Overhead system of inclined eccentric geosynchronous orbiting satellites

• US 6,389,336 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Cellier, Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US09/885,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20010041950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/4, 701/13, 701/226, 244/158.R, 244/171, 244/176, 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 455/13.2, 455/421, 455/430, 342/356, 342/353, 342/352, 342/355
• US Class Current: 701/13
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/195 Non-synchronous stations

Abstract

A system of inclined geosynchronous satellite orbits has a service area defined on a surface of the earth. The service area has elevation angles greater than a predetermined minimum elevation angle from the horizon. A satellite has an orbit with respect to the earth having a sky track when viewed from within said service area. An operating arc is defined by a subset of points on the sky track within the service area. The satellites operate consecutively on the operating arc.

Claims

1. A satellite system above a landmass comprising:

a service area on a surface of the earth having a predetermined minimum elevation angle from the horizon;

a satellite having an eccentric, substantially 24-hour period geosynchronous orbit with respect to the earth and having a sky track when viewed from within said service area, said orbit being inclined relative to an equatorial plane of the earth; and

an operating arc defined by a subset of points on said sky track over said service area;

said satellite operating on said operating arc.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said orbit has an eccentricity factor between about 0.1 and 0.5.

3. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said minimum elevation angle is greater than thirty degrees.

4. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said minimum elevation angle is greater than sixty degrees.

5. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein in said orbital track having an apogee and a perigee, said apogee is over said service area.

6. A satellite system above a landmass comprising:

a service area on a service of the earth having a predetermined minimum elevation angle from the horizon;

a satellite having an eccentric, substantially 24-hour period geosynchronous orbit with respect to the earth, and having a sky track when viewed from within said service area, said orbit comprising a plurality of points through which the satellite passes and being inclined relative to an equatorial plane of the earth; and

an operating are defined by a subset of points on said sky track over said service area, said subset of points less than said plurality of points, said satellite operating on said operating arc.

7. A satellite system above a landmass comprising:

a service area on a surface of the earth having a predetermined minimum elevation angle from the horizon;

a satellite having an eccentric, substantially 24-hour period geosynchronous orbit with respect to the earth and having a sky track when viewed from within said service area, said orbit being inclined relative to an equatorial plane of the earth at an inclination angle at least 45 degrees; and

an operating are defined by a subset of points on said sky track over said service area, said satellite operating on said operating arc.

8. A satellite system as recited in claim 7 wherein said inclination angle is at least 50 degrees.

9. A satellite system as recited in claim 7 wherein said inclination angle is at least 60 degrees.

10. A satellite system above a landmass comprising:

a service area on a surface of the earth having a predetermined minimum elevation angle from the horizon;

a first satellite having an eccentric, substantially 24-hour period geosynchronous orbit with respect to the earth, and having skytrack when viewed from within said service area, said orbit comprised of a plurality of points through which the satellite passes and being inclined relative to an equatorial plane of the earth;

a second satellite sharing the eccentric, substantially 24-hour period geosynchronous orbit and the skytrack thereof, spaced apart from the first satellite; and

an operating are defined by a subset of points, said first and second satellite operating sequentially on said operating arc and not operating outside the operating arc.