Pseudo-geosynchronous configurations in satellite platforms
AssigneeVector Launch Inc.
InventorsShaun Coleman, Darren D. Garber
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for orbital satellite platform. In one example, an orbital satellite platform includes a plurality of satellite devices configured to establish a pseudo-geosynchronous window corresponding to an underlying zone of interest by at least transferring state information related to execution of a designated software payload from outgoing satellite devices leaving the pseudo-geosynchronous window for receipt by target satellite devices entering the pseudo-geosynchronous window. During orbital passage within the pseudo-geosynchronous window, the target satellite devices are configured to execute the designated software payload in accordance with the state information.
Claims20
An orbital satellite system, comprising:
- a plurality of satellite devices in non-geosynchronous orbit configured to establish a pseudo-geosynchronous window corresponding to an underlying zone of interest by at least transferring state information comprising one or more task instructions related to execution of a designated software application payload from outgoing satellite devices leaving the pseudo-geosynchronous window for receipt by target satellite devices entering the pseudo-geosynchronous window;
- and
- during orbital passage within the pseudo-geosynchronous window, the target satellite devices configured to execute the designated software application payload in accordance with the state information.
A method of operating an orbital satellite system, the method comprising:
- establishing a pseudo-geosynchronous window corresponding to an underlying zone of interest among satellite devices positioned in non-geosynchronous orbit by at least transferring state information comprising one or more task instructions related to execution of a designated software application payload from outgoing satellite devices leaving the pseudo-geosynchronous window for receipt by target satellite devices entering the pseudo-geosynchronous window;
- and
- during orbital passage within the pseudo-geosynchronous window, executing the designated software application payload in accordance with the state information in the target satellite devices.
An orbital satellite device for deployment into a low-earth orbit, comprising:
- a positioning system configured to establish a pseudo-geosynchronous window in a non-geosynchronous orbit corresponding to an object of interest based at least on detecting overhead proximity to the object of interest;
- during orbital passage within the pseudo-geosynchronous window, a processing system configured to execute a task in accordance with task instructions related to the orbital passage through the pseudo-geosynchronous window;
- and
- responsive to the positioning system detecting exit from the pseudo-geosynchronous window, a communication system configured to transfer state information comprising further task instructions for delivery to at least another satellite device entering the pseudo-geosynchronous window for use in execution of a further task by the other satellite device in accordance with the state information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.