Satellite constellation forming system, mega-constellation business device, and ground facility
AssigneeMitsubishi Electric Corporation
InventorHisayuki MUKAE
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A satellite constellation forming system (100) forms a satellite constellation which is composed of a satellite group and in which the satellite group cooperatively provides a service. The satellite constellation has a plurality of orbital planes in each of which a plurality of satellites fly at the same nominal orbital altitude. A satellite constellation forming unit (110) continues providing the service while avoiding a collision between satellites by both or one of control of an orbital altitude and control of a passage timing of a satellite group flying in a region where the plurality of orbital planes intersect.
Claims3
A satellite constellation forming system to form a satellite constellation having a plurality of orbital planes in each of which a plurality of satellites fly as an orbit satellite group, the plurality of orbital planes having mutually different normal directions, each of the plurality of satellites in the orbit satellite group including a propulsion device to change velocity of each of the plurality of satellites in the orbit satellite group, the satellite constellation being formed at an orbital altitude at which atmospheric drag affects each of the plurality of satellites in the orbit satellite group, the satellite constellation forming system comprising
- processing circuitry to cause propulsion devices of satellites in the orbit satellite group to operate in synchronization within each orbital plane of the plurality of orbital planes,
- wherein the processing circuitry causes each satellite in an orbit satellite group in a first orbital plane of the plurality of orbital planes to perform an acceleration and deceleration process utilizing atmospheric drag of repeating operation of accelerating for a first time period, then stopping acceleration, and after an altitude of each satellite returns to a previous altitude due to atmospheric drag, accelerating for the first time period, and causes each satellite in an orbit satellite group in an orbital plane adjacent to the first orbital plane to start the acceleration and deceleration process utilizing atmospheric drag after a delay of a second time period from a time point when the acceleration and deceleration process utilizing atmospheric drag is started in the first orbital plane, repeatedly for each of the plurality of orbital planes, and
- in a combination of any two orbital planes of the plurality of orbital planes, gradually changes an orbital altitude of at least one of the two orbital planes from a state in which in a vicinity of an intersection of the two orbital planes, satellite passage timings of passage of satellites flying in the two orbital planes do not coincide between the two orbital planes, while maintaining the state in which the satellite passage timings do not coincide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.