Track- and Time Stability Investigation for the Fire Recoginition Satellite System (FIRES)

Abstract

FIRES (Fire Recognition System for Small Satellites)is a satellite project proposed by DLR (German Aerospace Research Establishment). The paper deals with to orbit analysis for the satellite system based on mission requirements. Special emphasis is done for the satellite in the preoperational project phase with respect to the investigation of track stability, time stability, orbit from stability. In case that no onboard orbit control is foreseen and that a sunsynchronous orbit is selected as nominal orbit it can be shown that no track stability can be guaranteed where as time stability with respect to mean local time as well as to true Sun can be achieved with regard to injection accuracies and orbit parameter variations (pertubations) within certain accuracy limits. In order to allow passive local time stabilization a sub- sunsychronous target orbit is recommended.