ORION: Analysis and Design Tool for Satellite Constellations

Stefania Cornara, Theresa W. Beech, Miguel Bello-Mora and Guy Janin

Abstract:	The considerable surge in satellite constellations has brought to the fore the imperative need for an efficient constellation design and management plan. To address this emerging need, GMV has studied and tested algorithms for the analysis of the key phases in constellation development. These algorithms have been integrated in a software tool kit, called ORION, which combines databases, optimization procedures and Monte Carlo simulation techniques. The ORION tool incorporates a set of algorithms that offer complete analysis capabilities and outline optimal strategies to deal with the following issues of the constellation life cycle: ! Constellation orbital design ! Constellation performance evaluation ! Launch strategy and constellation set-up ! Constellation replacement and spare strategy ! Constellation orbit maintenance ! Constellation orbit determination ! Constellation long-term evolution and end-of-life policy. Tests for all of the ORION algorithms have been carried out using constellations which are either in use (Globalstar, GPS, ORBCOMM), or in the development phase (Galileo, Skybridge, Teledesic, Fuego). The results obtained allow assessing the effectiveness and the commercial viability of the algorithms implemented. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the ORION software tool and an application of its capabilities to the analysis of the launch and set-up strategies for the Galileo constellation. Key words: Satellite Constellation Algorithms, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).
Published in:	Proceedings of the IAIN World Congress and the 56th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (2000) June 26 - 28, 2000 The Catamaran Resort Hotel San Diego, CA
Pages:	128 - 139
Cite this article:	Cornara, Stefania, Beech, Theresa W., Bello-Mora, Miguel, Janin, Guy, "ORION: Analysis and Design Tool for Satellite Constellations," Proceedings of the IAIN World Congress and the 56th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (2000), San Diego, CA, June 2000, pp. 128-139.
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