Aspects of Synchronous Communication Satellites

force F r e q = magnitude of the required corrective force go = gravity at the surface of Ear th i = inclination of the orbit /SP = propellant specific impulse J = constant (coefficient of second harmonic of Ear th potential) K = constant (coefficient of third harmonic of Ear th potential) M = mass of satellite p = parameter of the orbit; distance from the focus to the orbit parallel to the minor axis P = orbit point of highest latitude (Fig. 1) Q = instantaneous position of vehicle (Fig. 1) r = radial distance of satellite from the center of Ear th R = Earth 's equatorial radius t = time T = period of the orbit W = weight of the satellite W0 = weight of the satellite at the initiation of the 17th orbital period Wp = total amount of propellant required to maintain the satellite on its orbit during one revolution Xr = absolute magnitude of the nondimensionalized radial component of the corrective force Xe = absolute magnitude of the nondimensionalized tangential Xri