Satellite networked high frequency terminal to terminal communications

A method, comprising:

• transmitting, by a high frequency (HF) transmit antenna of a first terminal, a HF communication payload to an ad hoc satellite network, the ad hoc satellite network including multiple satellites, some or all of the multiple satellites communicatively coupled to other of the multiple satellites at any given time, the multiple satellites including a first satellite and a second satellite, each of the first satellite and the second satellite comprising:
• at least one receive HF antenna configured to receive HF signals;
• at least one transmit HF antenna configured to transmit HF signals;
• at least one inter-satellite transmitter configured to transmit signals to at least one other satellite of the ad hoc satellite network;
• at least one inter-satellite receiver configured to receive signals from at least one other satellite of the ad hoc satellite network;
• and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one receive HF antenna, the at least one transmit HF antenna, the at least one inter-satellite transmitter, and the at least one inter-satellite receiver;
• and
• receiving, by an HF receive antenna of a second terminal, the HF communication payload from the ad hoc satellite network,
• wherein the ad hoc satellite network is a global ad hoc satellite network, wherein the multiple satellites are low earth orbit (LEO) satellites,
• wherein some or all of the multiple satellites are communicatively coupled to other of the multiple satellites at any given time via at least one of radiofrequency (RF) inter-satellite cross links or optical inter-satellite cross links, wherein a first group of multiple geographically separated satellites of the global ad hoc satellite network is visible to the first terminal, wherein a second group of multiple geographically separated satellites of the global ad hoc satellite network is visible to the second terminal, wherein successful transmission of the HF communication payload to the ad hoc satellite network is improved by visibility of the first group of multiple geographically separated satellites by the first terminal as compared to visibility of a single satellite, wherein successful reception of the HF communication payload from the ad hoc satellite network is improved by visibility of the second group of multiple geographically separated satellites by the second terminal as compared to visibility of a single satellite.

A system, comprising:

• a first terminal including a high frequency (HF) transmit antenna configured transmit an HF communication payload to an ad hoc satellite network;
• and
• a second terminal including an HF receive antenna configured receive the HF communication payload from the ad hoc satellite network,
• wherein the ad hoc satellite network includes multiple satellites, some or all of the multiple satellites communicatively coupled to other of the multiple satellites at any given time, the multiple satellites including a first satellite and a second satellite, each of the first satellite and the second satellite comprising:
• at least one receive HF antenna configured to receive HF signals;
• at least one transmit HF antenna configured to transmit HF signals;
• at least one inter-satellite transmitter configured to transmit signals to at least one other satellite of the ad hoc satellite network;
• at least one inter-satellite receiver configured to receive signals from at least one other satellite of the ad hoc satellite network;
• and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one receive HF antenna, the at least one transmit HF antenna, the at least one inter-satellite transmitter, and the at least one inter-satellite receiver,
• wherein the at least one receive HF antenna includes a receive-only HF antenna,
• wherein each of the first satellite and a second satellite is configured for coupler-less HF operation.

A system, comprising:

• an ad hoc satellite network including multiple satellites, wherein the ad hoc satellite network is a global ad hoc satellite network, wherein the multiple satellites are low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, some or all of the multiple satellites communicatively coupled to other of the multiple satellites at any given time, the multiple satellites including a first satellite and a second satellite, each of the first satellite and the second satellite comprising:
• at least one receive high frequency (HF) antenna configured to receive HF signals;
• at least one transmit HF antenna configured to transmit HF signals;
• at least one inter-satellite transmitter configured to transmit signals to at least one other satellite of the ad hoc satellite network;
• at least one inter-satellite receiver configured to receive signals from at least one other satellite of the ad hoc satellite network;
• and
• at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one receive HF antenna, the at least one transmit HF antenna, the at least one inter-satellite transmitter, and the at least one inter-satellite receiver;
• a first terminal including an HF transmit antenna configured transmit an HF communication payload to the ad hoc satellite network;
• and
• a second terminal including an HF receive antenna configured receive the HF communication payload from the ad hoc satellite network,
• wherein some or all of the multiple satellites are communicatively coupled to other of the multiple satellites at any given time via at least one of radiofrequency (RF) inter-satellite cross links or optical inter-satellite cross links, wherein a first group of multiple geographically separated satellites of the global ad hoc satellite network is visible to the first terminal, wherein a second group of multiple geographically separated satellites of the global ad hoc satellite network is visible to the second terminal, wherein successful transmission of the HF communication payload to the ad hoc satellite network is improved by visibility of the first group of multiple geographically separated satellites by the first terminal as compared to visibility of a single satellite, wherein successful reception of the HF communication payload from the ad hoc satellite network is improved by visibility of the second group of multiple geographically separated satellites by the second terminal as compared to visibility of a single satellite.