Method and apparatus for early service using phased satellite depolyment

A communication unit for use in a satellite communication system, wherein the satellite communication system provides continuous service in a first band of latitude at a first minimum elevation angle through a partially populated satellite constellation during a first phase of deployment of a fully populated satellite constellation and provides continuous service in a second band of latitude at a second minimum elevation angle during a second phase of deployment of the fully populated satellite constellation, the communication unit comprising:

• a steerable antenna for communicating with one or more satellites of the partially populated satellite constellation at the first minimum elevation angle during the first phase of deployment at the second minimum elevation during the second phase of deployment;
• a controller coupled to the steerable antenna for adjusting a position of the steerable antenna;
• a transceiver coupled to the steerable antenna for communicating with the satellite communication system through a service link and for receiving an instruction to adjust the steerable antenna to communicate at the second minimum elevation angle during the second phase of deployment;
• and
• a processor for processing the instruction and for directing the controller to adjust the position of the steerable antenna of the communication unit to communicate with the satellite communication system at the second minimum elevation angle during the second phase of deployment of the satellite constellation.

An antenna apparatus for use in a satellite of a satellite system for providing service during one or more phases of deployment, wherein one or more satellites of a first phase of deployment will provide service at a first minimum elevation angle and wherein one or more satellites of a second or later phase of deployment will provide service at a second elevation angle, the antenna apparatus comprising:

• one or more antenna elements for providing one or more service beams of varying size, wherein each service beam projects a satellite footprint on the surface of the earth;
• an antenna controller coupled to the one or more antenna elements for controlling the one or more antenna element and adjusting a size of the one or more service beams;
• and
• a processor for determining an appropriate size of a first service beam to be provided by the one or more antenna elements during the first phase of deployment and of a second service beam to be provided during the second or later phase of deployment and for directing the antenna controller to adjust the antenna elements to provide the appropriate size of service beam.

A method for providing continuous communication service from a portion of a satellite system having a satellite constellation to be deployed in a plurality of phases of deployment and for providing continuous communication services during one or more phases of the plurality of phases of deployment, the satellite constellation comprising a number of total orbital planes, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) deploying one or more phases of satellites over a first period of time;
• b) populating a first subset of orbital planes of the satellite constellation with the satellites of the one or more phases of satellites, wherein the first subset of orbital planes populated by the one or more phases of satellites deployed over the first period of time comprises less orbital planes than the number of total orbital planes of the satellite constellation;
• c) deploying one or more phases of satellites over a second period of time;
• d) populating a second subset of orbital planes of the satellite constellation with the one or more phases of satellites deployed over the second period of time, wherein the first subset of orbital planes comprises less orbital planes than the number of total orbital planes of the satellite constellation;
• e) providing in the satellites deployed in the first period of time and the second period of time means for communicating between the satellites using inter-satellite links;
• and
• f) directing the satellites to use the inter-satellite links to communicate only between satellites deployed in a specified phase of said one or more phases.