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System for direct communications with a space craft

  • US 6,400,945 B1
  • Filed: 05/03/1999
  • Issued: 06/04/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An automated communication system for communicatively connecting a caller by means of a telephone to a space craft, comprising:

  • a port for accepting a telephonic call related to a specific space craft from the caller and having a machine readable call management program, the call management program being responsive to a single telephone number consisting essentially of ten digits, three digits assigned to an area code, seven digits assigned to a spacecraft specific identifier and automatically effecting a telephonic communication to at least one selected ground earth station responsive thereto;

    the ground earth station effecting communication with at least one known satellite in an earth orbit responsive to the received communication from the port; and

    the satellite retransmitting the ground earth station communications to the specific space craft for reception by a dedicated receiver in the space craft, thereby establishing a telephonic communications link from the caller to the specific space craft.

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