Satellite Formation Flying for Space Advertising: From Technically Feasible to Economically Viable

Abstract

The paper presents a feasibility study of satellite formation-flying missions for space advertising. To estimate a space advertising mission viability, the global population coverage model is designed and the demonstration schedule with a focus on larger cities is optimized for the formation of small satellites deployed in repeat ground track Sun-synchronous orbits. Monetization of an image demonstration over a city depends on the city population, outdoor advertising cost, and parameters limiting the number of potential advertising observations. Formation lifetime expressed in terms of fuel consumption for image reconfigurations and maintenance is one of the key factors and is analyzed via numerical simulation of satellite formation-flying dynamics and control.

Decentralized Differential Aerodynamic Control of Microsatellites Formation with Sunlight Reflectors

“…The example image to be constructed is chosen as that consisting of three English alphabet letters. Each letter consists of a certain number of satellites with sunlight reflectors, and the distance between the neighbor satellites is set by 700 m, which is in accordance with the visibility conditions calculated in [5]: The magnitude of the reflectors is about −2.8 and the minimum distance is 380 m at orbit altitude of 350 km. After the convergence to the reference trajectories at a given point with proper lighting conditions, the attitudes of all the satellites are synchronized, and the sunlight is reflected by the satellites to be visible to the Earth observer.…”

“…Such a formation flying mission can thus function as a space media broadcasting logos or short messages. A recent paper [5] discusses the commercial viability of operating such formations. Surprisingly, the problem of designing a space mission to demonstrate pixel images in the night sky has already been considered in a very practical sense.…”

“…Then, in the 1990s, the city of Atlanta investigated a Space Billboard concept for the 1996 Olympics [7]. As we have already mentioned, the economic viability of space advertising missions was studied in [5] and was found impossible without reactive propulsion systems for frequent image reconfigurations. However, single-event missions such as the Eiffel Tower anniversary or the Olympics opening ceremony which only require a single demonstration might use the control strategy described in this paper, which allows for the omission of the propulsion system from the mission.…”

“…A preliminary feasibility study [5] showed that a formation to meet the visibility requirements under suitable lighting conditions launched at low Earth Sun-synchronous orbits of 400 km can be formed using 12U CubeSats with 2 × 2 m 2 sails. The minimum distance between any two reflectors should be greater than 600 m to make the two points distinguishable by the human eye.…”