Correlation of GEO Comsat Anomalies and Space Weather Phenomena for Improved Satellite Performance and Risk Mitigation
We correlate on-orbit component telemetry data from seven Inmarsat geostationary communications satellites from 1996 to 2012 with historical space weather information. We specifically utilize data from the Geostationary Operational Environment Satellites (GOES), the Advanced Composition Explorer...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | en_US |
| Published: |
Aerospace Research Central
2013
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/80845 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7791-5124 |
| Summary: | We correlate on-orbit component telemetry data from seven Inmarsat
geostationary communications satellites from 1996 to 2012 with historical space
weather information. We specifically utilize data from the Geostationary
Operational Environment Satellites (GOES), the Advanced Composition Explorer
(ACE) Satellite, the Royal Observatory of Belgium’s Solar Influences Data Analysis
Center (SIDC), and the Kyoto Geomagnetic Equatorial Disturbance Storm Time
(Dst) Index data service. In our analysis, we compare the Inmarsat solid-state power
amplifier (SSPA) currents to energetic particle fluxes and space weather indices
such as Dst, Kp (an index that describes disturbances in horizontal component of
the Earth’s magnetic field), and solar flares. These space weather indices capture
the severity of solar storms that can send energetic particles streaming towards
Earth and magnetic storms that can impact the performance of GEO
communication satellites. We find that seventeen out of twenty-six SSPA anomalies
occurred within two weeks of prior severe space weather events. Two anomalies
occurred during geomagnetic events, one occurred during a severe radiation event
caused by solar energetic protons, and fifteen occurred within two weeks of severe
radiation events caused by relativistic electrons. There was no apparent correlation
between spacecraft eclipse periods and anomaly occurrence. Although the year with
the most anomalies coincided with a sunspot cycle minimum, there were additional
fleet transition factors that prevent a clear conclusion about this aspect. Additional
findings include an interesting direct relationship between the GOES 2 MeV
electron flux and SSPA current prior to an anomaly. Anomalies with on-board
components such as SSPAs are expected and are managed by all satellite operators.
An anomaly rate is factored into the design of geostationary satellites and is
typically mitigated through the use of on-board unit redundancy and configuration
options. The examples given have been handled without impacting the performance
of any satellite. The current SSPA anomaly rate is significantly lower than that
modeled as part of the design reliability analysis, hence both performance and
lifetime have not been impacted adversely. |
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