TITLE:
An Analysis and Computation of Optimum Earth Geographical Coverage for Global Satellite Communications
AUTHORS:
O. C. Eke Vincent, A. N. Nzeako
KEYWORDS:
Global Coverage; LEO Satellite; One Dimensional Model; Satellite Mobility Model; Central Angle; Instantaneous Coverage; Arc Length; Terrestrial Cellular Concept
JOURNAL NAME:
Communications and Network,
Vol.5 No.4,
November
28,
2013
ABSTRACT:
This paper presents simple mathematical mobility models
for configuration of Global interconnectivity with LEO satellite systems. The
aim of this paper is to investigate on the performance measures of the
satellite mobility models regarding optimum Global coverage arc length
depending on the satellite locations relative to the four zones (quadrants) of
the earth surface. A typical body of the satellite was positioned at a
modified height of 780 Km from the earth surface and revolving round the earth
in a circle of radius, 7160 Km was carefully studied and analytically
parameterized enabling the generation of realistic instantaneous coverage arc
lengths data. We compared the minimum required instantaneous arc lengths for
the three mobility models that should cover the geographical coverage areas of
the earth. The impact of the satellite movements relative to the earth
locations was that the instantaneous coverage arc lengths were exponentially
varying with time and continuously distributed within the four zones of the
earth surface to provide continuous coverage around one polar orbit plane and
assuming operations can continue down to an elevation angle of zero degree. The
advantage of the derived mobility models is achieving almost 100% global
coverage as a result of the dynamic behavior of the satellite playing an
important role of providing instantaneous coverage arc lengths. This procedure
also allows comparisons among different degrees of built-up zones of the
earth surface as well as extra-polation to the different locations on the earth
surface.