Satellite orbiting toward west in the equatorial plane and meteorological satellite system using the satellite

• US 6,082,677 A
• Filed: 11/12/1998
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: National Space Development Agency of Japan
• Original Assignee: National Space Development Agency of Japan
• Inventors: Kikuchi, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRENCH, FREDRICK T
• Application Number:
  US09/190,026
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 244/158 R, 244/173, 244/166, 324/352, 455/427, 455/12.1
• US Class Current: 244/158.4
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/1021 Earth observation satellites
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/1042 specifically adapted for meteorology
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/1085 Swarms and constellations
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/242 Orbits and trajectories
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/66 Arrangements or adaptations of apparatus or instruments, not otherwise provided for

Abstract

Achieved herein is a satellite capable of readily obtaining in a short time span a continuous image of the whole earth by a single unit of the satellite alone, the westward equatorial satellite being an artificial satellite having thereon an image pickup means for picking up an image of the earth and having a circular orbit toward west at an altitude of about 13,942 km above the equator of the earth. Also provided is a meteorological satellite system capable of avoiding noncontinuousness between geostationary meteorological satellites, of readily performing reciprocity data calibration between the geostationary meteorological satellites and of adding a standby function to such geostationary meteorological satellites, by combining a westward equatorial satellite having a circular orbit toward west at an altitude of about 13,942 km above the equator of the earth into a meteorological satellite system employing five units of geostationary meteorological satellites.

Claims

1. A satellite orbiting toward west in the equatorial plane comprising an artificial satellite having an image pickup means mounted thereon for picking up an image of the earth and having a circular orbit toward west at an altitude of about 13,942 km above the equator of the earth.

2. A satellite orbiting toward west in the equatorial plane according to claim 1, further comprising a solar panel provided only on one side thereof and a magnetic torquer for offsetting solar wind torque caused by said solar panel.

3. A meteorological satellite system, including a satellite orbiting toward west in the equatorial plane having a circular orbit toward west at an altitude of about 13,942 km above the equator of the earth and incorporated into a meteorological satellite system employing a plurality of geostationary meteorological satellites to complement meteorological observation by the geostationary meteorological satellites.

4. A meteorological satellite system according to claim 3, comprising two units of said satellite orbiting toward west in the equatorial plane deployed at opposite positions from each other over the earth.