Abstract
A semi-analytical technique for both the design and control of repeat groundtrack (RGT) orbits in a high fidelity dynamical model, including non-conservative forces and accurate Earth orientation parameters, is introduced. The method is based on the use of high-order expansion of Poincaré maps to propagate forward in time regions of the phase space for one, or more, repeat cycles. This map provides the means to efficiently study the effect that an impulse, applied at the Poincaré section crossing, produces on the ground-track pattern, thus enabling highly accurate design and control. The approach is applied to the design and control of missions like TerraSAR-X, Landsat-8, SPOT-7, IRS-P6, and UoSAT-12.