Change-over strategies for highly elliptical orbits

The communication performance of satellite systems using high inclined elliptical orbits has to be changed-over from one satellite to the other. For typical orbit systems using 24 h Tundra orbits or 12 h Molniya orbits this must be performed two or three times a day, respectively. The paper summarizes different strategies identified for the Archimedes voice communication land mobile satellite system. The aim of the study was to find satellite change-over (SCO) strategies with either 'not noticeable' or 'acceptable' communication signal interruptions. There are two basic strategies, namely simultaneous handover of all voice channels between satellites at once, or gradual handover during a certain period where both satellites are operating simultaneously.<
>