A MEO Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System Constellation Scheme for China

A medium earth orbit （MEO） tracking and data relay satellite system （TDRSS） constellation scheme for China is proposed. This system consists of MEO satellite constellation, inter-satellite links （ISLs） and terrestrial gateway station, which can provide continuous bidirectional data transmission links between low altitude spacecrafls and the terrestrial gateway station in China. Theoretical analysis and simulation results indicate that the proposed constellation can cover the global low altitude space sphere and earth surface of China continuously, and has a preferable practical perspective.

Zenith Pass Problem of Inter-satellite Linkage Antenna Based on Program Guidance Method

While adopting an elevation-over-azimuth architecture by an inter-satellite linkage antenna of a user satellite, a zenith pass problem always occurs when the antenna is tracing the tracking and data relay satellite （TDRS）. This paper deals with this problem by way of, firstly, introducing movement laws of the inter-satellite linkage to predict the movement of the user satellite antenna followed by analyzing the potential pass moment and the actual one of the zenith pass in detail. A number of specific orbit altitudes for the user satellite that can remove the blindness zone are obtained. Finally, on the base of the predicted results from the movement laws of the inter-satellite linkage, the zenith pass tracing strategies for the user satellite antenna are designed under the program guidance using a trajectory preprocessor. Simulations have confirmed the reasonability and feasibility of the strategies in dealing with the zenith pass problem.

Comparison between several satellite constellation schemes for MEO-TDRSS of China

The satellite constellation classes, which are suitable for the medium earth orbit tracking and data relay satellite system （MEO-TDRSS） of China, are investigated. On the basis of the functionality and the traffic distribution characteristic of MEO-TDRSS, the coverage performance and inter-satellite link properties of four different constellation schemes are compared by simulations. Simulation results indicate that the rosette and common-track constellations, whose satellites are distributed on the celestial sphere more uniformly, are appropriate for the implementation of MEO-TDRSS of China.

Design and Implementation of Hybrid Light and Microwave Switches Based on Wavelength Selective Switch for Future Satellite Networks

A hybrid switching node structure with light and microwave links is proposed, which is applicable to the future data relay satellite systems, aiming at the development trend of coexistence of light- link and microwave-link in the future. An experimental system for the light and microwave hybrid switching node based on wavelength selective optical switches (WSS) and optical transceiver modules, is established. It is shown by our experiment that this hybrid switching node can realize the dynamic bandwidth allocation and wavelength routing while the bit error rate of light link is less than 10?12, which provides a method for solving the hybrid switching problem of light-link and microwave-link on the future data relay satellite systems.

Feedforward attitude control for a TDRS with mobile antennas

In this paper, feedforward attitude control law for a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite （TDRS） with mobile antennas is proposed. To track or point the target spacecraft with median/law orbit, the large mobile antennas have to move in a wide range. The movement of such mobile antennas disturbs the satellite attitude conscquently. Conventionally, the main body of thc satellitc and the mobile antennas are controlled independently. The proposed controller first estimates the angular momentum which the mobile antennas will produce based on tiLe momentum conservation equation. Next, it computes the desired velocity of reaction wheels to compensate the disturbance due to the antenna motion. It then adds the errnr of the wheels＇ velocity between a desired one and a current value as a feedforward signal to the control system. The proposed controller is demonstrated using a mathematical simulation, of which these results coincide well with analytical results.

Type synthesis of 2-DoF rotational parallel mechanisms actuating the inter-satellite link antenna

This paper focuses on the type synthesis of two degree-of-freedom(2-DoF) rotational parallel mechanisms(RPMs) that would be applied as mechanisms actuating the inter-satellite link antenna. Based upon Lie group theory, two steps are necessary to synthesize 2-DoF RPMs except describing the continuous desired motions of the moving platform. They are respectively generation of required open-loop limbs between the fixed base and the moving platform and definition of assembly principles for these limbs. Firstly, all available displacement subgroups or submanifolds are obtained readily according to that the continuous motion of the moving platform is the intersection of those of all open-loop limbs. These subgroups or submanifolds are used to generate all the topology structures of limbs. By describing the characteristics of the displacement subgroups and submanifolds intuitively through employing simple geometrical symbols, their intersection and union operations can be carried out easily. Based on this, the assembly principles of two types are defined to synthesize all 2-DoF RPMs using obtained limbs. Finally, two novel categories of 2-DoF RPMs are provided by introducing a circular track and an articulated rotating platform,respectively. This work can lay the foundations for analysis and optimal design of 2-DoF RPMs that actuate the inter-satellite link antenna.