Satellite visibility in Northern Europe based on digital maps

This paper presents the calculation of satellite visibility and system availability based on digital elevation maps. New models for satellite visibility are derived for both non‐geostationary orbiting satellite constellations and geostationary satellites. Regression models for satellite visibility and average number of visible satellites based on easily available surface roughness variables are developed and tested. Cumulative distributions for the percentage of time that Iridium satellites are visible, taking terrain obstacles into account, are calculated and the relation between satellite visibility and system availability is discussed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.