Ricerc@Sapienza

The Periodic Multi-Sun-Synchronous Orbit allows the planning of observational cycles in which the solar illumination of the observed planet varies regularly, and returns to the initial condition at the beginning of each cycle. In the classical down-looking geometry of observation, this leads to the possibility of reconstructing the temporal evolution of all planetary parameters that are characterised by a typical variation in the solar day.

Following an approach based on ground track analysis, original and compact relationships which permit the construction of ground track patterns and the determination of satellite arrangements able to generate appropriate track distance and revisit frequency over a given area are presented. These equations are valid in the general case of elliptical orbit and can easily be implemented in computer codes devoted to the design of single and multi-plane satellite constellations.