Fundamentals of the route theory for satellite constellation design for Earth discontinuous coverage. Part 4: Compound satellite structures on orbits with synchronized nodal regression

Basing on the theory results considered in the previous papers of the series for traditional one-tiered constellation formed on the orbits with the same values of altitudes and inclinations for all the satellites of the constellation, the method for constellation design using compound satellite structures on orbits with different altitudes and inclinations and synchronized nodal regression is developed. Compound, multi-tiered, satellite structures (constellations) are based on orbits with different values of altitude and inclination providing nodal regression synchronization. It is shown that using compound satellite constellations for Earth periodic coverage makes it possible to sufficiently improve the Earth coverage, as compared to the traditional constellations based on the orbits with common altitude and inclination for all the satellites of the constellation, and, as a consequence, to get new opportunities for the satellite constellation design for different types of prospective space systems regarding increasing the quality of observations or minimization of the number of the satellites required. (C) 2016 IAA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.