Secondary payload interface

• US 8,355,359 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2008
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Orbital Sciences Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Atkinson, Leonard A., Howard, Jonathan, Huebner, Ronald E., Anhalt, David A., Pappageorge, Nicholas J., Singer, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHEIBEL, ROBERT C
• Application Number:
  US12/185,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20090052369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,625 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/316
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/641 Interstage or payload connectors docking systems B64G1/646
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/643 for arranging multiple satellites in a single launcher
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18515 Transmission equipment in satellites or space-based relays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18521 Systems of inter linked satellites, i.e. inter satellite service for optical links between satellites H04B10/118

Abstract

A secondary payload interface for payload communications using a primary payload communications channel is provided. The secondary payload interface may include a plurality of input/output couplers which may connect the primary payload communications channel to a secondary payload. The plurality of input/output couplers may establish an isolated secondary payload communications channel within the primary payload communications channel. The secondary payload interface may be designed such that control and telemetry interactions with the operators of the communications satellite are limited.

Claims

1. A secondary payload interface for secondary payload communications using a primary payload communications channel for a primary payload of a communications satellite configured to communicate data to and from a ground location, the secondary payload interface comprising:

a plurality of input/output couplers for connecting the secondary payload to the primary payload communications channel for the primary payload of the communications satellite;

wherein the primary payload of the communications satellite performs a first service associated with the communications satellite, and communicates data for the first service from the primary payload to a first ground station using the primary payload communications channel, and wherein the secondary payload provides a second service, the second service different from the first service;

circuitry for allowing the secondary payload to communicate with the ground station or a second ground station using the primary payload communications channel; and

wherein the plurality of input/output couplers allow some or all of the primary payload communications channel to be restored to the primary payload when the secondary payload is not communicating with the ground station.

2. The secondary payload interface of claim 1, wherein the secondary payload is hosted on the communications satellite.

3. The secondary payload interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input/output couplers establish a secondary payload communications channel within the primary payload communications channel, wherein the secondary payload communications channel is isolated from the rest of the primary payload communications channel.

4. The secondary payload interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input/output couplers are directional couplers.

5. The secondary payload interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input/output couplers are open collector transistor drivers.

6. The secondary payload interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input/output couplers are solid-state switches.

7. The secondary payload interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input/output couplers are electro-mechanical switches.

8. The secondary payload interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input/output couplers are RF switches.

9. The secondary payload interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input/output couplers are IF switches.

10. The secondary payload interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input/output couplers are baseband data ports.

11. The secondary payload interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input/output couplers are power dividers.

12. The secondary payload interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input/output couplers are opto-isolated data ports.

13. The secondary payload interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input/output couplers are filters.

14. The secondary payload interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input/output couplers are resistive elements.

15. The secondary payload interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input/output couplers are radio frequency ports.

16. The secondary payload interface of claim 1, wherein the circuitry comprises an encryption module for:

receiving data from the secondary payload; and

encrypting the data.

17. The secondary payload interface of claim 16, wherein the circuitry comprises a data framing module for framing bits of the data into data packets.

18. The secondary payload interface of claim 17, wherein the circuitry comprises a modulator for modulating the data packets into a format suitable for the primary payload communications channel.

19. The secondary payload interface of claim 18, wherein the format comprises quadrature-amplitude modulation signals.

20. The secondary payload interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input/output couplers enable the primary payload to use the rest of the primary payload communications channel while the secondary payload is communicating with the ground station.

21. The secondary payload interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input/output couplers further allow all of the primary payload communications channel to be restored to the primary payload regardless of the operational state of the secondary payload.

32. The method of claim 21, wherein the allowing comprises:

receiving data from the ground station;

demodulating the data; and

transmitting the demodulated data to the secondary payload.

22. A method for payload communications using a primary payload communications channel for a primary payload of a communications satellite configured to communicate data to and from a ground location, the method comprising:

coupling into a transponder path of the primary payload communications channel to establish a secondary payload communications channel within the primary payload communications channel for the primary payload of the communications satellite;

wherein the primary payload of the communications satellite performs a first service associated with the communications satellite, and communicates data for the first service from the primary payload to a first ground station using the primary payload communications channel, and wherein the secondary payload provides a second service, the second service different from the first service;

allowing a secondary payload to communicate with the ground station or a second ground station using the secondary payload communications channel; and

allowing some or all of the primary payload communications channel to be restored to the primary payload when the secondary payload is not communicating with the ground station.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the secondary payload is hosted on the communications satellite.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the secondary payload communications channel is isolated from the rest of the primary payload communications channel.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the coupling comprises:

coupling into the transponder path of the primary payload communications channel using a plurality of directional couplers.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the coupling comprises:

coupling into the transponder path of the primary payload communications channel using open collector transistor drivers.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the coupling comprises:

coupling into the transponder path of the primary payload communications channel using solid-state switches.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the coupling comprises:

coupling into the transponder path of the primary payload communications channel using electromechanical switches.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the coupling comprises:

coupling into the transponder path of the primary payload communications channel using RF switches.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the coupling comprises:

coupling into the transponder path of the primary payload communications channel using IF switches.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein the allowing comprises:

receiving data from the secondary payload;

modulating the data into a format suitable for the primary payload communications channel; and

transmitting the modulated data to the ground station.

33. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

disabling communications of the secondary payload to recapture all of the primary payload communications channel to a primary payload.

34. A method for controlling at least one secondary payload hosted on a communications satellite configured to communicate data to and from a ground location, the method comprising:

isolating a secondary payload communications channel within a primary payload communications channel for a primary payload on the communications satellite using a secondary payload interface, wherein the secondary payload interface comprises a plurality of directional couplers that isolate the secondary payload communications channel, and wherein the primary payload on the communications satellite performs a first service associated with the communications satellite, and communicates data for the first service from the primary payload to a first ground station using the primary payload communications channel, and wherein the secondary payload provides a second service, the second service different from the first service;

securely controlling the at least one secondary payload via the isolated secondary payload communications channel; and

allowing some or all of the primary payload communications channel to be restored to the primary payload when the secondary payload is not communicating with the ground station.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

limiting control interactions with the communications satellite to connections that provide power to the secondary payload interface.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

limiting telemetry interactions with the communications satellite to discrete telemetry points that comprise at least one of carrier lock, temperature, heartbeat, and frame lock.