A device for a satellite distance measurement includes a base segment and an optical segment which is supported by the base segment and has a telescope mounting with an azimuth axis and an elevation axis, wherein a transmitter telescope, a receiving telescope, and a laser coupled to the transmitter telescope are arranged on the telescope mounting. A method for operating such a device is also provided.

A satellite visibility assignment device (1) includes a visibility unit setter (21), a visibility unit selector (22), and an optimization calculator (23). The visibility unit setter (21) sets visibility units each including a combination of a satellite and a station to communicate with the satellite, a lower limit of a visibility start time, and an upper limit of a visibility end time. The optimization calculator (23) determines whether the visibility start time and the visibility end time are settable for each of the one or more combinations of the visibility units within a range satisfying a set constraint and calculates the visibility start time and the visibility end time through an optimization calculation. The visibility unit selector (22) selects, from the combinations of the visibility units, a combination of the visibility units to be used based on determination of the optimization calculator (23).

A satellite visibility assignment device (1) includes a visibility unit setter (21), a visibility unit selector (22), and an optimization calculator (23). The visibility unit setter (21) sets visibility units each including a combination of a satellite and a station to communicate with the satellite, a lower limit of a visibility start time, and an upper limit of a visibility end time. The optimization calculator (23) determines whether the visibility start time and the visibility end time are settable for each of the one or more combinations of the visibility units within a range satisfying a set constraint and calculates the visibility start time and the visibility end time through an optimization calculation. The visibility unit selector (22) selects, from the combinations of the visibility units, a combination of the visibility units to be used based on determination of the optimization calculator (23).

A satellite constellation forming system (100) forms a satellite constellation which is composed of a satellite group and in which the satellite group cooperatively provides a service. The satellite constellation has a plurality of orbital planes in each of which a plurality of satellites fly at the same nominal orbital altitude. A satellite constellation forming unit (110) continues providing the service while avoiding a collision between satellites by both or one of control of an orbital altitude and control of a passage timing of a satellite group flying in a region where the plurality of orbital planes intersect.

A method of communication with a non-GEO constellation of satellites, includes providing an Earth-based terminal configured for communication with a satellite constellation, and establishing communication between the Earth-based terminal and a non-GEO constellation of satellites, the non-GEO constellation of satellites including a first plurality of satellites orbiting at a first inclination, wherein each of the satellites in the first plurality of satellites is in a discrete planar orbit to form a first snake of satellites, the first snake of satellites including adjacent satellites in adjacent orbits having adjacent RAAN (Right Ascension of the Ascending Node), wherein the Earth-based terminal is positioned and configured for continuous communication with at least one satellite from the non-GEO constellation of satellites.

A method of communication with a non-GEO constellation of satellites, includes providing an Earth-based terminal configured for communication with a satellite constellation, and establishing communication between the Earth-based terminal and a non-GEO constellation of satellites, the non-GEO constellation of satellites including a first plurality of satellites orbiting at a first inclination, wherein each of the satellites in the first plurality of satellites is in a discrete planar orbit to form a first snake of satellites, the first snake of satellites including adjacent satellites in adjacent orbits having adjacent RAAN (Right Ascension of the Ascending Node), wherein the Earth-based terminal is positioned and configured for continuous communication with at least one satellite from the non-GEO constellation of satellites.

The ever increasing number of orbiting bodies in low Earth orbit has made it infeasible to calculate potential conjunctions between orbiting bodies more than a few days in advance, even with the aid of supercomputers. Disclosed embodiments utilize machine learning to predict potential conjunctions between orbiting bodies faster than state-of-the art systems by orders of magnitude. This enables potential conjunctions to be identified well in advance (e.g., 30 days or more), so that they may be prioritized (e.g., for fine calculations), visualized, and remediated (e.g., via control of the impacted satellites).

The ever increasing number of orbiting bodies in low Earth orbit has made it infeasible to calculate potential conjunctions between orbiting bodies more than a few days in advance, even with the aid of supercomputers. Disclosed embodiments utilize machine learning to predict potential conjunctions between orbiting bodies faster than state-of-the art systems by orders of magnitude. This enables potential conjunctions to be identified well in advance (e.g., 30 days or more), so that they may be prioritized (e.g., for fine calculations), visualized, and remediated (e.g., via control of the impacted satellites).

A target tracking device to estimate a position of a target with high accuracy will be provided. The target tracking device is provided with a communication device and a processor. The communication device performs communication with a plurality of observation satellites that observe the target. The processor executes a selection of satellites, a setting of a schedule and an estimation. The selection of satellites includes selecting two or more selected satellites that observes the target among the plurality of observation satellites. The setting of the schedule includes determining an observation schedule for each of the two or more selected satellite to observe the target and transmitting an observation request signal that represents the determined observation schedule to a corresponding selected satellite. The estimation includes estimating the position of the target based on two or more pieces of high-precision observation information respectively observed by the two or more selected satellites.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device that has a processing system including a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, including receiving a request for an observation of an overhead viewing area from an observer location; discovering an interference of a satellite with the observation of the overhead viewing area; determining possible solutions to the interference; selecting a solution of the possible solutions; receiving the observation from one or more satellites responding to the solution selected; and providing a response to the request including the observation received. Other embodiments are disclosed.