Time Variation of Orbital Parameters of an Equatorial Satellite

Abstract

A few orbital parameters which take into account earth's finite shape as well as its axial rotation are developed for a satellite moving in the earth's equatorial plane. Expressions for line of sight velocity dr/sub es//dt, variation of elevation angle, and the condition for satellite's accessibility from a ground station are obtained. For a non-rotating earth equations for variation of arc length D/sub c/ and segment area A/sub s/ are derived. The various parameters are plotted against time for different orbital eccentricities.