Flexible beamforming for satellite communications

A controller of a satellite communications system, the controller configured to cause one or more ground terminals of the satellite communications system to:

• transmit a first configuration for a satellite to communicate, via a plurality of antenna feed elements of the satellite based at least in part on a first beamforming weight set that defines a plurality of first spot beams, with a first set of terminals located in a plurality of first coverage areas of a first system coverage area, each first coverage area of the plurality of first coverage areas associated with a respective one of the plurality of first spot beams;
• and
• transmit a second configuration for the satellite to communicate, via the plurality of antenna feed elements based at least in part on a changed hardware configuration of the satellite and on a second beamforming weight set that defines a plurality of second spot beams, with a second set of terminals located in a plurality of second coverage areas of a second system coverage area, each second coverage area of the plurality of second coverage areas associated with a respective one of the plurality of second spot beams.

A system for satellite communications, comprising:

• means for transmitting, from a ground segment of a satellite communication system, a first configuration for a satellite to communicate, via a plurality of antenna feed elements of the satellite based at least in part on a first beamforming weight set that defines a plurality of first spot beams, with a first set of terminals located in a plurality of first coverage areas of a first system coverage area, each first coverage area of the plurality of first coverage areas associated with a respective one of the plurality of first spot beams;
• and
• means for transmitting, from the ground segment, a second configuration for the satellite to communicate, via the plurality of antenna feed elements based at least in part on a changed hardware configuration of the satellite and on a second beamforming weight set that defines a plurality of second spot beams, with a second set of terminals located in a plurality of second coverage areas of a second system coverage area, each second coverage area of the plurality of second coverage areas associated with a respective one of the plurality of second spot beams.