General Analysis Method for Discontinuous Coverage Satellite Constellations

A more universal method for a discontinuous coverage analysis that will be suitable from satellite constellations to arbitrary sets of satellites in circular orbits. The approximate approach is based on two-dimensional maps of visibility properties and can be used for any type of satellite constellations and is applicable to arbitrary sets of satellites. The presented method is based on the sequential unifications of the visibility longitude ranges from revolution to revolution, subject to the ground-track shift. For each satellite, the visibility times are calculated for all of the revolutions at an analysis interval as a list including the times, satellite numbers, and revolution numbers. In the analysis, the evolution of orbital elements, and/or the discrete changes due to orbital maneuvers, can also be considered.