Delta velocities and propulsion requirements for east‐west and north‐south station keeping for spacecraft in GSO

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Pattan, Bruno

Affiliations: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, Washington, DC, USA Tel.: +1 202 418 2436; E‐mail: [email protected]

Abstract: The satellite in geostationary orbit is subjected to various forces which tend to move it from its assigned GSO orbital position. This movement is primarily in the east‐west direction and north‐south direction. The latter causes an increase in inclination from the desired orbit in the equatorial plane where inclination equals zero. Station keeping is therefore required and is implemented by on‐board thrusters. This note illustrates how compenstation is achieved and what velocity changes are required and the fuel consumption necessary.

Journal: Space Communications, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 313-319, 2001