A Rapid Method to Design Sun-Synchronous Orbit of Earth Observation Satellite

Global coverage and sun synchronization are the essential properties of the earth observation satellites, which are assumed by designing the orbit period and inclination. An original method, described in the paper, is able to accomplish the preliminary orbit design very simply and rapidly that provides the technical support to further design of the orbit itself and other subsystems like the satellite attitude control system. It discovers the nature underlined in the ordering and evolution of the observation scan strips on the earth surface, and analyzes orbit decay and recovery maneuver. A numerical example to the problem is given.