Satellites Orbits and Missions

Thisbook treats the subject of satellite orbits, showing how the widerange of available orbits can be put to use to satisfy the needs offields as varied as communications, positioning, remote-sensing,meteorology, and astronomy. The satellite is first discussed in thecontext of the laws of space mechanics. The various categories oforbit (circular, elliptical, high, low, geostationary, andsun-synchronous) are then presented, together with the problem ofsampling (when and how the satellite views its target). There is thena study of specific cases, in particular, applying all the ideasencountered for earth-orbiting satellites to the case of a satellitein orbit around Mars. The arguments are supported by a great manyapplications, figures and illustrations, with over a thousandsatellites cited explicitly. The whole work is based on two pieces ofsoftware: IXION (orbitography and sampling) and ATLAS (cartography),both developed by the author himself. The accompanying CD-ROMincludes an interactive program which can be used to determine theorbit and sampling of a satellite. The book will be useful forresearchers, university teachers and students working in thesatellite area. School teachers, geographers, and engineers usingimages taken from space, as well as anyone involved in spaceexploration will find it a precious resource