Positioning and control of the orbital structure of the Arktika-M innovative space system (marking the 50 years of Lavochkin Association’s space activities)

Abstract

The orbital positioning options and orbital structure control methods are considered for the Arktika-M highly elliptical hydrometeorological space system, which is designed for continuous 24-hour imaging of the Earth’s Arctic region. The purpose of the control is to ensure on-going performance during the entire operational life of the space system given a major spatial and temporal deformation of its orbital structure due to the nonuniform evolution of the orbital parameters. The highly elliptical Molniya orbits are considered. The proposed control procedure is based on the minimization of the spatial and temporal deformation of the orbital structure by means of the differential choice of the initial orbital parameters during the deployment and follow-up of the space system.