasi-stationary targets, by combining the analysis of GEO target optical observation constraints, proposes a set of traverse inspection strategies and orbit design methods based on multiple longitude drift rates, which including four steps: 1) Dividing the targets into different zones by using dichotomy approach; 2) Calculate the longitude drift rates based on targets’ sub-satellite points in each zone; 3) Determine the observation position and moment based on the local time of each zone, combined with constraints; 4) Determine the transfer trajectory for east-west turn around with a dual pulse orbit maneuver. On this basis, the proposed strategies and methods were analyzed and validated in detail. The results showed that the traverse inspection orbit can effectively achieve traverse inspection of GEO quasi-stationary targets, with a traverse period of no more than 62 days and an energy consumption of no more than 0.022km/s. And, the total energy consumption of a single traverse cycle in all zones shall not exceed 0.11km/s.