Satellite Constellation Design for a Lunar Navigation and Communication System
There has been a growing interest in using small satellites (SmallSats) for a future lunar navigation and communication satellite system (LNCSS). We conceptualize the design of a SmallSat-based LNCSS with Earth-global positioning system (GPS) time transfer that provides navigation and communication...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Institute of Navigation
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Navigation |
| Online Access: | https://navi.ion.org/content/70/4/navi.613 |
| _version_ | 1797393371679948800 |
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| author | Sriramya Bhamidipati Tara Mina Alana Sanchez Grace Gao |
| author_facet | Sriramya Bhamidipati Tara Mina Alana Sanchez Grace Gao |
| author_sort | Sriramya Bhamidipati |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There has been a growing interest in using small satellites (SmallSats) for a future lunar navigation and communication satellite system (LNCSS). We conceptualize the design of a SmallSat-based LNCSS with Earth-global positioning system (GPS) time transfer that provides navigation and communication services near the lunar south pole. A hybrid constellation design is formulated, wherein all satellites provide navigation services while only a fraction are communication-enabled. Using Systems Tool Kit software, we examine various LNCSS case studies based on an elliptical lunar frozen orbit with a lower-grade chip-scale atomic clock. Case studies are evaluated in terms of (1) navigation considerations, including position and timing accuracy, lunar user equivalent ranging error, and dilution of precision, (2) communication considerations, including data volume, availability, and data rate, and (3) SmallSat factors, including cost, size, weight, and power. We performed a trade-off analysis for satisfying the criteria outlined by international space agencies while designing low-cost, low-SWaP lunar constellations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:01:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f4a96ebd24d34b6ebea80f6347c5195f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2161-4296 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:01:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Institute of Navigation |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Navigation |
| spelling | doaj.art-f4a96ebd24d34b6ebea80f6347c5195f2023-12-12T17:32:42ZengInstitute of NavigationNavigation2161-42962023-10-0170410.33012/navi.613navi.613Satellite Constellation Design for a Lunar Navigation and Communication SystemSriramya BhamidipatiTara MinaAlana SanchezGrace GaoThere has been a growing interest in using small satellites (SmallSats) for a future lunar navigation and communication satellite system (LNCSS). We conceptualize the design of a SmallSat-based LNCSS with Earth-global positioning system (GPS) time transfer that provides navigation and communication services near the lunar south pole. A hybrid constellation design is formulated, wherein all satellites provide navigation services while only a fraction are communication-enabled. Using Systems Tool Kit software, we examine various LNCSS case studies based on an elliptical lunar frozen orbit with a lower-grade chip-scale atomic clock. Case studies are evaluated in terms of (1) navigation considerations, including position and timing accuracy, lunar user equivalent ranging error, and dilution of precision, (2) communication considerations, including data volume, availability, and data rate, and (3) SmallSat factors, including cost, size, weight, and power. We performed a trade-off analysis for satisfying the criteria outlined by international space agencies while designing low-cost, low-SWaP lunar constellations.https://navi.ion.org/content/70/4/navi.613 |
| spellingShingle | Sriramya Bhamidipati Tara Mina Alana Sanchez Grace Gao Satellite Constellation Design for a Lunar Navigation and Communication System Navigation |
| title | Satellite Constellation Design for a Lunar Navigation and Communication System |
| title_full | Satellite Constellation Design for a Lunar Navigation and Communication System |
| title_fullStr | Satellite Constellation Design for a Lunar Navigation and Communication System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Satellite Constellation Design for a Lunar Navigation and Communication System |
| title_short | Satellite Constellation Design for a Lunar Navigation and Communication System |
| title_sort | satellite constellation design for a lunar navigation and communication system |
| url | https://navi.ion.org/content/70/4/navi.613 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sriramyabhamidipati satelliteconstellationdesignforalunarnavigationandcommunicationsystem AT taramina satelliteconstellationdesignforalunarnavigationandcommunicationsystem AT alanasanchez satelliteconstellationdesignforalunarnavigationandcommunicationsystem AT gracegao satelliteconstellationdesignforalunarnavigationandcommunicationsystem |