Large-scale constellation design framework for CubeSats

Abstract

A computational framework for designing a constellation that includes a plurality of cube satellites (CubeSats) includes an orbit propagation module, a coverage estimation module, a connectivity estimation module and an annealing module. The orbit propagation module receives a plurality of static parameters for the constellation and determines a position vector, a ground track and sub-satellite points for each of the plurality of CubeSats. The coverage estimation module receives the plurality of static parameters for the constellation and estimates Earth coverage for the constellation. The connectivity estimation module receives the plurality of static parameters for the constellation and determines active inter-satellite links (ISL) in the constellation. The annealing module receives input from the orbit propagation module, the coverage estimation module and the connectivity module and employs an annealing algorithm that generates a constellation design.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.