Fixed satellite constellation system employing non-geostationary satellites in sub-geosynchronous elliptical orbits with common ground tracks
First Claim
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1. A satellite system, comprising:
- a plurality of satellites in inclined elliptical orbits, each said satellite communicating with a land mass on the Earth, at least a first group of said satellites being in common orbits having the same, first, repeating ground track communicating with first plural specified land mass on the earth, and a second group of said satellites being in common orbits having the same, second, repeating ground track, different than said first ground track, and communicating with second plural specified land masses on the earth each said satellite communicating during only a portion of the elliptical orbit closest to apogee.
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Abstract
Shows orbit-constellation of satellites that appears virtually geosynchronous.
44 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A satellite system, comprising:
a plurality of satellites in inclined elliptical orbits, each said satellite communicating with a land mass on the Earth, at least a first group of said satellites being in common orbits having the same, first, repeating ground track communicating with first plural specified land mass on the earth, and a second group of said satellites being in common orbits having the same, second, repeating ground track, different than said first ground track, and communicating with second plural specified land masses on the earth each said satellite communicating during only a portion of the elliptical orbit closest to apogee. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7)
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5. A communication system, comprising:
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a plurality of ground stations, each including communication equipment for communicating with a satellite in orbit; and
a plurality of satellites in respective orbits, said respective orbits including a first sub-constellation orbit with a plurality of satellites therein, each of said plurality of satellites following a repeating ground track that repeats an integral number of times each day and each repeating ground track optimized for covering more than one specific land mass on the earth, including a first sub-constellation optimized for covering first land masses, a second sub-constellation optimized for covering second land masses, and a third sub-constellation optimized for covering third land masses.
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8. A communication system, comprising:
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a plurality of ground stations on respective land masses; and
a plurality of satellites in elliptical orbits, said plurality of satellites being in orbits in sub-constellations, each sub-constellation having a plurality of satellites and repeating ground tracks, which repeating ground tracks are each optimized to follow a plurality of said land masses, each satellite operating only during a predetermined percentage of its orbit closest to its apogee. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A constellation of satellites, comprising:
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plurality of satellites in elliptical orbits around the earth with the earth at one focus of the elliptical orbit, and each elliptical orbit having an apogee and a perigee, each said satellite communicating with a portion of the Earth, at least a first group of said satellites being in common orbits having the same, first, ground track, and a second group of said satellites being in common orbits having the same, second, ground track, different than said first ground track, wherein each of said satellites is active for only a predetermined portion of its orbiting time, closest to its apogee portion, and wherein the satellites in said first group and said second group are spaced such that when a first satellite in the subconstellation reaches its inactive portion, another satellite in the subconstellation becomes active. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification