To achieve an objective to enable a plurality of management business operators managing space objects flying in space, to share and carry out danger analysis efficiently. In a space traffic management system (500), a plurality of space traffic management devices (100) are connected to each other via a communication line. Each of the plurality of space traffic management devices includes a space information recorder (101), a danger alarm device (102), a danger analysis device (103), a danger avoidance action assist device (104), and a security device (105). The space information recorder includes a space object ID, orbital information, and public condition information; and a business device ID and public condition information. The plurality of space traffic management devices (100) have data format compatibility and share the space object ID and the business device ID, and share orbital information corresponding to the space object ID among business devices that comply with the public condition information.

A satellite communication system comprises a satellite configured to provide a plurality of spot beams adapted for communication using time domain beam hopping to switch throughput among spot beams of the plurality of spot beams. The plurality of spot beams includes a first spot beam that illuminates and communicates with a first gateway and a first set of subscriber terminals. The satellite is configured to implement a beam hopping plan that during a hopping period provides throughput to the first spot beam for an aggregated time duration based on bandwidth assignments to the first gateway and the first set of subscriber terminals.

A network node is described which is configured for use in space, comprising a transmission interface for transmitting radio frequency signals, a reception interface for receiving radio frequency signals, a network management module for determining communication session information, a controller arranged to control the transmission interface and the reception interface in accordance with session information provided by the network management interface, wherein the transmission and reception interfaces are for receiving data from terrestrial nodes and space-borne nodes. Also described are a network entity comprising the network note and a plurality of adaptive antennas, a satellite containing the network entity and a user equipment device configured for communication with the network node.

The present application relates to a method and an apparatus for a group ephemeris data provision. One embodiment of the subject application provides a method performed by a User Equipment (UE), which includes: receiving a signal indicating a first satellite group ID of a first satellite group; and comparing the first satellite group ID with a second satellite group ID of a second satellite group in a second satellite group ID set which is previously stored in the UE, wherein the first satellite group ID is associated with group ephemeris data and each satellite group ID of the second satellite group ID is associated with group ephemeris data.

A space-based communications network (100) includes at least one central ground station (116) having a transceiver that is configured to communicate with satellites, such as cube satellites (110). The cube satellites (110) form an ad hoc network of orbital cube satellites, in which each of the cube satellites (110) communicate with each other. One of the cube satellites communicates with the ground station (116). A ground-based control system (1000) communicates with the central ground station (116). The control system (1000) continuously determines a configuration of the ad hoc network (100) and communicates network control information for the cube satellites (110) to maintain communications in the ad hoc network (100). The cube satellites (110) disseminate the network control to each other via the ad hoc network (100).

The embodiments herein provide a system and method for integrated optimization of design and performance of satellite constellations. The present disclosure provides a method for optimization of design and performance of satellite constellation to provide internet connectivity at preset geographic regions. In current methods, the optimizations of subsystems are performed independently and the results are combined, resulting in a loss of overall optimality. The present disclosure defines the relationships between subsystems such that integrity of complete design is tested with fewer complexities and provides an integrated optimization framework, in which every subsystem is optimized individually and collectively. The present disclosure provides a method for optimization of power subsystem of satellites by determining the pattern of payload operation and need for peak power. The present disclosure also provides a method to minimize the number of satellites required in constellations by carefully regulating spot beams formed by individual satellites in constellations.

A satellite having a set of antenna elements with predefined directions and beam angles is described. This satellite may dynamically select at least a given antenna element based at least in part on utilization and/or availability of a terrestrial wireless communication network used by an electronic device that communicates with the satellite. Moreover, the satellite may change its attitude based at least in part on the given antenna element, where the changed attitude positions a region in a predefined beam angle of the given antenna element. The satellite may dynamically select the region to which it transmits wireless signals. For example, the region may be selected based at least in part on weather conditions associated with the region and/or priority of content conveyed by the wireless signals. Alternatively, the satellite may receive information specifying the region, the utilization and/or the availability of the terrestrial wireless communication network in the region.

Systems and method for supporting a fractionated satellite constellation are disclosed. A gateway satellite may route communications to and from auxiliary satellites using a first communication protocol. The auxiliary satellites may be orbitally-coupled with the gateway satellite and may be equipped with respective payload types that provide respective functionalities. The auxiliary satellites may also use respective communications protocols that are different than one another and the first communication protocol. Routing communications to and from auxiliary satellites may include relaying a communication between multiple auxiliary satellites. Routing communications between auxiliary satellites may include relaying a communication between multiple gateway satellites. Routing communications to and from auxiliary satellites may also include relaying communications between commercial satellites and auxiliary satellites.

A computational framework for designing a constellation that includes a plurality of cube satellites (CubeSats) includes an orbit propagation module, a coverage estimation module, a connectivity estimation module and an annealing module. The orbit propagation module receives a plurality of static parameters for the constellation and determines a position vector, a ground track and sub-satellite points for each of the plurality of CubeSats. The coverage estimation module receives the plurality of static parameters for the constellation and estimates Earth coverage for the constellation. The connectivity estimation module receives the plurality of static parameters for the constellation and determines active inter-satellite links (ISL) in the constellation. The annealing module receives input from the orbit propagation module, the coverage estimation module and the connectivity module and employs an annealing algorithm that generates a constellation design.

Systems and methods for controlling satellites are provided. In one example embodiment, a computing system can obtain a request for image data. The request can be associated with a priority for acquiring the image data. The computing system can determine an availability of a plurality of satellites to acquire the image data based at least in part on the request. The computing system can select from among a plurality of communication pathways to transmit an image acquisition command to a satellite based at least in part on the request priority. The plurality of communication pathways can include a communication pathway via which the image acquisition command is indirectly communicated to the satellite via a geostationary satellite. The computing system can send the image acquisition command to the selected satellite via the selected communication pathway.