Medium earth orbit constellation with simple satellite network topology
A method, a member satellite, and a tangible machine-readable medium are disclosed. An inter-satellite link subsystem 472 may maintain a fixed communication link between the member satellite and a partner satellite of the medium earth orbit centric satellite constellation in a regular, wraparound symmetric, spatially dimensional network. A terrestrial linking subsystem 476 may create a terrestrial link to a ground terminal.
1. A method, comprising:
maintaining a substantially constant communication link directly between a member satellite of a medium earth orbit centric satellite constellation and a partner satellite of the medium earth orbit centric satellite constellation via an inter-satellite link in a regular, wraparound symmetric, spatially dimensional network; and
establishing a terrestrial link to a ground terminal.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the medium earth orbit centric satellite constellation consists of sixteen satellites.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the medium earth orbit centric satellite constellation is arranged in a four satellites by four orbital paths constellation.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
linking the member satellite directly to four partner satellites in the medium earth orbit centric satellite constellation.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
linking the member satellite directly to six partner satellites in the medium earth orbit centric satellite constellation.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the member satellite is in an orbital path with a 67.5 degree phase offset from an adjacent orbital path.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
adjusting a position of the member satellite to maintain the 67.5 degree offset.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending an alert directly from the member satellite to the partner satellite of a handover of the terrestrial link.
9. A member satellite of a medium earth orbit centric satellite constellation, comprising:
an inter-satellite link subsystem that maintains a substantially constant communication link directly between the member satellite and a partner satellite of the medium earth orbit centric satellite constellation in a regular, wraparound symmetric, spatially dimensional network; and
a terrestrial linking subsystem that establishes a terrestrial link to a ground terminal.
10. The member satellite of claim 9 , wherein the medium earth orbit centric satellite constellation consists of sixteen satellites.
11. The member satellite of claim 10 , wherein the medium earth orbit centric satellite constellation is arranged in a four satellites by four orbital paths constellation.
12. The member satellite of claim 9 , wherein the inter-satellite link subsystem links the member satellite directly to four partner satellites in the medium earth orbit centric satellite constellation.
13. The member satellite of claim 9 , wherein the inter-satellite link subsystem links the member satellite directly to six partner satellites in the medium earth orbit centric satellite constellation.
14. The member satellite of claim 9 , wherein the member satellite is in a 56 degree inclined orbital path.
15. The member satellite of claim 14 , further comprising:
an altitude and orbital control subsystem that adjusts a trajectory of the member satellite to maintain the 56 degree inclined orbital path.
16. The member satellite of claim 9 , wherein the inter-satellite link subsystem sends an alert directly to the partner satellite of a handover of the terrestrial link.
17. A non-transitory tangible machine-readable medium having a set of instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
maintaining a substantially constant communication link directly between a member satellite of a medium earth orbit centric satellite constellation and a partner satellite of the medium earth orbit centric satellite constellation via an inter-satellite link in regular, wraparound symmetric, spatially dimensional network; and
establishing a terrestrial link to a ground terminal.
18. The non-transitory tangible machine-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the medium earth orbit centric satellite constellation consists of sixteen satellites arranged in four satellites by four orbital paths.
19. The non-transitory tangible machine-readable medium of claim 17 , the method further comprising:
linking the member satellite directly to four partner satellites in the medium earth orbit centric satellite constellation.
20. The non-transitory tangible machine-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the member satellite is in a 56 degree inclined orbital path with a 67.5 degree phase offset from an adjacent orbital path.