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A Study for IGSO Inclination Angles in the Transmitting Satellite Navigation Constellation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 October 2011

Lihua Ma*
Affiliation:
(National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
Guoxiang Ai
Affiliation:
(National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
Haifu Ji
Affiliation:
(National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
*

Abstract

Unlike a direct broadcasting satellite navigation system, the transmitting satellite navigation system developed in China uses transponders onboard communication satellites to retransmit navigation signals generated at a ground master station. The transmitting navigation satellite constellation consists of a number of inclined geosynchronous orbit (IGSO) satellites. Considering China's mainland coverage in the northern hemisphere occupies some 62 degrees in longitude, the inclination of the IGSO satellites cannot be too high, or its signals would not be received by the users in the middle and high latitude areas when the IGSO satellite travels over the southern hemisphere. Meanwhile, the latitude of the most southerly station in China mainland that can uplink navigation signals is about 18°N when the IGSO satellite travels to the southern hemisphere. Therefore, there is a need to consider the IGSO inclination to achieve balance between uplinking high-quality navigation signals and covering the high-latitude area. In this work, the navigation performance and availability of the IGSO satellite are examined when navigation signals are uplinked from the stations Lintong and Sanya.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 2011

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References

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