Elliptical orbit satellite, system, and deployment with controllable coverage characteristics
US5788187A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 22, 1994 |
| Grant date | Aug 4, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 22, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/002
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An elliptical orbit satellite system which describes communication and TT&C with ground stations. Earth stations are located for the circular orbiting satellite in a way such that the line of sight can never include geo synchronous satellites. The ground stations for the elliptically orbiting satellites monitor the position of the satellite, and no antenna communicates with a satellite which is in direct line of sight between the antenna and a geo satellite. Another aspect of the invention locates two TT&C stations, separated in longitude by 90.degree. and configures these stations such that each satellite in each constellation will be able to communicate with one of the two TT&C stations once during each satellite rotation period.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.