Elliptical orbit satellite, system, and deployment with controllable coverage characteristics
US5582367A · kind A · utility
30Cited by
12References
30Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 16, 1994 |
| Grant date | Dec 10, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 16, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/002
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A special set of elliptical satellite orbits are described which allow preferential coverage of one parameter over another. According to a first modification, the orbits are retrograde, and preferentially cover one geographical location or time of day as compared with another. A second modification uses prograde orbits and allows the apogee of the orbit to be offset a constant amount with respect to the sun, to thereby cover a different time of day relative to the others. According to a special preferred mode of the invention, the apogee is always pointing towards the sun.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.