Satellite cluster comprising a plurality of modular satellites

A method of operating a satellite cluster having at least two module satellites co-positioned at the same geo-stationary orbital position,

• with a first module satellite, having a receiver unit for receiving signals which are sent out by an earth station and/or having a transmitter unit for sending signals back to earth and having a first communication device for interacting with communication devices of other module satellites,
• with a second module satellite, having a signal processing unit and having a second communication device for interacting with communication devices of other module satellites,
• wherein the second communication device receives signals from the first communication device for processing by the signal processing unit, and wherein the second communication device forwards the processed signals to the communication device of at least one other another module satellite, and
• the method comprising a step of:
• controlling each module satellite separately as an aerospace vehicle by an earth station such that each respective module satellite is maneuverable out of the cluster and is replaceable by a new module satellite.

A satellite cluster having at least two module satellites co-positioned at the same geo-stationary orbital position, comprising:

• a first module satellite, having a first receiver unit for receiving signals which are sent out by an earth station and/or having a transmitter unit for sending signals back to earth and having a first communication device for interacting with communication devices of other module satellites;
• and
• a second module satellite, having a signal processing unit and having a second receiver unit for receiving signals which are sent out by an earth station and having a second communication device for interacting with communication devices of other module satellites,
• wherein the second receiver unit receives signals from the earth station for processing by the signal processing unit, and wherein the second communication device forwards the processed signals to the communication device of at least one other module satellite, and
• wherein each module satellite is controllable separately as an aerospace vehicle by an earth station such that each respective module satellite is maneuverable out of the cluster and is replaceable by a new module satellite.

A method of operating a satellite cluster having at least two module satellites co-positioned at the same geo-stationary orbital position,

• with a first module satellite, having a first receiver unit for receiving signals which are sent out by an earth station and/or having a transmitter unit for sending signals back to earth and having a first communication device for interacting with communication devices of other module satellites,
• with a second module satellite, having a signal processing unit and having a second receiver unit for receiving signals which are sent out by an earth station and having a second communication device for interacting with communication devices of other module satellites,
• wherein the second receiver unit receives signals from the earth station for processing by the signal processing unit, and wherein the second communication device forwards the processed signals to the communication device of at least one other module satellite, and
• the method comprising a step of:
• controlling each module satellite separately as an aerospace vehicle by an earth station such that each respective module satellite is maneuverable out of the cluster and is replaceable by a new module satellite.

A satellite cluster having at least two module satellites co-positioned at the same geo-stationary orbital position, comprising:

• a first module satellite, having a receiver unit for receiving signals which are sent out by an earth station and/or having a first transmitter unit for sending signals back to earth and having a first communication device for interacting with communication devices of other module satellites;
• and
• a second module satellite, having a signal processing unit and having a second transmitter unit for sending signals back to earth and having a second communication device for interacting with communication devices of other module satellites,
• wherein the second communication device receives signals from the first communication device for processing by the signal processing unit, and wherein the second transmitter unit sends the processed signals back to earth, and
• wherein each module satellite is controllable separately as an aerospace vehicle by an earth station such that each respective module satellite is maneuverable out of the cluster and is replaceable by a new module satellite.

A method of operating a satellite cluster having at least two module satellites co-positioned at the same geo-stationary orbital position,

• with a first module satellite, having receiver unit for receiving signals which are sent out by an earth station and/or having a first transmitter unit for sending signals back to earth and having a first communication device for interacting with communication devices of other module satellites,
• with a second module satellite, having a signal processing unit and having a second transmitter unit for sending signals back to earth and having a second communication device for interacting with communication devices of other module satellites,
• wherein the second communication device receives signals from the first communication device for processing by the signal processing unit, and wherein the second transmitter unit sends the processed signals back to earth,
• the method comprising a step of:
• controlling each module satellite separately as an aerospace vehicle by an earth station such that each respective module satellite is maneuverable out of the cluster and is replaceable by a new module satellite.