Orbit Design of Space-based Visible Sensor Satellite for Monitoring the Objects in Geosynchronous Belt

Based on the analysis of the optical and positional characteristics for geosynchronous objects, this paper motivates the location chosen for the search fence and the Space-Based Visible (SBV) sensor operating strategy. The relationship among the size of the search fence, the time required to search the fence region and the times of the observation is deduced firstly. Then, according to the requirement of the space mission and the characteristics of SBV sensor, this paper selected the surveillance orbit type and established the constraint conditions of the system parameters. Finally, the range of altitude for the surveillance orbit is provided on the constraint conditions, and the observational efficiencies of all possible surveillance orbits are simulated. The results of simulation indicate that the percentages of coverage for objects in geosynchronous belt of the surveillance orbits are above 90% when the orbital parameters are suitable. The percentages of coverage are above 95% when the field of view for SBV sensor is about 4° × 4° or the size of the search fence is above 40°.