In accordance with various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, a system and method is configured for scheduling and invoking power sharing among satellites within a constellation of satellites such that energy storage systems at a target satellite may by charged prior to the use of electric propulsion thrust activation or other high electricity demand operations (or such operations contemporaneously augmented) by power beams transmitted from other (source) satellites within the constellation.

In accordance with various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, a system and method is configured for scheduling and invoking power sharing among satellites within a constellation of satellites such that energy storage systems at a target satellite may by charged prior to the use of electric propulsion thrust activation or other high electricity demand operations (or such operations contemporaneously augmented) by power beams transmitted from other (source) satellites within the constellation.

A geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO) ground station may concurrently receive at a tracking receiver both a first signal (downlink data) at a first frequency from a GEO satellite and an internally-generated calibration signal at a second frequency. Based on the calibration signal, the tracking receiver may determine a first phase value for the second frequency, then, from the first phase value, determine a second phase value associated with the first frequency based on a first phase offset between the first frequency and the second frequency according to a set of receiver calibration factors, then generate a phase correction value for signals received at the first frequency without interrupting the downlink data coming from the GEO satellite. Having accurate phasing allows the tracking receiver to report tracking errors correctly to the antenna controller and therefore allow for improved tracking performance.

A geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO) ground station may concurrently receive at a tracking receiver both a first signal (downlink data) at a first frequency from a GEO satellite and an internally-generated calibration signal at a second frequency. Based on the calibration signal, the tracking receiver may determine a first phase value for the second frequency, then, from the first phase value, determine a second phase value associated with the first frequency based on a first phase offset between the first frequency and the second frequency according to a set of receiver calibration factors, then generate a phase correction value for signals received at the first frequency without interrupting the downlink data coming from the GEO satellite. Having accurate phasing allows the tracking receiver to report tracking errors correctly to the antenna controller and therefore allow for improved tracking performance.

A satellite system may have a constellation of communications satellites that provides services to users with electronic devices such as portable electronic devices and home and office equipment. A network operations center may use gateways to communicate with the satellite constellation. The satellite constellation may include sets of satellites with different orbits such as circular orbits with different inclinations, sets of satellites with elliptic orbits, sets of satellites with circular orbits of different altitudes including low earth orbits, medium earth orbits, and/or geosynchronous orbits, and/or sets of satellites with other orbits. The satellite orbits of the satellites in the satellite constellation may be selected to provide coverage to desired user population concentrations at different locations on the earth without using an excessive number of satellites.

A satellite system may have a constellation of communications satellites that provides services to users with electronic devices such as portable electronic devices and home and office equipment. A network operations center may use gateways to communicate with the satellite constellation. The satellite constellation may include sets of satellites with different orbits such as circular orbits with different inclinations, sets of satellites with elliptic orbits, sets of satellites with circular orbits of different altitudes including low earth orbits, medium earth orbits, and/or geosynchronous orbits, and/or sets of satellites with other orbits. The satellite orbits of the satellites in the satellite constellation may be selected to provide coverage to desired user population concentrations at different locations on the earth without using an excessive number of satellites.

Systems, methods and techniques are presented for discovering optimal solutions to satisfy communication traffic demands to a NGSO and GSO satellite constellations used for telecommunication. When multiple ground demands (mobile and stationary) are present, a satellite constellation requires an assignment of satellite resources to optimally match the ground demands. The systems, methods and techniques presented can utilize an optimization structure to maximize the objective function, using linear programming in combination with simulation and predictive features. The techniques presented determine optimal or quasi-optimal allocation of scarce and highly constrained satellite resources in an efficient manner. These techniques take into account maximizing capacity while protecting other geostationary and non-geostationary networks.

Retrofittable satellite systems for an in-orbit host satellite comprising an enhancement module for adding a capability to the in-orbit host satellite, modifying the function of the in-orbit host satellite, and/or extending the function of the in-orbit host satellite. The in-orbit, retrofittable satellite system comprises a transfer vehicle for transferring the enhancement module from a first to a second location and a service vehicle for receiving the enhancement module from the transfer vehicle and installing the enhancement module on the in-orbit host satellite. In-orbit space situational awareness systems, comprising one or more in-orbit host satellites having one or more enhancement modules attached thereto, the enhancement modules comprising sensors such as satellite spatial location/position sensors, range sensors, navigation sensors, and/or proximity sensors for detecting other objects in-orbit, their location, speed, acceleration, orbital trajectory or the like, wherein the enhancement modules communicate to create a mesh network between the satellites.

Retrofittable satellite systems for an in-orbit host satellite comprising an enhancement module for adding a capability to the in-orbit host satellite, modifying the function of the in-orbit host satellite, and/or extending the function of the in-orbit host satellite. The in-orbit, retrofittable satellite system comprises a transfer vehicle for transferring the enhancement module from a first to a second location and a service vehicle for receiving the enhancement module from the transfer vehicle and installing the enhancement module on the in-orbit host satellite. In-orbit space situational awareness systems, comprising one or more in-orbit host satellites having one or more enhancement modules attached thereto, the enhancement modules comprising sensors such as satellite spatial location/position sensors, range sensors, navigation sensors, and/or proximity sensors for detecting other objects in-orbit, their location, speed, acceleration, orbital trajectory or the like, wherein the enhancement modules communicate to create a mesh network between the satellites.

Combinations of antenna types, which may include parabolic reflectors, electronically scanned arrays (ESAs), lens antennas and other directional antenna types enable a satellite ground terminal that is adaptable for use in multiple frequency bands such as C, Q, V, Ku, X and Ka bands, with satellites in various orbital configuration such as LEO, MEO, other non-GEO, and GEO, and in various user scenarios such as fixed, At the Quick Halt (ATQH), or On-the-Move (OTM). The VSAT or MVSAT of the invention does not require alteration or modification to support these multiple uses cases. As a result of this interoperability there are savings in unit cost and logistics. The system and method of the invention allow rapid reconfiguration of the ground segment of a satellite communication system to overcome loss of space segment assets, by enabling the inventive ground terminal to quickly transition to communicate with alternative satellites.