Evolution of the structure evolution of satellite constellations

The present study is focussed on the secular variation of the geometrical structure of satellite constellations. The orbital evolution under the influences of the earth oblateness perturbation and bias in the satelliteʹs injection orbit is analyzed in terms of the satellite phase and the right ascension of the ascending node. The structure evolution of regional constellations is described in terms of the variations in the subsatellite point traces and their relative positions. The analysis shows that the earth oblateness perturbation will lead to a shift of the whole constellation structure, and that bias of the injection orbit will lead to disintegration of the geometrical structure of the constellation, and in this process the bias in the semi-major axis plays the major role in affecting the stability of the constellationʹs geometrical structure.