Systems and methods for satellite constellation launch using air-launched vehicles

A method for launching a plurality of satellites for a satellite constellation, the method comprising:

• receiving an indication of a desired satellite constellation, wherein the desired satellite constellation comprises a first satellite traveling in a first orbit and a second satellite traveling in a second orbit, and wherein the first orbit comprises first orbit parameters and the second orbit comprises second orbit parameters, the first and second orbit parameters each respectively comprising at least:
• a semi-major axis, an inclination, and a longitude of an ascending node;
• determining, based on information about an accessible range of an aircraft configured to carry a first launch vehicle and a second launch vehicle, a geographical area that the aircraft can access without landing, the first launch vehicle including the first satellite and the second launch vehicle including the second satellite;
• determining, based on the orbit parameters of the first orbit, a first aerial launch site for launching the first satellite from the aircraft into the first orbit, the first aerial launch site comprising a first geographical position and a first launch time, the first geographical position within the geographical area that the aircraft can access without landing;
• air-launching, from the aircraft via the first launch vehicle, the first satellite at the first aerial launch site;
• determining, based on the orbit parameters of the second orbit, a second aerial launch site for launching the second satellite from the aircraft into the second orbit, the second aerial launch site comprising a second geographical position and a second launch time, the second geographical position within the geographical area that the aircraft can access without landing;
• and
• air-launching, from the aircraft via the second launch vehicle, the second satellite at the second aerial launch site.