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 Title: |
US5911389:
Wave based satellite constellation
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Drake, John H.; Santa Clara, CA
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| Assignee: |
Lockheed Martin Corp., Sunnyvale, CA
other patents from LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION (722905) (approx. 1,090)
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| Published / Filed: |
1999-06-15
/ 1996-12-20
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| Application Number: |
US1996000770480
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
B64G 1/10;
B64G 1/24;
H04B 7/195;
Core:
B64G 1/00;
more...
IPC-7:
B64G 1/10;
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| ECLA Code: |
B64G1/10A; B64G1/10M; B64G1/24A; H04B7/195;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
244/158.4;
342/356;
455/012.1;
701/226;
Original:
244/158.R;
455/012.1;
701/226;
342/356;
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| Field of Search: |
244/158 R
392/355,356,365
701/013,226,215
455/12.1,13.2
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| Priority Number: |
| 1996-12-20 |
US1996000770480 |
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| Abstract: |
A constellation (100) comprising a plurality of man-made satellites (1-27). The satellites (1-27) orbit a celestial body (110) along a plurality of orbits (120-128), which are located at a substantially common altitude and have a substantially common inclination. The satellites (1-27) are positioned in a predetermined order substantially along a wave (130). Each satellite (1-27) maintains its position in the predetermined order along the wave (130) while orbiting the celestial body (110). A system in accordance with the invention may further include a ground station adapted for enabling communication with at least one of the satellites (1-27). The satellites (1-27) may be positioned based on a Walker code T/P/F, where T is the total number of satellites (1-27) in a full Walker rosette corresponding to the Walker code, P is the number of distinct orbits (120-128), and F/T is the phase shift between adjacent orbits (120-128). The Walker code T/P/F may be determined by the equation F=(T-c+nP)N/(c-1) where c is the number of cycles in the wave 130, N is the number of satellites (1-27) in each orbit (120-128), N is the greatest common factor of T and (c-1), and n is an integer chosen such that O<=F
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Feix & Feix ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Mojica, Virna Lissi;
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
Show legal status actions
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| Family: |
None
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First Claim:
Show all 50 claims |
What is claimed is:
1. A constellation comprising a plurality of man-made satellites, wherein:
- the plurality of satellites orbit a celestial body along a plurality of orbits located at a substantially common altitude and having a substantially common inclination, the common inclination measured with respect to a reference circle about the celestial body, each satellite orbiting the celestial body along one of the plurality of orbits;
- each orbit has at least one certain satellite in the orbit which corresponds to at least one certain satellite in each of the other orbits;
- the plurality of orbits are phased so that said certain satellites are positioned in a predetermined order substantially along at least one certain wave;
- each of said certain satellites maintains its position in the predetermined order along the certain wave while orbiting the celestial body; and
- said certain wave rotates about the celestial body at a given fraction of the speed of rotation of the satellites in their orbits.
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| Background / Summary: |
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 7 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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| Foreign References: |
None
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| Other References: |
Walker, J. G., "Comments on Rosette Constellations of Earth Satellites", IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, vol. AES-18, No. 4, pp. 723-724, Nov. 1982, U.S.A.
(2 pages)
Walker, J.G., "Continuous Whole-Earth Coverage By Circular-Orbit Satellite Patterns", Royal Aircraft Establishment, Technical Report 77044, Mar. 24, 1977, United Kingdom.
Walker, J. G., "Coverage Predictions and Selection Criteria For Satellite Constellations", Royal Aircraft Establishment, Technical Report 82116, Dec. 2, 1982, United Kingdom.
Walker, J. G., "Satellite Patterns for Continuous Multiple Whole-Earth Coverage", IEEE International Conference on Maritime and Aeronautical Satellite Communication and Navigation, pp. 119-1122, Mar. 7-9, 1978, United Kingdom.
Walker, J. G., "Circular Orbit Patterns Providing Continuous Whole Earth Coverage", Royal Aircraft Establishment, Technical Report 70211, Nov. 1970, United Kingdom.
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