Coordinatable system of inclined geosynchronous satellite orbits
First Claim
1. A satellite system, comprising:
- at least two sets of satellites, each set having at least one satellite, each one of said set of satellites traveling in a separate inclined eccentric geosynchronous orbit, wherein the separate orbits each have identical apogees and ground tracks associated with the separate orbits are nested about a first longitude of symmetry.
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Abstract
A coordinatable system of geosynchronous (24-hour), inclined, and slightly elliptical satellite orbits enables spectrum re-use by forming “highways” of moving “slots” in the latitudes above and below the geostationary (GSO) belt worldwide. Each of a plurality of repeating ground tracks is shared by multiple satellite orbits (and thus slots). These are phased to achieve minimum specified angular separation from other slots using the same frequencies. Ground track (and thus orbital) parameters are chosen to realize specified shapes and are located at specified longitudes of symmetry to maximize the total number of slots. Consideration is given to specified constraints on service area coverage, elevation angle, and time coverage.
83 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A satellite system, comprising:
at least two sets of satellites, each set having at least one satellite, each one of said set of satellites traveling in a separate inclined eccentric geosynchronous orbit, wherein the separate orbits each have identical apogees and ground tracks associated with the separate orbits are nested about a first longitude of symmetry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. The satellite system for providing global communications coverage, comprising:
a plurality of regional subsystems, each subsystem comprising a plurality of satellites orbiting in at least two nested inclined geosynchronous orbits, each satellite of said plurality of satellites having intersatellite crosslinks.
Specification