Low Altitude Satellite Concept

All communication and surveillance satellites orbit above the Kármán line (100km). I would like to propose a concept satellite that orbit earth between 80 to 100km altitude. This section of the atmosphere has enough atoms to lift a fast-flying object and have ions to be used as free propellent.

This concept relies on a ring wing like the one in Lockheed Ring Wing plane. The major difference being it has only the ring wing and not the plane body. Ring wings are quite efficient at supersonic speeds, have good drag to lift ratio, very strong for their weight, they fit perfectly inside a tubular rocket payload bay. The ring I propose will have a very low profile to reduce drag at supersonic speeds. It will be made of Aluminum Magnesium alloy to achieve low weight to strength ratio.

The upper section of the ring will be covered with high-efficient thin solar panels. Beneath them there will be ion thrusters. The ions will enter the ring from the gaps in front of the ring and accelerated by the solar panel electric. Flying through the ionosphere will allow infinite propellent supply.

The lower section of the ring will accommodate the battery and the electronics of the satellite. The middle section of the ring will have two ailerons attached. They will be used to maneuver the ring satellite and contribute to the lifting of the satellite.

Using computer simulations; the optimum altitude, ring thickness and weight can be calculated to see if the concept is viable or not.

If the simulations justify the design, prototypes can be deployed by a single stage rocket that only travels vertically. The ring sat would be released at a much higher altitude than the intended orbiting altitude. The fall of the sat would increase its vertical speed. The ailerons of the ring would be rotated during falling. Therefore, as it falls the ions would hit the ailerons to rotate the ring ever slightly until the ring has a horizontal flight path and enough speed to maintain its elevation.

For equatorial orbit, the satellite would only have limited ion thrust available. If that proves not enough a sun synchronous orbit would be selected to maintain a constant ion thrust.