# US 2013/0158743 A1 · Space Positioning System > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0158743 A1 - Document ID: US20130158743A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/328,228 - Filed: 2011-12-16 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Cornel Prunean - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158743A1 ## CPC - B64G 1/36: using sensors, e.g. sun-sensors, horizon sensors - B64G 1/1014: {Navigation satellites} - B64G 1/1085: {Swarms and constellations} - B64G 1/66: Arrangements or adaptations of apparatus or instruments, not otherwise provided for - G01S 19/02: Details of the space or ground control segments - B64G 1/2427: {Transfer orbits} - B64G 1/2429: {Station keeping} - B64G: COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## Abstract A method and apparatus comprising a satellite, an antenna system associated with the satellite, and a transmitter in the satellite. The antenna system is configured to transmit a signal in a direction away from a surface of an earth. The transmitter is configured to transmit location information in the signal using the antenna system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a satellite; an antenna system associated with the satellite, wherein the antenna system is configured to transmit a signal in a direction away from a surface of an earth; and a transmitter in the satellite, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit location information in the signal using the antenna system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal is transmitted from an antenna in the antenna system that is located on an aft side of the satellite and wherein the aft side faces away from the surface of the earth. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the antenna is configured to transmit the signal along an axis extending through the satellite and a center of the earth in a direction away from the surface of the earth. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to increase a strength of electromagnetic radiation for the signal in the direction away from the surface of the earth. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein electromagnetic radiation for the signal has a radiation pattern and wherein an antenna is configured to increase a strength in a number of side lobes in the radiation pattern that is in the direction away from the surface of the earth. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal is a radio wave. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the location information comprises at least one of data about a position of the satellite, a position of the transmitter, and a time of transmission for the position of the transmitter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a spacecraft having a receiver configured to receive the signal from the satellite and a number of additional satellites and perform a maneuver using the location information in the signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the maneuver is selected from at least one of orbit insertion and station keeping. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the spacecraft is in a position farther away from the earth than the satellite. ### Claim 11 A method for moving a spacecraft, the method comprising: receiving a number of signals from a number of satellites at the spacecraft, wherein the number of signals is transmitted from a number of antenna systems associated with the number of satellites and the number of antenna systems is configured to transmit the number of signals in a direction away from a surface of an earth; identifying location information in the number of signals received from the number of satellites; and moving the spacecraft using the location information. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising: identifying a location of the spacecraft using the location information in the number of signals. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein moving the spacecraft using the location information comprises: performing a maneuver selected from one of orbit insertion and station keeping. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the spacecraft is farther away from the earth than the number of satellites. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the spacecraft is a satellite in an orbit that is higher than a number of orbits for the number of satellites. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the number of signals is transmitted from an antenna in the number of antenna systems that is located on an aft side of the number of satellites and wherein the aft side faces away from the surface of the earth. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the antenna is configured to transmit the number of signals along an axis extending through the number of satellites and a center of the earth in the direction away from the surface of the earth. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the number of antenna systems is configured to have a radiation pattern of the number of antenna systems in which a strength of radio waves transmitted is increased in the direction away from the surface of the earth. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the number of signals is electromagnetic radiation having a radiation pattern and wherein an antenna is configured to increase a strength in a number of side lobes in the radiation pattern that is in the direction away from the surface of the earth. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein a signal in the number of signals is a radio wave.