IP Library Granted Patent US 12662256
Granted Patent B2
US 12662256 · App. 17/798,306 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Mega-constellation business device

Inventor: Hisayuki Mukae (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
B64G1/1085B64G1/2423B64G1/2429B64G1/244H04B7/18519
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12662256
App. No.
17/798,306
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A satellite constellation forming system ( 100 ) forms a satellite constellation which is composed of a satellite group and in which the satellite group cooperatively provides a service. The satellite constellation has a plurality of orbital planes in each of which a plurality of satellites fly at the same nominal orbital altitude. A satellite constellation forming unit ( 110 ) continues providing the service while avoiding a collision between satellites by both or one of control of an orbital altitude and control of a passage timing of a satellite group flying in a region where the plurality of orbital planes intersect.

Claims (29)

1 . A mega-constellation business device to manage a satellite constellation composed of 100 or more satellites, the mega-constellation business device comprising:

a space traffic management device that is compatible with space traffic management devices respectively included in a plurality of business devices that manage space objects, and including circuitry connected, through the space traffic management device, to a space traffic management system in which the space traffic management devices included in the plurality of business devices are connected with a communication line,

wherein the space traffic management device includes at least space traffic management rule information including international phase rules corresponding to internationally acknowledged satellites, trial-phase rules corresponding to satellites that are not internationally acknowledged, and flight safety measure information to cause a plurality of satellites flying in a same orbital plane at a same nominal altitude to fly evenly spaced apart while maintaining a relative phase angle to avoid collision.

2 . The mega-constellation business device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the space traffic management device includes a space information recorder to record orbit information of a satellite, and

wherein the space traffic management device further includes all or at least one of a danger analysis device, a danger alert device, a danger avoidance action assistance device, danger avoidance action implementation plan information, and security management information.

3 . The mega-constellation business device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the flight safety measure information further includes a measure of eliminating an intersection of orbits so as to secure passive safety, as a flight safety measure for a satellite group with a same nominal altitude.

4 . The mega-constellation business device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the mega-constellation business device includes, as the flight safety measure information, flight safety measure information that while a satellite managed by the business device is in a process of deorbiting and making an atmospheric entry, the satellite perform a collision avoidance operation during orbital descent before intruding into any one of

a region in a vicinity of sun-synchronous orbit LST 10:30 and at orbital altitudes of 500 km to 1000 km,

a region in a vicinity of sun-synchronous orbit LST 13:30 and at orbital altitudes of 500 km to 1000 km,

a region in a vicinity of sun-synchronous orbit LST 06:00 and at orbital altitudes of 500 km to 1000 km,

a region in a vicinity of sun-synchronous orbit LST 18:00 and at orbital altitudes of 500 km to 1000 km,

a region at latitudes of 80 and more degrees north and at orbital altitudes of 500 km to 1000 km, and

a region at latitudes of 80 and more degrees south and at orbital altitudes of 500 km to 1000 km.

5 . The mega-constellation business device according to claim 1 ,

wherein as flight safety measure information for satellites flying in

a region in a vicinity of sun-synchronous orbit LST 10:30 and at orbital altitudes of 500 km to 1000 km,

a region in a vicinity of sun-synchronous orbit LST 13:30 and at orbital altitudes of 500 km to 1000 km,

a region in a vicinity of sun-synchronous orbit LST 06:00 and at orbital altitudes of 500 km to 1000 km,

a region in a vicinity of sun-synchronous orbit LST 18:00 and at orbital altitudes of 500 km to 1000 km,

a region at latitudes of 80 and more degrees north and at orbital altitudes of 500 km to 1000 km,

a region at latitudes of 80 and more degrees south and at orbital altitudes of 500 km to 1000 km, and

an altitude region where a mega-constellation satellite group flies,

the mega-constellation business device includes all or at least one of intra-orbital-plane synchronous control information, passage timing management information, and collision avoidance action plan information on which agreement has been reached with a business operator that manages a satellite flying in a same orbital plane, at a same orbital altitude, or in a neighborhood region.

6 . A mega-constellation business device comprising

processing circuitry to execute a flight safety measure based on the flight safety measure information included in the mega-constellation business device according to claim 1 .

7 . The mega-constellation business device according to claim 1 , wherein the trial-phase rules include all or at least one of the congested region identification information that identifies a congested region, danger region identification information that identifies a danger region where congested regions intersect, and traffic management rule information in danger regions.