A general analytical mission-based approach to reconfigurable satellite constellation design for astronomical bodies

This paper provides an analytical method whereby a small reconfigurable satellite constellation equipped, with their own propulsion systems allowing them to manoeuvre between orbits, could be used to calculate the zonal harmonics up to the sixth order of the central astronomical body for which these values may not be precisely known. For both Earth and Jupiter, the 2, 4 and 6 values calculated using this method were found to differ from the values used in the propagator taken from literature by only a maximum of 0.00185%. This paper then outlines a procedure to find repeating ground track and sun-synchronous orbits about any astronomical body that can be modelled as an ellipsoid in hydrostatic equilibrium assuming knowledge of the zonal harmonic up to the sixth order. Through investigation it emerges that for Mars there are seven possible circular sun-synchronous repeating ground track orbits below an altitude of 1800 km, with all having inclinations between 92°-99°. These orbits could be utilised for reconnaissance missions about astronomical bodies for a variety of purposes including scouting potential landing sites or furthering scientific research.