Statistical Classification of Remote Sensing Satellite Constellations

In recent years, heterogeneous satellite constellations that use inter-satellite links (ISLs) between two different functional constellations, a remote sensing satellite constellation (RSSC) and a relay communication satellite constellation (RCSC) dedicated to command delivery and relay data back to Earth, have attracted considerable interest. The design of general-purpose RCSCs that serve a range of RSSCs is complicated by the many different RSSCs that have been deployed to date and the effort required to test the performance of a candidate RCSC against each one. Accordingly, we have sought to determine whether a pattern in RSSCs exists that would allow us to represent the greater population by a much smaller set of representative classes. Based on a statistical analysis of NORAD Two-Line-Elements (TLEs) for 34 RSSCs and a thorough review of their missions, we propose a nine-class solution based upon orbital inclination (three categories) and the number of planes and different altitudes (three categories) although only seven of these classes are actually populated by actual RSSCs. The actual number of planes, orbital altitudes, and orbital inclinations are represented by simple distributions. The results allow the performance of RCSCs to be tested against a broad and representative set of RSSCs with far less effort than testing against an exhaustive set and far more confidently than against a random set. A comprehensive survey of the constellation configurations for RSSC missions, currently operational and under-development, are provided.