The pole-sitter mission concept : an overview of recent developments and possible future applications
Ceriotti, Matteo and McInnes, Colin and Diedrich, Benjamin (2011) The pole-sitter mission concept : an overview of recent developments and possible future applications. In: 62nd International Astronautical Congress 2011, 2011-10-03 - 2011-10-07.
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Abstract
The paper provides a survey of novel mission concepts for continuous, hemispheric polar observation and direct-link polar telecommunications. It is well known that these services cannot be provided by traditional platforms: geostationary satellites do not cover high-latitude regions, while low- and medium-orbit Sun-synchronous spacecraft only cover a narrow swath of the Earth at each passage. Concepts that are proposed in the literature are described, including the pole-sitter concept (in which a spacecraft is stationary above the pole), spacecraft in artificial equilibrium points in the Sun-Earth system and non-Keplerian polar Molniya orbits. Additionally, novel displaced eight-shaped orbits at Lagrangian points are presented. For many of these concepts, a continuous acceleration is required and propulsion systems include solar electric propulsion, solar sail and a hybridisation of the two. Advantages and drawbacks of each mission concept are assessed, and a comparison in terms of high-latitude coverage and distance, spacecraft mass, payload and lifetime is presented. Finally, the paper will describe a number of potential applications enabled by these concepts, focusing on polar Earth observation and telecommunications.
Creators(s): | Ceriotti, Matteo, McInnes, Colin and Diedrich, Benjamin; | Item type: | Conference or Workshop Item(Paper) |
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ID code: | 33358 |
Keywords: | Earth observation, pole-sitter, high-latitude observation, telecommunications, space mission concepts, Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics, Mechanical engineering and machinery, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Control and Systems Engineering, Computer Networks and Communications |
Subjects: | Technology > Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics Technology > Mechanical engineering and machinery |
Department: | Faculty of Engineering > Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Technology and Innovation Centre > Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing |
Depositing user: | Pure Administrator |
Date deposited: | 16 Sep 2011 10:47 |
Last modified: | 06 Jan 2021 02:38 |
URI: | https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/33358 |
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