Altitude trades are perhaps the most common example of a trade in which multiple influences push the parameter in different ways. We would normally like to move the satellite higher to achieve better coverage, better survivability, and easier communications. On the other hand, launchability, resolution, and payload weight tend to drive the satellite lower. The radiation environment dictates specific altitudes we would like to avoid, and the eclipse fraction may or may not play a crucial role in the altitude trade. We must assess each of these effects and summarize all of them to complete a trade study. One possible summary is a numerically weighted average of the various outcomes, such as three times the coverage in square nautical miles per second divided by twice the resolution in furlongs. Although this provides a convenient numerical answer, it does not provide the physical insight or conceptual balance needed for intelligent choices. A better solution is to provide the data on all of the relevant parameters and choose based on inspection rather than numerical weighting.

The FireSat altitude trade provides an example of trading on parameters with multiple effects. For FireSat, neither survivability nor communications is a key issue, but coverage does push the satellite upward. On the other hand, payload weight and good resolution tend to push the satellite lower. Figure 3-1 shows the results of a hypothetical FireSat altitude trade. Notice that each parameter has various possible outcomes. Altitudes above or below a certain value may be eliminated, or we may simply prefer a general direction, such as lower altitude providing better resolution. Based on these results, we select a nominal altitude of 700 km for FireSat and a possible range of 600 to 800 km. This selection is not magic. We have tried to balance the alternatives sensibly, but not in a way that we can numerically justify.


Mowed Range (km)

0 0

Post a comment