Satellite Launch and In‐orbit Operations

Satellite launch requirements to acquire the desired orbit, various in-orbit operations such as orbit stabilization, orbit correction and station keeping that are necessary for keeping the satellite in the desired orbit, are discussed in this chapter. In addition to these, the chapter provides a detailed description of major launch vehicle systems and space centres, and other related issues like Earth coverage, eclipses and look angles. It provides a discussion on typical launch sequences employed worldwide for putting satellites in the geostationary orbit, as putting a satellite in a lower circular or elliptical orbit is only a step towards achieving the geostationary orbit. The satellite once placed in its orbit, experiences various perturbing torques that cause variations in its orbital parameters with time. These perturbations are also discussed in the chapter. The chapter is illustrated with mathematics wherever necessary and a large number of solved problems.