Earth Orbital Mission Requirements for Secondary Propulsion Systems and Their Impact on Colloid Systems

Abstract

This paper develops the earth synchronous orbital mission requirements for secondary propulsion subsystems (SPS) involving positioning of satellites in orbit and station keeping when in position. It also discusses the orbital requirements associated with attitude control and touches on the requirements for SPS pulsing, thrust vector alignment, and thrust vector control. After developing the earth-orbital mission requirements for SPS, the implications of using low-thrust colloid SPS are discussed. Conclusions are then presented regarding use of colloid, SPS for synchronous earth-orbital operations.