Estimate usable satellite observation time across repeated passes by accounting for geometric access, communications contact, acquisition overhead, and duty factor. The calculator limits each pass to the shorter of observation access and link availability, then removes setup time and applies the usable fraction for a practical daily or campaign planning total.
The result is productive observation time that also has supporting link availability. The calculator identifies whether geometry or communications is the shorter constraint.
Actual schedules may have non-overlapping access and contact intervals. This screening model assumes the shorter intervals overlap and each pass has identical timing.
With 9 minutes of target access, 7 minutes of link contact, 1 minute of overhead, 85% duty, and five passes, each pass yields 5.1 usable minutes and the total is 25.5 minutes.
This calculator targets observations that require simultaneous supporting communications, so the shorter overlapping interval limits usable time.
Include slew, pointing settle, synchronization, link acquisition, handover, or instrument setup that consumes each pass.
Usable time for that pass becomes zero rather than negative.
For better accuracy, calculate groups of similar passes separately and sum their usable times.
No. It assumes overlap for screening; confirm actual interval timing with orbit and schedule analysis.
| Input | Unit | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Observation access per pass | min | Geometric time over the target. |
| Link contact per pass | min | Time the supporting link is available. |
| Acquisition overhead | min | Setup, slew, synchronization, or handover time. |
| Usable duty factor | % | Productive share of remaining time. |
| Number of passes | passes | Observation opportunities in the period. |