Table of Contents

1. Introduction.- 1.1 Further Reading.- 2. Launch.- 2.1 Launch Vehicles.- 2.2 The Launch Window.- 2.3 The Launch Sequence.- 2.4 The Injection Error Covariance Matrix.- 2.5 Further Reading.- 3. Transfer Orbit.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Orbit Optimisation for Spacecraft with Solid Propellant Apogee Motors.- 3.3 Orbit Optimisation for Spacecraft with Liquid Propellant Apogee Engines.- 3.4 Ground Station Coverage.- 3.5 Orbit Determination Requirements.- 4. The Apogee Manoeuvre.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Solid Propellant Apogee Motors.- 4.3 The Liquid Propellant Apogee Engine.- 4.4 Further Reading.- 5. Drift Orbit.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Station Acquisition.- 5.3 Station Acquisition Error Analysis for Spacecraft with Solid Propellant Apogee Motors.- 5.4 Station Acquisition Error Analysis for Spacecraft with Liquid Propellant Apogee Engines.- 5.5 Station Initialisation.- 5.6 Ground Station Coverage.- 5.7 Orbit Determination Accuracy Requirements.- 5.8 Further Reading.- 6. Station-Keeping.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 East-West Station-Keeping.- 6.3 North-South Station-Keeping.- 6.4 The Station-Keeping of Spacecraft Clusters.- 6.5 Future Trends and Requirements.- 6.6 Further Reading.- Spacecraft Operations.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Pre-Launch Activities.- 7.3 Post-Launch Activities.- Orbit Propagation.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Orbit Perturbations.- 8.3 Cowell’s Method.- 8.4 The Variation of Parameters Method.- 8.5 Orbit Integration Schemes.- 8.6 Further Reading.- Tracking and Orbit Determination.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Tracking.- 9.3 Orbit Determination.- 9.4 Further Reading.- 10. Spacecraft Stability.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 Stability in Parking Orbit.- 10.3 Analytic Methods.- 10.4 Test Methods.- 10.5 Mission Design.- 10.6 Stability in Transfer Orbit.- 10.7 On-Station Stability.-10.8 Conclusions.- 10.9 Further Reading.- Appendix A.