Method for constellation design for earth periodic coverage using compound satellite structures on orbits with synchronized nodal regression

The problem of optimization of the satellite orbits and constellations for Earth periodic coverage is considered. The method for constellation design using compound satellite structures on orbits with synchronized nodal regression is developed. Compound, multi-tiered, satellite structures (constellations) are based on orbits with different values of altitude and inclination providing nodal regression synchronization. It is shown that using compound satellite constellations for Earth periodic coverage makes it possible to sufficiently improve the Earth coverage, as compared to the traditional constellations based on the orbits with common altitude and inclination for all the satellites of the constellation, and, as a consequence, to get new opportunities for the satellite constellation design for different types of prospective space systems regarding increasing the quality of observations or minimization of the number of the satellites required.