"SPACE EGGS" - Satellite Coverage Model for Low Earth Orbit Constellations

The effectiveness calculations of global, regional, and area coverage for proliferated small satellite constellations in low altitude orbits stress the capability of conventional analytical techniques. A new approach that combines the Mollweide (equal area) projection with an on-screen color manipulation of the picture elements (or pixels) has been developed and utilized over the past decade. This technique enables the optimization of large satellite constellations with multiple communication or sensor viewing configurations, with a minimum number of calculations. Complex viewing geometries are well adapted with this analytical approach, along with exclusion requirements such as the sun, moon or earth avoidance. This technique has proven useful in minimizing the number of low altitude communication satellites (for any planet) and optimizing the sensor suite for specific missions.