# US 2023/0056948 A1 · Satellite constellation forming system, satellite constellation forming method, ground facility, and business device

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- Number: US 2023/0056948 A1
- Document ID: US20230056948A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/792,406
- Filed: 2021-03-09
- Published: 2023-02-23
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-10
- Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
- Applicants: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
- Inventors: Hisayuki MUKAE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230056948A1

## CPC

- B64G 1/1085: {Swarms and constellations}
- B64G 1/242: {Orbits and trajectories}
- B64G 1/2429: {Station keeping}
- B64G 1/62: Systems for re-entry into the earth's atmosphere; Retarding or landing devices
- B64G 1/66: Arrangements or adaptations of apparatus or instruments, not otherwise provided for
- B64G 3/00: Observing or tracking cosmonautic vehicles
- H04B 7/18513: {Transmission in a satellite or space-based system}
- B64G 1/244: {Spacecraft control systems}
- B64G 1/68: of meteoroid or space debris detectors
- B64G: COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
- H04B: TRANSMISSION

## Abstract

A satellite constellation forming system (600) forms a satellite constellation which is composed of a satellite group that cooperatively provides a communication service, and has a plurality of orbital planes in each of which a plurality of satellites fly at the same orbital altitude. Each satellite of the satellite group includes inter-satellite communication means and satellite-ground communication means. A satellite constellation forming unit (11) forms the satellite constellation which has ten or more orbital planes with different normal directions, and in which at least one relative angle in an azimuth direction of adjacent orbital planes of the plurality of orbital planes is arranged to be uneven and satellite-ground communication means of satellites flying in orbital planes spaced unevenly have a communication range that achieves complete ground coverage above the equator.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A satellite constellation forming system to form a satellite constellation which is composed of a satellite group and in which the satellite group cooperatively provides a communication service, the satellite constellation having a plurality of orbital planes in each of which a plurality of satellites fly at a same orbital altitude,
wherein each satellite of the satellite group includes an inter-satellite communication device and a satellite-ground communication device,
the satellite constellation forming system comprising
processing circuitry to form the satellite constellation which has ten or more orbital planes with different normal directions, and in which at least one relative angle in an azimuth direction of adjacent orbital planes of the plurality of orbital planes is arranged to be uneven and satellite-ground communication devices of satellites flying in orbital planes spaced unevenly have a communication range that achieves complete ground coverage above the equator, and form a passage region R for a space object to pass through in the satellite constellation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The satellite constellation forming system according to claim 1,
wherein the processing circuitry causes the satellite group to simultaneously ascend or descend in orbit so as to move the orbital planes spaced unevenly.

### Claim 3

A satellite constellation forming method of a satellite constellation forming system to form a satellite constellation which is composed of a satellite group and in which the satellite group cooperatively provides a communication service, the satellite constellation having a plurality of orbital planes in each of which a plurality of satellites fly at a same orbital altitude,
wherein each satellite of the satellite group includes an inter-satellite communication device and a satellite-ground communication device,
the satellite constellation forming method comprising
forming the satellite constellation which has ten or more orbital planes with different normal directions, and in which at least one relative angle in an azimuth direction of adjacent orbital planes of the plurality of orbital planes is arranged to be uneven and satellite-ground communication devices of satellites flying in orbital planes spaced unevenly have a communication range that achieves complete ground coverage above the equator, and forming a passage region R for a space object to pass through in the satellite constellation.

### Claim 4

(canceled)

### Claim 5

A ground facility included in a satellite constellation forming system to form a satellite constellation which is composed of a satellite group and in which the satellite group cooperatively provides a communication service, the satellite constellation having a plurality of orbital planes in each of which a plurality of satellites fly at a same orbital altitude,
wherein each satellite of the satellite group includes an inter-satellite communication device and a satellite-ground communication device,
the ground facility comprising
processing circuitry to form the satellite constellation which has ten or more orbital planes with different normal directions, and in which at least one relative angle in an azimuth direction of adjacent orbital planes of the plurality of orbital planes is arranged to be uneven and satellite-ground communication devices of satellites flying in orbital planes spaced unevenly have a communication range that achieves complete ground coverage above the equator, and form a passage region R for a space object to pass through in the satellite constellation.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

A business device of a satellite constellation business operator that manages a satellite constellation,
wherein the business device of the satellite constellation business operator executes the satellite constellation forming method according to claim 3.