Revisiting Elliptical Satellite Orbits to Enhance the O3b Constellation

L. Wood et al. (2014), JBIS, 67, pp.110-118

Refcode: 2014.67.110
Keywords: Satellite, HEO, Elliptical orbit, O3b

Abstract:
Highly elliptical orbits can be used to provide targeted satellite coverage of locations at high latitudes. We review the history of use of these orbits for communication. How elliptical orbits can be used for broadband communication is outlined. We propose an addition of known elliptical orbits to the new equatorial O3b satellite constellation, extending O3b to cover high latitudes and the Earth’s poles. We simulate the O3b constellation and compare this to recent measurement of the first real Internet traffic across the newly deployed O3b network.