A satellite observation system and method of deploying a satellite system are disclosed. The system includes a plurality of observation satellites comprising one or more sensors, each of the plurality of observation satellites configured with at least a solar array and a mechanical stabilization element. Each of the plurality of observation satellites is constructed without positioning components. The plurality of observation satellites is positioned in a dawn/dusk sun-synchronous orbital plane about a celestial body such that the one or more observation sensors are oriented toward the celestial body. The system further includes one or more servicing vehicles configured to engage each of the plurality observational satellites to configure at least the solar array and mechanical stabilization element

Systems, devices, methods, and computer-readable media for location determination of an orbiting device. A method can include receiving measurement data from a monitor device, the measurement data representative of a position of an orbiting space object with a mechanically moveable antenna, receiving, by processor circuitry, mission data indicating orientation of the antenna is changing from a first orientation to a second, different orientation by a specified time, determining, based on the mission data, an inter-signal correction (ISC), applying the determined ISC to the measurement data resulting in corrected measurement data, providing the corrected measurement data to a Kalman filter, and receiving, from the Kalman filter, a position estimate of the orbiting space object.

An orbit analysis unit (431) of a collision avoidance assistance business device analyzes an orbit of a specific space object. When it is foreseen that the specific space object will intrude into an orbital altitude region where a satellite group of a satellite constellation flies, a notification unit (432) of the collision avoidance assistance business device notifies a satellite constellation business operator of an intrusion alert and non-public orbit information of the specific space object via a communication line that is kept secret. A collision analysis unit (411) of a satellite constellation business device analyzes a collision between the specific space object and an individual satellite in the satellite group of the satellite constellation. A countermeasure planning unit (412) of the satellite constellation business device plans a collision avoidance countermeasure when a collision is foreseen.

A space information recorder (100) includes two or more categories of a category, acquired from a mega-constellation business device, of different constellations formed at nearby altitudes by the same business operator, a category of a satellite group of each constellation that flies at the same nominal altitude and cooperatively realizes the same mission, a category of orbital planes, a category of each orbital plane of the orbital planes, and a category of an individual satellite. The space information recorder (100) includes information on upper and lower limit values of an orbital altitude or on a nominal altitude and an altitude fluctuation width for each category.

A space traffic management device (100) mounted in a mega-constellation business device (41) specifies one to a plurality of representative satellites from a mega-constellation satellite group flying on orbits having the same nominal orbital altitude, and has quasi-real-time high-accuracy orbital information of the representative satellite and orbital information relative values of constituent satellites other than the representative satellite, relative to the representative satellite. The space traffic management device (100) shares the quasi-real-time high-accuracy orbital information of the representative satellite and the orbital information relative values of the constituent satellites relative to the representative satellite, with the space traffic management devices (100) mounted in a plurality of business devices.

A transportation network for providing propellant in space can include optical mining vehicles that concentrate solar energy to spall captured asteroids, capture released volatiles, and store them in reservoirs as propellants. The network can also have orbital transfer vehicles that use solar thermal rocket modules that focus solar energy on heat exchangers to force propellant through nozzles, as well as separable aeromaneuvering tanker modules with reusable heatshields and storage tanks. The network can have propellant depots positioned between Earth and a transport destination. The depots can mechanically couple to accept propellant delivery and to supply it to visiting space vehicles.

Systems and methods for describing, simulating and/or optimizing spaceborne systems and missions. Configurations for spaceborne systems are generated and validated based on simulation output.

A system detects a maneuver of at least one space object by receiving a first data set relating to orbital characteristics of at least one space debris object. The system trains a model, using the first data set, in order to model orbital behaviors of the at least one space debris object. The system then receives a second data set relating to orbital characteristics of the at least one space object, and detects a maneuver of the at least one space object using the trained model and the second data set.

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 orbital analysis unit (431) of a collision avoidance assist business device identifies a mega-constellation satellite group formed in an orbital altitude which the mega-constellation satellite group is anticipated to pass during a flight of an unsteady-operation space object. An announcement unit (432) of the collision avoidance assist business device announces a danger alarm and orbital information of the unsteady-operation space object, to a mega-constellation business device which manages the mega-constellation satellite group. A collision analysis unit (411) of a satellite mega-constellation business device analyzes collision of the unsteady-operation space object with an individual satellite constituting the mega-constellation satellite group. A countermeasure formulating unit (412) of the satellite constellation business device formulates a collision avoidance countermeasure when collision is predicted.