Co-operative satellites

• US 4,691,882 A
• Filed: 03/27/1986
• Issued: 09/08/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: British Aerospace, Inc.
• Original Assignee: British Aerospace, Inc.
• Inventors: Young, Ronald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corl, Rodney
• Application Number:
  US06/843,846
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 244/158 R, 343/355, 343/356, 343/DIG. 2, 455/13
• US Class Current: 244/158.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18521 Systems of inter linked satellites, i.e. inter satellite service for optical links between satellites H04B10/118
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/19 Earth-synchronous stations

Abstract

A satellite orbiting arrangement including an orbiting cluster of co-operative satellites in which inter-satellite communication is to be maintained substantially constantly, the arrangement further including an inter-satellite communication satellite positioned remotely from the cluster in an orbit selected to maintain at least approximate station with the cluster and to enable communication with each satellite of the cluster to be maintained substantially constantly.

Claims

1. Satellite apparatus in orbit including a plurality of co-operative satellites which orbit as a generally geostationary cluster of co-operative satellites in which inter-satellite communication is to be maintained substantially constantly, and an inter-satellite communication satellite arranged to effect such constant communication, each satellite of the cluster being oriented so that a given region is always earth directed and being placed in its own orbit such that the satellites of the cluster follow each other around a path centered substantially at a given longitude with reference to an earth fixed frame, each satellite of the cluster having its own receptor means directed at all times toward the inter-satellite communication satellite, the inter-satellite communication satellite being placed in an orbit so selected that it follows a path centered substantially at a further longitude spaced from said given longitude to maintain approximate station with the cluster but positioned remotely therefrom whereby the receptor of each satellite of the cluster is directed toward the inter-satellite communication satellite at all times without the receptor rotating through more than one half of one revolution with reference to its satellite.

2. A satellite orbiting arrangement including a generally geostationary orbiting cluster of co-operative satellites in which inter-satellite communication is to be maintained substantially constantly, and an inter-satellite communication satellite arranged to effect such constant communication, each satellite of the cluster being orientated so that a given region is always earth directed and having its own orbit such that the satellites of the cluster follow each other around a path of centered substantially at a given longitude with reference to an earth fixed frame, each satellite of the cluster having its own receptor means directable at all times toward the inter-satellite communication satellite, the inter-satellite communication satellite being placed in an orbit so selected that it follows a path centered substantially at a further longitude spaced from said given longitude to maintain approximate station with the cluster but positioned remotely therefrom whereby the receptor of each satellite of the cluster can be directed toward the inter-satellite communication satellite at all times without the receptor rotating through more than one half of one revolution with reference to its satellite.