Trajectory Analysis of a Swarm of 3U CubeSats in Sun-Synchronous Orbit with Varying RAAN and Non-Overlapping Revisit Time

This paper explores the traj ectory dynamics of a swarm of 3U CubeSats deployed in a Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) at an altitude of 600 km with varying Right Ascension of the Ascending Node (RAAN). The primary objective is to achieve non-overlapping revisit times over a specified ground target located at a latitude of 28.5355° N and a longitude of 77.3910° E. By varying the RAAN values among the CubeSats, this paper analyzes the effectiveness of different orbital configurations in maximizing spatial and temporal coverage. The study utilizes astrodynamics libraries to propagate the orbits and compute the ground tracks and revisit times. Results indicate that strategic variation in RAAN significantly enhances the temporal resolution of ground observations, ensuring that each CubeSat revisits the target location at distinct, non-overlapping intervals. The findings contribute to the design and deployment strategies of CubeSat constellations for Earth observation, disaster management, and remote sensing missions, providing a robust framework for maximizing coverage and minimizing redundancy in data acquisition.