Optimized land mobile satellite system for North American coverage

• US 7,946,533 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2009
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Goodzeit, Neil E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin P
• Application Number:
  US12/606,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20100108818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 244/158.4, 244/158.6, 244/171, 244/164, 244/158.1, 455/427, 455/428, 455/12.1, 455/13.2, 455/13.3, 701/226, 342/356
• US Class Current: 244/158.4
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/1007 Communications satellites
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/1085 Swarms and constellations
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/242 Orbits and trajectories
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/195 Non-synchronous stations

Abstract

A constellation, including a plurality of spacecraft, including a first, second and third spacecraft, each of the plurality of spacecraft including a broadcast capability, and each of the plurality of spacecraft in its own approximately 24-hour orbit. Each of the orbits has a substantially teardrop-shaped or oval-shaped ground track, is optimized based upon elevation angle or probability of signal availability, and has an apogee longitude of approximately 90° west to approximately 100° west. Each of the orbits has a semi-major axis of approximately 42,164 kilometers, an argument of perigee of approximately 270° , an inclination of approximately 40° to approximately 60° , and an eccentricity of approximately 0.16 to approximately 0.4. The orbits of each of the plurality of spacecraft are selected to bring each of the spacecraft to apogee at time increments of approximately eight hours.

Claims

1. A method for determining orbits for a plurality of satellites in a constellation for providing a satellite service using the plurality of satellites in the constellation, comprising:

determining an orbit for each one of the plurality of satellites in the constellation, the determining of the orbit comprising;

determining one or more orbit parameters of the orbit for each one of the plurality of satellites, by minimizing a cost function selected from the group of

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring each of the plurality of satellites with the corresponding one or more orbit parameters.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising

transmitting a signal from one of the plurality of satellites in the orbit having the determined one or more orbit parameters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more orbit parameters comprise an argument of perigee of approximately 270°

.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more orbit parameters comprise an inclination of approximately 40°

to approximately 60°

.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more orbit parameters comprise an eccentricity of approximately 0.16 to approximately 0.4.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more orbit parameters comprise an average elevation angle of 72°

to 77°

.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the orbits is an approximately 24-hour orbit, and wherein the one or more orbit parameters comprise an apogee longitude of approximately 90°

west to approximately 100°

west.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the orbit has a substantially teardrop-shaped or oval-shaped ground track.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of satellites include a first, second and third satellites, and the orbits of the plurality of satellites are selected to bring each of the plurality of satellites to an apogee at time increments of approximately eight hours.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the orbit is optimized based upon performance criteria including signal availability from at least one of the plurality of satellites.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the orbit is optimized based upon performance criteria including signal availability from all of the plurality of satellites.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost function is

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost function is

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost function is

16. A method for providing satellite services, the method comprising:

placing a plurality of spacecraft in orbits, each of the plurality of spacecraft including a broadcast capability, each of the orbits having a substantially teardrop-shaped or oval-shaped ground track, each of the orbits optimized based upon a cost function selected from the group of

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the broadcasting is performed when the plurality of spacecraft are in the northern hemisphere.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein each of the orbits comprises an argument of perigee of approximately 270°

.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein each of the orbits comprises an average elevation angle of 72°

to 77°

.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of spacecraft are placed in the orbits that are similar approximately 24-hour orbits which are rotatable relative to each other, and wherein each of the orbits comprises an apogee longitude of approximately 90°

west to approximately 100°

west.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of spacecraft include a first, second and third spacecraft, and the orbits of the plurality of spacecraft are selected to bring each of the plurality of spacecraft to an apogee at time increments of approximately eight hours.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein each of the orbits is optimized based upon performance criteria including signal availability from at least one of the plurality of spacecraft.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the cost function is

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the cost function is

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the cost function is