Satellite constellation forming system, satellite constellation forming method, computer readable medium, and ground device

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a satellite constellation forming program for a satellite constellation forming system to form a satellite constellation having a plurality of orbital planes in each of which a plurality of satellites fly as an orbit satellite group, the plurality of orbital planes having mutually different normal directions, each of the plurality of satellites in the orbit satellite group including a propulsion device to change velocity of each of the plurality of satellites in the orbit satellite group, the satellite constellation forming program causing a computer to execute:

• a process of causing propulsion devices of the plurality of satellites in the orbit satellite group to operate in synchronization, for each orbital plane of the plurality of orbital planes;
• and
• a process of causing each satellite in an orbit satellite group in a first orbital plane of the plurality of orbital planes to perform an acceleration and deceleration process of repeating operation of accelerating for a first time period and then decelerating for the first time period, and causing each satellite in an orbit satellite group in an orbital plane adjacent to the first orbital plane to start the acceleration and deceleration process after a delay of a second time period from a time point when the acceleration and deceleration process is started in the first orbital plane, repeatedly for each of the plurality of orbital planes.

A ground device of a satellite constellation forming system to form a satellite constellation having a plurality of orbital planes in each of which a plurality of satellites fly as an orbit satellite group, the plurality of orbital planes having mutually different normal directions, each of the plurality of satellites in the orbit satellite group including a propulsion device to change velocity of each of the plurality of satellites in the orbit satellite group, the ground device comprising:

• a communication device to transmit and receive signals for tracking and controlling each satellite in the orbit satellite group in each orbital plane of the plurality of orbital planes of the satellite constellation;
• and
• processing circuitry to generate an orbit control command to cause propulsion devices of the plurality of satellites in the orbit satellite group to operate in synchronization, for each orbital plane of the plurality of orbital planes, and to cause each satellite in an orbit satellite group in a first orbital plane of the plurality of orbital planes to perform an acceleration and deceleration process of repeating operation of accelerating for a first time period and then decelerating for the first time period, and cause each satellite in an orbit satellite group in an orbital plane adjacent to the first orbital plane to start the acceleration and deceleration process after a delay of a second time period from a time point when the acceleration and deceleration process is started in the first orbital plane, repeatedly for each of the plurality of orbital planes,
• wherein the communication device transmits the orbit control command to each satellite in the orbit satellite group in each orbital plane of the plurality of orbital planes.