A dielectric element for a resonator and a corresponding resonator are described. The dielectric element has a first chamber and a second chamber, which are fluidically connected to one another by a connecting channel. A liquid crystal is contained in the first chamber, a gas is contained in the second chamber. Changes in the volume of the liquid crystal can be compensated by a change in the volume of the gas, because the liquid crystal can move in the connecting channel. Consequently, such a resonator can be exposed to greatly fluctuating temperature ranges without requiring any further compensation for temperature-induced changes in the volume of the liquid crystal. The dielectric element can also be hermetically closed to complete the production process.

A method for monitoring precipitation of magnetospheric particles includes detecting charged magnetospheric particles by a particles detector, processing the detection data to associate a respective estimate or measurement of kinetic energy with the detected magnetospheric particles, obtaining a first count value N.sub.H associated with a relatively higher estimate or measurement of kinetic energy, obtaining a second count value N.sub.L associated with a relatively lower estimate or measurement of kinetic energy, detecting a relative variation of the second count value N.sub.L with respect to the first count value N.sub.H, determining that an impulsive event of precipitation of charged magnetospheric particles (MPP event) in the magnetosphere occurred, assigning to the MPP event geomagnetic longitude and time, defining one or more groups of MPP events occurred in a time range at a same geomagnetic longitude, and identifying a group of MPP events indicative of an activity of terrestrial origin.

A satellite communication system in which a plurality of satellites each transit about the Earth in a common mid-Earth orbit. The orbit may be configured such that each satellite of the plurality of satellites follows a common, repeating ground track relative to the surface of the Earth. In turn, one or more repeating sky tracks may be defined relative to at least one ground station such that the ground station is in continuous communication with at least one of the plurality of satellites. In an example, a ground station may have visibility to a plurality of repeating sky tracks such that a plurality of discreet communication channels is provided that use different satellites for communication with user terminals of the satellite communications system.

An SSA business device (47) is a business device (40) with which an SSA business operator manages space object information. The SSA business device (47) includes a space traffic management device (200) that is compatible with space traffic management devices (200) respectively included in business devices (40) that manage space objects. The SSA business device (47) is connected, through the space traffic management device (200), to a space traffic management system (800) in which the space traffic management devices (200) respectively included in the business devices (40) are mutually connected with a communication line.

The basic idea of this invention is to send one or more cubesats into orbit, each equipped with a hardware security module. Users would send their transaction to the cubesats which would collect them into blocks, sign them, and send (bounce) them back to earth (and to one another). Bounce Blockchain provides scalability through sharding (transactions will be partitioned over cubesats). Because modern hardware security modules are tamper-resistant (become inoperable if tampered with) or tamper-responsive (erase their keys if tampered with), take their keys from physical processes, and have been validated, socio-technical protocols can ensure that it is infeasible to forge the identity of a hardware security module in a cubesat with another cubesat. If, however, some cubesats are destroyed, the blockchain will continue to execute correctly though some transactions will be lost. New cubesats can be sent up in short order as they are quite cheap to launch. If, in spite of these assurances, some cubesats fail traitorously, the blockchain can survive through algorithms similar to Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance techniques.

An array of antenna assemblies each generate solar power and utilize the generated solar power at that antenna assembly, which enables large amounts of power to be generated. An antenna assembly having a flat antenna layer forming a first outer surface of said antenna assembly, a flat solar layer forming a second outer surface of said antenna assembly, and a flat structural layer having a flat support structure sandwiched between the antenna layer and the solar layer. The antenna layer has a flat antenna plate with one or more antennas at the first outer surface of the antenna assembly to communicate with Earth. The solar layer has a flat solar plate with one or more solar cells at the second outer surface of the antenna assembly to receive solar energy and generate power.

A satellite system may have a constellation of communications satellites in orbits such as highly inclined eccentric geosynchronous orbits and low earth orbits. To place satellites in inclined eccentric geosynchronous orbits, a series of launch vehicles may be launched. Each launch vehicle may be used to place a set of satellites, such as a set of three satellites, into a common orbital plane with distinct longitude of ascending node values. To place satellites in low earth orbits, a series of launch vehicles may be launched, each of which releases satellites in sequence from a stack of satellites into a common orbital plane. After desired separations have been produced between the released satellites, circularization procedures may be performed using the propulsion systems of the satellites to place the satellites into final orbit.

A satellite (SAT) includes a platform, at least one solar panel for supplying the satellite (SAT) with electrical energy, the solar panel being fixed along one side of the platform, the satellite comprising an antenna system (Rx+Z, Rx-Z, Tx+Z, Tx-Z) comprising two remote control antennas (Rx+Z, Rx-Z) and two remote measurement antennas (Tx+Z, Tx-Z), wherein the two remote control antennas (Rx+Z, Rx-Z) are disposed back to back on either side of the platform, and spaced one from the other by a distance less than or equal to λ, where λ corresponds to the wavelength of the remote control or remote measurement signal, the two remote measurement antennas (Tx+Z, Tx-Z) are disposed back to back, on either side of the platform, and spaced one from the other by a distance less than or equal to λ, the antenna system is disposed at one of the two ends of the side of the platform (PF) on which the solar panel (PS) is fixed.

Techniques and mechanisms for enabling the positioning of a communication terminal in or on a vehicle, building or other structure. In an embodiment, the communication terminal includes an electronically steerable antenna which is disposed in a housing. A plurality of support legs, coupled to the housing, are each configured to rotate about a respective first axis, and to further rotate about a respective second axis. For a given support leg, an orientation of the respective second axis varies with rotation of that support leg about the respective first axis. Two such support legs are mechanically coupled to one another with respect to their respective first axis rotations or with respect to their respective second axis rotations. In another embodiment, the communication terminal is operable by a user to selectively enable or disable first axis rotation and/or second axis rotation of a given support leg.

For generating a points-of-interest plan, a method generates communication graph nodes for at least one satellite. The method calculates communication graph edges from the communication graph nodes, wherein the communication graph nodes and the communication graph edges comprise a communication graph. The method solves the communication graph to yield a communication plan. The method generates a points-of-interest plan from the communication plan.