METHOD OF OBSERVATION OF EARTH SURFACE FROM SPACE Russian patent published in 1998 - IPC

FIELD: space engineering; systems used for obtaining video information on earth surface under conditions of strict limitations for required width of observation band of satellites. SUBSTANCE: method includes injection of satellite into geosynchronous orbit and imaging earth objects located in observation bands of satellite. Images are obtained in observation bands whose width for one satellite is selected by maximum (ϕ) magnitude of value ϕ as function of latitude (ϕ) in preset range of observation and minimum (by П₁) magnitudes of parameters Δ, (П₂), Δ (Δ) giving relationships of required width of satellite observation band versus of covered arc ϕ₂ of parallel at latitude (ϕ^*), to the right and to the left from point of intersection of parallel by satellite route. In case of several satellites, they are injected into orbits at similar inclination, multiplicity parameters and simultaneous passage of equator of Earth by all satellites at definite angular distance from one another. Images are obtained in observation bands whose width is selected from special conditions of lock-on determined by latitude (П) of maximum Δ and arc ϕ^* at latitude (П₁) for which magnitude (Δ) or П₂(Δ) is maximum. EFFECT: enhanced efficiency. 2 cl, 4 dwg