Fractionated satellite constellation

A method at a first gateway satellite having a first orbit and providing an intra-cluster communication link using a first communication protocol for a plurality of auxiliary satellites that are orbitally-coupled with the first gateway satellite, comprising:

• receiving, from a first auxiliary satellite of the plurality of auxiliary satellites that includes a first payload type, a communication using the first communication protocol, wherein the first auxiliary satellite processes information in accordance with a first packetization scheme, a first cryptography scheme, and a first coding scheme;
• selecting a second auxiliary satellite of the plurality of auxiliary satellites that includes a second payload type for routing the communication as a destination node from among a plurality of destination nodes, the plurality of destination nodes comprising the plurality of auxiliary satellites and a second gateway satellite having a second orbit, wherein the second auxiliary satellite processes information in accordance with a second packetization scheme, a second cryptography scheme, and a second coding scheme;
• and
• transmitting information associated with the communication to the destination node, wherein transmitting the information comprises translating between at least one of the first packetization scheme, the first cryptography scheme, or the first coding scheme and a corresponding one of the second packetization scheme, the second cryptography scheme, or the second coding scheme.

A method at a first auxiliary satellite that provides a communications service, comprising:

• establishing, using a first communication protocol, a connection with a gateway satellite, wherein the first auxiliary satellite is orbitally-coupled with the gateway satellite and processes information in accordance with a first packetization scheme, a first cryptography scheme, and a first coding scheme;
• receiving a communication using a second communication protocol;
• determining that the communication is directed to a second auxiliary satellite that is orbitally-coupled with the gateway satellite or a device that is being provided a service by the second auxiliary satellite, wherein the second auxiliary satellite processes information in accordance with a second packetization scheme, a second cryptography scheme, and a second coding scheme;
• and
• transmitting, using the first communication protocol, data from the communication to the gateway satellite based at least in part on the determining, the gateway satellite being configured to route the data from the communication directly to the second auxiliary satellite and to translate between at least one of the first packetization scheme, the first cryptography scheme, or the first coding scheme and a corresponding one of the second packetization scheme, the second cryptography scheme, or the second coding scheme for routing communications for the first auxiliary satellite.

A first gateway satellite having a first orbit and providing an intra-cluster communication link using a first communication protocol for a plurality of auxiliary satellites that is orbitally-coupled with the first gateway satellite, comprising:

• a processor;
• memory coupled with the processor;
• and
• instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the first gateway satellite to:
• receive, from a first auxiliary satellite of the plurality of auxiliary satellites that includes a first payload type, a communication using the first communication protocol, wherein the first auxiliary satellite processes information in accordance with a first packetization scheme, a first cryptography scheme, and a first coding scheme;
• select a second auxiliary satellite of the plurality of auxiliary satellites that includes a second payload type for routing the communication as a destination node from among a plurality of destination nodes, the plurality of destination nodes comprising the plurality of auxiliary satellites and a second gateway satellite having a second orbit, wherein the second auxiliary satellite processes information in accordance with a second packetization scheme, a second cryptography scheme, and a second coding scheme;
• and
• transmit information associated with the communication to the destination node, wherein transmitting the information comprises translating between at least one of the first packetization scheme, the first cryptography scheme, or the first coding scheme and a corresponding one of the second packetization scheme, the second cryptography scheme, or the second coding scheme.

A first auxiliary satellite that provides a communications service, comprising:

• a processor;
• memory coupled with the processor;
• and
• instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the first auxiliary satellite to:
• establish, using a first communication protocol, a connection with a gateway satellite, wherein the first auxiliary satellite is orbitally-coupled with the gateway satellite and processes information in accordance with a first packetization scheme, a first cryptography scheme, and a first coding scheme;
• receive a communication using a second communication protocol;
• determine that the communication is directed to a second auxiliary satellite that is orbitally-coupled with the gateway satellite or a device that is being provided a service by the second auxiliary satellite, wherein the second auxiliary satellite processes information in accordance with a second packetization scheme, a second cryptography scheme, and a second coding scheme;
• and
• transmit, using the first communication protocol, data from the communication to the gateway satellite based at least in part on the determining, the gateway satellite being configured to route the data from the communication directly to the second auxiliary satellite and to translate between at least one of the first packetization scheme, the first cryptography scheme, or the first coding scheme and a corresponding one of the second packetization scheme, the second cryptography scheme, or the second coding scheme for routing communications for the first auxiliary satellite.