Satellite Constellation Optimization for Emitter Geolocalization Missions Based on Angle of Arrival Techniques

Area of Science:

• Space Science and Engineering
• Satellite Geolocation Technology
• Optimization Theory

Background:

• Accurate geolocation of Earth-based signal emitters is crucial for various civil and defense applications.
• Satellite platforms equipped with Angle of Arrival (AOA) sensors offer a promising solution for remote signal detection.
• Existing orbital deployment strategies require optimization to maximize geolocation accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a theoretical framework for optimizing satellite orbital deployment for enhanced geolocation accuracy.
• To minimize the position error variance of signal emitters using AOA measurements from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.
• To establish a methodology for translating mission design requirements into orbital optimization problems.

Main Methods:

• Formulation of an optimization problem for arbitrary numbers of LEO satellites and target pointing attitudes.
• Minimization of the Position Dilution of Precision (PDOP) metric under Line of Sight (LOS) constraints.
• Numerical application demonstrating optimal placement of a second satellite relative to an existing one.

Main Results:

• Analysis of simulation results concerning orbital parameters like true anomaly and right ascension of the ascending node.
• Identification of trends, parameter dependencies, and symmetry properties influencing geolocation accuracy.
• Validation of the methodology for translating mission requirements into orbital optimization.

Conclusions:

• The developed framework provides a robust method for optimizing satellite constellations for geolocation tasks.
• The study offers new insights into the interplay of orbital parameters and geolocation precision.
• This research supports the development of CubeSats with AOA payloads for advanced spectrum monitoring and search and rescue operations.