Satellite arrangement providing effective use of the geostationary orbit

A simulated geostationary communications platform comprising:

• a plurality of controllably maneuverable communications satellites disposed at a predetermined location of a geostationary orbit, said communications satellites being provided with means for communicating with selected earth stations over communications down links at selected down link frequencies;
• at least one switching and control satellite disposed among said communication satellite at said predetermined location of said geostationary orbit;
• said communications satellites and said switching and control satellite being provided with means for communication between said switching and control satellite and each of said communications satellites over individual communications cross links at selected cross link frequencies, each of said communications satellites being provided with means for converting signals between said down link frequencies and said cross link frequencies, said switching and control satellite being provided with controllable means for selectively relaying cross link signals received from one said communications satellites to selected ones of said other communications satellites;
• position error detecting means coupled to said individual communication cross links;
• and
• means on said switching and control satellite responsive to said position error detecting means for transmitting position command signals on said individual communication cross links to maneuver and group said communications satellites relative to said switching and control satellite to form a cluster of satellites in a predetermined formation.

A satellite arrangement comprising:

• a plurality of controllably maneuverable communications satellites and a control satellite adapted to be disposed at a predetermined location of a geostationary orbit in assigned positions in a predetermined formation to form a cluster of satellites at that location;
• means providing communication cross links disposed on said satellites for providing intercommunication between said control satellite and each of said communications satellites at selected cross link frequencies;
• said control satellite controlling the individual spatial positions of said communication satellites relative to said control satellites over said communication cross links to maintain said satellites in said predetermined formation;
• communications down link means disposed on said satellites for providing intercommunication with selected earth stations at selected down link frequencies;
• means disposed on said satellites for interconnecting said communications down link means with said communications cross link means, including means for converting between said down link frequencies and said cross link frequencies;
• and
• means disposed on said control satellite for relaying cross link signals received from one of said satellites to selected ones of said other satellites.

A simulated geostationary communications platform comprising:

• a plurality of controllably maneuverable earth transmit/receive satellites adapted to be disposed at a predetermined location in the geostationary orbit;
• a switching and control satellite located at said predetermined location in the geostationary orbit;
• said earth transmit/receive satellites and said switching and control satellite being disposed relative to each other to form a cluster of satellites in a predetermined formation;
• each of said earth transmit/receive satellites being provided with a radio communications cross link with said switching and control satellite in at least a first predetermined cross link frequency band, said communications cross link comprising directive antennas, low power solid transmitters, and solid state receivers;
• ranging and position detecting means disposed on said switching and control satellite for detecting the location of each of said earth transmit/receive satellites relative to said switching and control satellite;
• command means disposed on said switching and control satellite and responsive to said ranging and position detecting means for providing correction signals to said earth transmit/receive satellites via said communications cross link to control and maintain each of said earth transmit/receive satellites in its assigned position in said predetermined formation;
• and
• each of said earth transmit/receive satellites being provided with a communications down link in at least a second predetermined frequency band, said communications down link comprising a high gain antenna, a plurality of low power solid state transmitters, a plurality of antenna feeds, and a plurality of solid state receivers.

A satellite squadron arrangement comprising:

• a plurality of controllably maneuverable satellites adapted to be disposed in a predetermined orbit, said satellites being grouped in assigned positions relative to each other to form a cluster of satellites in a predetermined formation, at least one of said satellites being a control satellite;
• communications cross link means disposed on said satellites for providing intercommunication therebetween;
• means for developing error signals at said control satellites indicative of deviations of said satellites from their assigned positions in said predetermined formation;
• and
• means disposed on said control satellite and responsive to said last-named means for developing command signals for transmission over said communications cross link means to controllably maneuver said satellites to correct for said deviations and maintain said satellites in said positions in said predetermined formation.