Positioning system for a geostationary satellite

• US 7,107,007 B1
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Korea Aerospace Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Korea Aerospace Research Institute
• Inventors: Kim, Bang-Yeop, Lee, Sang-Cherl, Park, Bong-Kyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Perez-Gutierrez, Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alam, Fayyaz
• Application Number:
  US11/250,992
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.01, 342/356
• US Class Current: 455/13.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/00 Satellite radio beacon positioning systems; Determining position, velocity or attitude using signals transmitted by such systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system

Abstract

A positioning system for a geostationary satellite according to the present invention comprises a plurality of outer orbit satellites revolving around the earth in equatorial orbit and polar orbit having higher altitude than that of the geostationary satellite; and at least one control station performing orbit determination using tracking data for the outer orbit satellites, and then transmitting consequent orbit data to the outer orbit satellites. The outer orbit satellites transmit to the geostationary satellite their own navigation data, clock data and correction data generated using the orbit data received from the control station. The geostationary satellite calculates its own position using the navigation data, the clock data and the correction data, and performs position control and attitude control autonomously with onboard sensors and actuators.

Claims

1. A positioning system for a geostationary satellite comprising:

a plurality of outer orbit satellites revolving around the earth in equatorial orbit and polar orbit having higher altitude than that of the geostationary satellite; and

at least one control station performing orbit determination using tracking data for the outer orbit satellites, and then transmitting consequent orbit data to the outer orbit satellites;

the outer orbit satellites transmitting to the geostationary satellite their own navigation data, clock data and correction data generated using the orbit data received from the control station, the geostationary satellite calculating its own position using the navigation data, the clock data and the correction data, and performing position control and attitude control autonomously with onboard sensors and actuators.

2. The positioning system of claim 1, wherein the control station transmits to the outer orbit satellites geostationary satellite command that orders the geostationary satellite to check the status or to make a predetermined motion, and then the outer orbit satellites transmit the geostationary satellite command to the geostationary satellite.

3. The positioning system of claim 2, wherein the geostationary satellite encrypts and transmits its own telemetry to a remote satellite operation center, not the control station.

4. The positioning system of claim 3, wherein the remote satellite operation center is connected to the control station with the Internet or exclusive line, and transmits the geostationary satellite command to the outer orbit satellites via the control station.

5. The positioning system of claim 3, wherein the remote satellite operation center receives encrypted telemetry together with communication or broadcasting service data from the geostationary satellite.

6. The positioning system of claim 5, wherein the remote satellite operation center comprises a receiving antenna for satellite broadcasting.

7. The positioning system of claim 2, wherein the geostationary satellite encrypts and transmits its own telemetry to the control station.

8. The positioning system of claim 1, wherein the outer orbit satellites revolve around the earth in circular orbit with the period of 1.5 to 2.5 days.

9. The positioning system of claim 8, wherein the outer orbit satellites revolve around the earth in circular orbit with the period of 2 days.

10. The positioning system of claim 1, wherein the number of the outer orbit satellites in equatorial orbit and polar orbit is 3 or 4 respectively.

11. The positioning system of claim 10, wherein the outer orbit satellites in equatorial orbit and the outer orbit satellites in polar orbit are arranged to have phase difference of 45°

when the number of the outer orbit satellites in equatorial orbit and polar orbit is 4 respectively.

12. The positioning system of claim 10, wherein the outer orbit satellites are cross-linked and share information.

13. The positioning system of claim 1, wherein the control station comprises a master control station and at least one slave control station, the master control station and the slave control station acquiring tracking data of the outer orbit satellites, and the master control station collecting the tracking data, performing orbit determination using the tracking data, and then transmitting consequent orbit data to the outer orbit satellites directly or via the slave control station.

14. The positioning system of claim 1, wherein the geostationary satellite has receivers for receiving the navigation data, the clock data, the correction data and geostationary satellite command from the outer orbit satellites on the tips of communication antennas and solar panels.