Evaluation of the Possibility of Using Resonant Orbits for Accompanying Relay Satellites

Abstract: The paper considers the problem of ensuring stable radio communication during an Earth–Mars flight using relay satellites. We have analyzed the orbits of relay satellites that are in resonance with the Earth–Mars flight trajectory, which makes it possible to provide a channel of communication with Earth for each mission using such trajectory. A single-stage relay scheme is considered using a regenerative transponder that performs complete processing of the received signal, including demodulation, decoding, subsequent coding, modulation, and transfer to the operating frequency. An independent assessment of power budgets of the communication channels “mission-oriented spacecraft–relay satellite” and “relay satellite–ground receiving network” has been performed. The requirements for the possible regions of the relay satellite positioning in the Earth–Mars flight stage are formulated. Families of resonant orbits providing the given quality of communication on the trajectory of the mission-oriented spacecraft using the relay satellite are defined. The most promising variants of relay satellite orbits have been identified based on the following criteria: the maximum transmitted data during the flight and the maximum data rate at the maximum distance from the Earth. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd. 2024.