An exploration method includes: a step of exploring a natural resource on a satellite, a minor planet, or a planet; a step of acquiring the natural resource detected by the exploration; and a step of storing the acquired natural resource.

A satellite orbiting in one of a plurality of orbital planes of a satellite constellation system at an altitude range corresponding to low earth orbit includes at least one processor configured to generate satellite state data, and to generate a navigation signal based on the satellite state data. The satellite includes at least one transmitter configured to transmit the navigation signal for receipt by at least one client device on earth. Each of the plurality of orbital planes includes a corresponding one of a plurality of satellite subsets of a plurality of satellites of the satellite constellation system. Each of the plurality of orbital planes is within the altitude range, and the plurality of orbital planes includes a set of inclined orbital planes at a non-polar inclination.

A method, computer program product and system where a processor(s) configures sensor(s) on an unmanned aircraft system, to capture data related to a surface of a defined geographic area. The processor(s) navigate the unmanned aircraft system in a repeatable defined travel path proximate to the defined geographic area, such that the sensor(s) capture surface data related to the defined geographic area during the navigating, wherein a position of the unmanned aircraft system in the travel path is within a satellite view geometry of a satellite. The processor(s) maintain the unmanned aircraft system at a distance from the surface at which atmosphere does not obscure the data and obtain the data collected by the sensor(s). The processor(s) compares the data collected by the sensor(s) to data collected by one or more instruments on the satellite related to the defined geographic area to determine is the instrument(s) of the satellite are calibrated.

A Vehicle Based Independent Range System (VBIRS) (10) comprised of individual stacked chambered modules that function as a single integrated system that provides a self-contained space based range capability, and is comprised of a power module (12), an artificial intelligence/autonomous engagement/flight termination system module (20), a satellite data modem module system (30) and a navigation, communications and control module system (40), all of which interface with a VBIRS test and checkout system (52) and a weather data system (116). The artificial intelligence/autonomous engagement/flight termination system module (20) is comprised of an inherent artificial intelligence capability that envelopes and interchanges data with an autonomous engagement controller (22) that contains all missile/rocket autonomous cooperative engagement, destruct decision software and range safety algorithm parameters required for optimum mission planning. VBIRS employed aboard an aircraft or between any combination of launching systems allows that aircraft to launch a missile/rocket from any location on earth, whether the missile/rocket is singularly launched by itself or as a larger group of missiles/rockets launched in a salvo arrangement, while providing collaborative real-time targeting to occur directly between missiles/rockets in conjunction with other missile/rocket launch platforms or stand-alone mission control centers.

A software-defined receiver (SDR) using real long term evolution (LTE) signals may be used for navigation. The LTE SDR leverages the structure of the downlink LTE signal, and provides signal acquisition, navigation-relevant high-level system information extraction, and signal tracking. The LTE SDR also provides the ability to obtain a time-of-arrival (TOA) estimate from received LTE signals, which provides a navigation solution comparable to a GPS-only navigation solution.

A software-defined receiver (SDR) using real long term evolution (LTE) signals may be used for navigation. The LTE SDR leverages the structure of the downlink LTE signal, and provides signal acquisition, navigation-relevant high-level system information extraction, and signal tracking. The LTE SDR also provides the ability to obtain a time-of-arrival (TOA) estimate from received LTE signals, which provides a navigation solution comparable to a GPS-only navigation solution.

A software-defined receiver (SDR) using real long term evolution (LTE) signals may be used for navigation. The LTE SDR leverages the structure of the downlink LTE signal, and provides signal acquisition, navigation-relevant high-level system information extraction, and signal tracking. The LTE SDR also provides the ability to obtain a time-of-arrival (TOA) estimate from received LTE signals, which provides a navigation solution comparable to a GPS-only navigation solution.

A space vehicle comprising an optical system having a field of view, the optical system comprising at least two optical elements spaced from one another along an optical axis, thereby defining an interior cavity; at least one control system comprising at least one physical element configured for performing function(s) for enabling operation of the vehicle; and at least one holding assembly for holding the at least one control system and comprising a folding mechanism configured to move between a folded position corresponding to an inoperative mode of the optical system, and a deployed position corresponding to an operative mode of the optical system, such that in the folded position, the control system is at least partially located in the interior cavity for stowage, and in the deployed position, the control system is located outside the interior cavity and outside the field of view of the optical system, allowing operation of the optical system.

Disclosed is a method for achieving space-based autonomous navigation of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) satellites, and relates to the field of satellite navigation technologies. The method includes the following steps: optimizing a DRO, and establishing a dynamic model of an earth-moon space satellite orbit; establishing measurement links, by a low earth orbit (LEO) data relay satellite, with an earth-moon space DRO satellite and a GNSS respectively, and measuring an inter-satellite distance for modeling and linearization; adopting an extended Kalman filter (EKF) method to process inter-satellite measurement data, and autonomously determining a position and velocity of the global navigation satellite system without depending on the ground measurement and control support.

A satellite orbiting in one of a plurality of orbital planes of a satellite constellation system at an altitude range corresponding to low earth orbit includes at least one processor configured to generate satellite state data, and to generate a navigation signal based on the satellite state data. The satellite includes at least one transmitter configured to transmit the navigation signal for receipt by at least one client device on earth. Each of the plurality of orbital planes includes a corresponding one of a plurality of satellite subsets of a plurality of satellites of the satellite constellation system. Each of the plurality of orbital planes is within the altitude range, and the plurality of orbital planes includes a set of inclined orbital planes at a non-polar inclination.