专利摘要:
A method of deploying a satellite constellation, wherein - by means of a single launcher, a plurality of satellites are deployed (10) at an initial altitude on an initial orbit, - said satellites are driven (20) so as to that each satellite reaches a drift altitude among a set of drifts, to which the orbits of the different satellites are shifted (30) relative to each other under the effect of the gravitational potential of the earth, - the satellites are controlled so as to to be displaced (40) sequentially to reach the same final altitude, said sequential movement being carried out so that the satellites describe final orbits angularly offset relative to each other.
公开号:FR3020348A1
申请号:FR1453690
申请日:2014-04-24
公开日:2015-10-30
发明作者:Frederic Marchandise;Pamela Simontacchi;Perrine Mathieu
申请人:SNECMA SAS;
IPC主号:
专利说明:

[0001] GENERAL TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to the launching and putting into orbit of satellites, and more particularly the deployment of a constellation of satellites. STATE OF THE ART Satellite constellations are used for many applications requiring significant and continuous coverage. Such satellite constellations include a set of satellites describing distinct orbits around the Earth. However, the deployment of a plurality of satellites in distinct orbits, commonly offset angularly relative to each other requires the use of several launchers, which is very restrictive. For example, a constellation of observation satellites in low orbit, with one observation per hour, requires the deployment of 12 satellites in different orbits. However, the deployment of such a constellation of satellites currently requires 12 separate launches which is unacceptable, or requires the boarding of a very large amount of ergol in order to achieve the modification of the orbits of the satellites following their deployment. which is also very problematic in terms of embedded mass.
[0002] The present invention thus aims to propose a solution to this problem. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION To this end, the present invention proposes a method for deploying a satellite constellation, in which - by means of a single launcher, a plurality of satellites are deployed at an initial altitude on an initial orbit, said satellites are controlled in such a way that each satellite reaches a drift altitude among a set of drifts, to which the orbits of the different satellites are shifted relative to each other under the effect of the gravitational earth potential; are controlled so as to be moved sequentially to reach the same final altitude, said sequential movement being carried out so that the satellites describe final orbits angularly offset relative to each other. According to a particular embodiment, the final orbits of the satellites are angularly offset to each other around the axis of terrestrial rotation. These final orbits then typically have a constant angular offset between two successive final orbits. The drift assembly includes, for example, a high drift altitude and a low drift altitude, respectively having an altitude higher and lower than the initial altitude. The starting altitude the high drift altitude, the low drift altitude and the final altitude are for example between 1 50 km and 75000 km. The final altitude of said satellites is typically between the initial altitude and the low drift altitude. The final altitude is for example between 200 and 800 km. The starting altitude then for example is 800 km, the high drift altitude is 1500 km, the low drift altitude is 270 km and the final altitude is 420 km.
[0003] According to another variant, the starting altitude is between 33000 and 38000 km, and the final altitude is between 20000 and 25000 km. The final orbits of said satellites typically have distinct inclinations with respect to their initial orbits. The present invention thus makes it possible to deploy all or part of a satellite constellation in a single launch, advantageously using the terrestrial gravitational potential in order to modify the orbits of all or part of the satellites thus deployed. PRESENTATION OF THE FIGURES Other characteristics, objects and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, which is purely illustrative and nonlimiting, and which should be read with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIGS. and 2 schematically illustrate the parameters of the orbit of a satellite; FIG. 3 is a diagram schematizing the steps of the method according to one aspect of the invention. FIG. 4 schematically represents an exemplary method of deploying a satellite constellation according to one aspect of the invention. FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the evolution of the drift of the different orbits of the satellites in the case of the example presented in FIG. 4; FIG. 6 shows an example of a constellation of satellites deployed by means of a method according to an aspect of the invention. In all the figures, the elements in common are identified by identical reference numerals.
[0004] DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate the parameters of the orbit of a satellite.
[0005] In these figures, Earth is represented by a sphere, the equator E and the axis P passing through the poles of the Earth. These figures also define: - an equatorial plane PE, containing the equator E, - the vernal point g, defined as the intersection between the ecliptic and the celestial equator; we also define a vernal point direction connecting the vernal point and the center of the Earth.
[0006] The orbit 0 of a satellite around the Earth is shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 2. In these figures we can see: the inclination i of the orbit plane PO in which the orbit is contained with respect to the plane equatorial PE. A zero inclination indicates that the orbit plane PO coincides with the equatorial plane PE; - the direction of movement of the satellite, arbitrarily marked by an arrow, - the ascending node NA, corresponding to the intersection between the orbit and the equatorial plane PE when the satellite passes from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere, the descending node ND, corresponding to the intersection between the orbit and the equatorial plane PE when the satellite passes from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere, - the apogee B and the perigee T, corresponding in the case of an elliptical orbit respectively at the highest point of elevation and the lowest point of altitude. The inclination of the perigee with respect to the line of the nodes is measured by the argument of the perigee co. In the embodiment shown, the orbit 0 is circular, the apogee T and the perigee B are substantially at the same altitude, and w = 900. Thus, the longitude of the ascending node Q, which is the angle between the vernal point direction g and the line connecting the descending node ND to the ascending node NA. The longitude of the ascending node Q is measured by going from the vernal point direction g to the ascending node NA, corresponding to the direction of rotation of the Earth also indicated by an arrow in FIG.
[0007] It is thus possible to define an orbit plane by means of the inclination i and the longitude of the ascending node Q. The satellite then describes a circular or elliptical orbit in the orbit plane PO thus defined.
[0008] In the case of a circular orbit, the altitude is then substantially constant. In the case of an elliptical orbit, the altitude varies between a maximum value when the satellite is at the peak of its trajectory, and a minimum value when the satellite is at the perigee of its trajectory. For such an elliptical orbit, altitude will be referred to as an altitude at a given point in the orbit, for example the altitude at the ascending node, the descending node, the perigee or the apogee.
[0009] FIG. 2 represents two circular orbits 01 and 02 with the same inclination i, and having distinct ascending node longitudes, resulting in a shift of the orbits 01 and 02. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the steps of the method according to an aspect of the invention. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate an embodiment of the method according to one aspect of the invention. FIG. 4 represents the evolution of the altitude of the satellites of a satellite constellation deployed by means of a method according to one aspect of the invention. Figure 5 shows the evolution of the longitude of the ascending node Q of these satellites as a function of time.
[0010] During a first deployment step 10, a plurality of satellites of a satellite constellation are deployed by means of a single launcher. This plurality of satellites may correspond to all or part of the satellites of a satellite constellation. In the example presented hereinafter and illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the deployment of a set of 6 satellites will be considered in a single launch. The deployment of the plurality of satellites is performed at a common initial altitude, according to a common initial orbit. FIGS. 4 and 5 show this deployment step at t = 0; the six satellites deployed during the single launch are at the same altitude and have the same orbit. Once the deployment step 10 has been performed, a step is taken to control the altitude of the satellites thus deployed, so as to bring them each to a drift altitude. The drift altitudes are selected from a set of drifts 25 comprising a plurality of altitude values, and including, for example, the initial altitude. In the example shown, the set of drift comprises three altitudes: 30 - the initial altitude, - a high drift altitude, higher than the initial altitude, and - a low drift altitude, lower than the initial altitude.
[0011] In this example, the initial altitude is 800km, the high drift altitude is 1500km and the low drift altitude is 270km. Other embodiments are possible, including for example a larger or smaller number of altitudes in the drift set, and including or not the initial altitude and / or the final altitude in the drift assembly. . In general, the starting altitude, the high drift altitude, the low drift altitude and the final altitude are between 50 and 75,000 km. For example, the starting altitude can be between 33000 and 38000 km, and the final altitude between 20000 and 25000 km. In the case where some satellites of the set have a low drift altitude, it may then be necessary to apply a thrust force to compensate the atmospheric screen and thus maintain the satellite at the drift altitude. Figure 4 shows an example of timing over the duration of the satellite altitude control step. As shown in this figure, two satellites are piloted so as to leave the initial altitude to reach their drift altitude 25 as soon as the deployment step 10 is performed. Three of the other satellites are then successively brought to their drift orbits; two satellites are successively piloted to reach their respective drift orbits around 50 days after the deployment step 10, and a fifth satellite is piloted to reach its orbit of drift about 100 days after the deployment step 10. The sixth satellite remains in the initial orbit.
[0012] As their altitudes differ, the different satellites shift progressively relative to each other during a shift step 30.
[0013] Indeed, the Earth is not a perfect sphere; it presents in particular a flattening at its poles, which introduces a significant disturbance of the main gravitational potential. This disturbance causes a progressive modification of the orbits of the satellites moving at different altitudes, the force resulting from the terrestrial gravitational field exerted on a body depending on its distance from the Earth. Thus, if we consider the initial orbit as a reference orbit, the satellites that have reached drift altitudes distinct from the initial altitude have their orbit which is gradually changing with respect to the initial orbit. This modification of the orbit results in a modification of the longitude of the ascending node Q, which increases for satellites with a drift orbit whose altitude is lower than the initial altitude, and which decreases for the satellites having a orbit of drift higher than the initial altitude. We note that the initial orbit is chosen here as reference orbit, but that this choice is arbitrary and is only intended to describe the shift of satellite orbits relative to each other.
[0014] The timing of the sending of the different satellites to their respective drift altitudes makes it possible to obtain different offset values, although several satellites are sent at identical drift altitudes.
[0015] Figure 5 shows the evolution over time of the longitude of the ascending node Q for the six satellites considered.
[0016] Note in this figure 5 several slope changes of the evolution curves over time of the longitude of the ascending node Q, these changes in slope corresponding to altitude variations of the satellites considered.
[0017] The satellites are then brought back to a final orbit during a final piloting step 40, during which the different satellites are piloted so as to be brought to a final altitude from their respective drift altitudes.
[0018] The final altitude is typically between the initial altitude and the low drift altitude. The final altitude may also belong to the drift assembly; all or part of the satellites then do not have to modify their altitude during this final piloting step 40. The final altitude is typically between 200 and 800km, which corresponds to the altitude commonly used for observation satellites. . In the example shown, the satellites are successively brought to the final altitude which is 420km. As a variant, the satellites can be brought simultaneously to the final altitude, or in groups of satellites. This final piloting step is configured so that once the satellites are brought to the final altitude, their respective orbits are offset relative to each other, for example so that the different orbits have the same inclination i with respect to the same equatorial plane, but that the longitude of the ascending node Q of each orbit is distinct. The inclination is for example equal to 96 °. The inclination of the final orbits may be identical or distinct from that of the initial orbits.
[0019] In the embodiment shown, the control 20, drift 30 and final control 40 stages are configured in such a way that the longitude variation of the ascending node Q between the orbits of two adjacent satellites is constant once the satellites are brought back. at the final altitude, and here equal to 15 °. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the control 20, shift 30 and final control 40 stages overlap; for example, some satellites perform their final steering 40 while others are still in shift step 30. Figure 6 shows an example constellation of satellites deployed by means of a method according to one aspect of the invention. This figure shows the orbits 01 to 06 of the 6 satellites described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. As indicated above, the control 20, drift 30 and final control 40 stages are configured in such a way that the variation longitude 1 5 of the ascending node 52 between the orbits of two adjacent satellites is such that once the satellites returned to the final altitude, the realized d52 is constant between two successive orbits. The method thus described makes it possible to deploy a plurality of satellites of a satellite constellation in a single launch, and to make a shift in their respective orbits by exploiting the earth's gravitational potential. The method can be used for the deployment of satellite constellations according to all types of orbits; circular, elliptical, in low orbit or high orbit.
[0020] This method therefore makes it possible not to require significant propellant consumption to achieve the modification of the orbit of the satellites, and to significantly reduce the number of launches required for such deployment. Depending on the desired final orbits, the satellite constellation may be implemented in less than one year. For example, the deployment of a constellation of 12 satellites by means of two launches of 6 satellites each implementing the proposed method can be realized in less than one year.
权利要求:
Claims (10)
[0001]
REVENDICATIONS1. A method of deploying a satellite constellation, wherein - by means of a single launcher, a plurality of satellites are deployed (10) at an initial altitude on an initial orbit, - said satellites are driven (20) so as to that each satellite reaches a drift altitude among a set of drifts, to which the orbits of the different satellites are shifted (30) relative to each other under the effect of the gravitational potential of the earth, - the satellites are controlled so as to to be displaced (40) sequentially to reach the same final altitude, said sequential movement being carried out so that the satellites describe final orbits angularly offset relative to each other.
[0002]
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the final orbits of the satellites are angularly offset from each other about the axis of rotation of the earth.
[0003]
The method of claim 2, wherein said final orbits have a constant angular offset (dS2) between two successive final orbits.
[0004]
The method of one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said drift set comprises a high drift altitude and a low drift altitude, respectively having a higher and lower altitude than the initial altitude.
[0005]
The method of claim 4, wherein the departure altitude at the high drift altitude, the low drift altitude and the final altitude are between 150 km and 75000 km.
[0006]
6. Method according to one of claims 4 or 5, wherein the final altitude of said satellites is between the initial altitude and low drift altitude.
[0007]
7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said final altitude is between 200 and 800 km.
[0008]
The method according to claim 6, wherein the departure altitude is 800 km, the high drift altitude is 1500 km, the low drift altitude is 270 km and the final altitude is 420 km. .
[0009]
9. The method of claim 5, wherein the starting altitude is between 33000 and 38000 km, and the final altitude is between 20000 and 25000 km.
[0010]
The method according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the final orbits of said satellites have distinct inclinations with respect to their initial orbits.
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优先权:
申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
FR1453690A|FR3020348B1|2014-04-24|2014-04-24|METHOD FOR DEPLOYING A CONSTELLATION OF SATELLITES|FR1453690A| FR3020348B1|2014-04-24|2014-04-24|METHOD FOR DEPLOYING A CONSTELLATION OF SATELLITES|
BR112016024524A| BR112016024524A2|2014-04-24|2015-04-21|? process for deploying a satellite constellation?|
JP2016564002A| JP6659576B2|2014-04-24|2015-04-21|Methods for deploying satellite constellations|
PCT/FR2015/051074| WO2015162370A1|2014-04-24|2015-04-21|Method for deploying a satellite constellation|
CN201580021321.2A| CN106458337B|2014-04-24|2015-04-21|The method for disposing satellite group|
EP15725768.4A| EP3134322B1|2014-04-24|2015-04-21|Method of deploying a satellite constellation|
RU2021133706A| RU2021133706A|2014-04-24|2015-04-21|METHOD FOR DEPLOYING A SATELLITE GROUP|
CA2946233A| CA2946233A1|2014-04-24|2015-04-21|Method for deploying a satellite constellation|
US15/305,860| US11066190B2|2014-04-24|2015-04-21|Method for deploying a satellite constellation|
RU2016145879A| RU2016145879A3|2014-04-24|2015-04-21|
IL248390A| IL248390D0|2014-04-24|2016-10-19|Method for deploying a satellite constellation|
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