Stochastic Capability Models for Degrading Satellite Constellations

<p>This thesis proposes and analyzes a new measure of functional capability for satellite constellations that incorporates the instantaneous availability and mission effectiveness of individual satellites. The capability measure yields a continuous score between zero and one accounting for the degree to which the constellation meets operational requirements. The measure is computed from an average of satellite capabilities composed of the product of the satellite's instantaneous availability and value score. Instantaneous availability is acquired by modeling the satellite degradation status as either a time-homogenous continuous-time Markov chain (CTMC) if it possesses functions with exponential lifetime distributions or as a time-homogenous semi-Markov process (SMP) if the function lifetime distributions are not exponential. The satellite value score represents the individual satellite's contribution to the overall constellation mission and is obtained using multi-attribute value theory. For illustrative purposes analytical results were compared with those obtained via the Monte Carlo method and were found to be indistinguishable with substantially less computational effort.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>