Medium earth orbit augmentation of a global positioning system for global navigation
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorDennis M. Galvin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A satellite navigation system and method for improving overall navigation accuracy when used in conjunction with the existing Global Positioning System. At least twelve satellites reside in a plurality of medium earth orbits, each orbit having a period of at least three sidereal hours and less than one sidereal day, and an inclination angle between 35 and 75 degrees or between 105 and 145 degrees. The satellites are positioned within their orbits such that the vertical navigation accuracy provided by the system is at least 7.6 meters with at least 99.9% availability.
Claims16
A satellite navigation system for improving overall navigation accuracythe system designed for use with a global positioning system having 24 satellites in six orbital planes at 55 degrees inclination, 12 sidereal hour periods, and right ascension of the ascending nodes offset from each other by 60 degrees, the satellite navigation system comprising:
- at least 12 satellites residing in a plurality of medium earth orbits, each of the plurality of orbits having a period of at least 3 sidereal hours and less than one sidereal day, and an inclination angle selected from the group consisting of angles between 35 and 75 degrees and angles between 105 and 145 degrees, each of the at least 12 satellites positioned within the plurality of orbits at sufficient elevation angles to a user such that a vertical navigation accuracy provided by the system is at least approximately 7.6 meters with at least approximately 99.9% availability;
- and
- means for transmitting a navigation signal to the user carried by each of the at least 12 satellites.
A method for improving overall satellite navigation accuracy, the method being designed for use with a global positioning system having 24 satellites in six orbital planes at 55 degrees inclination, 12 sidereal hour periods, and right ascension of ascending nodes offset from each other by 60 degrees the method comprising:
- placing at least 12 satellites into a plurality of medium earth orbits, each of the plurality of orbits having a period of at least 3 sidereal hours and less than one sidereal day, and an inclination angle selected from the group consisting of angles between 35 and 75 degrees and angles between 105 and 145 degrees, each of the at least 12 satellites positioned within the plurality of orbits at sufficient elevation angles to a user such that a vertical navigation accuracy provided by the system is at least approximately 7.6 meters with at least approximately 99.9% availability;
- and
- transmitting a navigation signal from each of the at least 12 satellites to the user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.