Interplanetary networks for space internet and space positioning
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorJose E. Velazco
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Interplanetary networks for space internet and space positioning are presented. The described networks deploy spacecraft swarms along the solar system to form a science and communications platform. The disclosed network nodes are placed around planetary Lagrange points. Creation of optical synthetic apertures using smallsat swarms for inter- and intranet communications is further described. Exemplary subnetworks such as the cislunar network are also presented.
Claims15
An interplanetary satellite network (IPN) deployed across a plurality of planets of a solar system, the IPN comprising a plurality of miniaturized satellite swarms, each swarm forming a node of the IPN, the node being located at a Lagrange point of a corresponding planet with reference to the Sun, and wherein:
- the plurality of planets comprises Earth, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, and
- each miniaturized satellite is configured to optically communicate with miniaturized satellites of a same swarm and miniaturized satellites of other swarms of the IPN.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.