Systems and Methods for Adjusting the Orbit of a Payload
To efficiently delivering payloads to respective orbits, a payload is received from a launch vehicle at a spacecraft operating as an orbital transfer vehicle. The payload is transferred, using the spacecraft, to a second orbit in accordance with a predefined fixed schedule that specifies at least the second orbit and a plurality of times at which the spacecraft transitions between the first and the at least second orbit.
1 . A method in a spacecraft operating as an orbital transfer vehicle for efficiently delivering payloads to respective orbits, the method comprising:
receiving, at the spacecraft, a payload from a launch vehicle; and
transferring the payload, using the spacecraft, to a second orbit in accordance with a predefined fixed schedule that specifies at least the second orbit and a plurality of times at which the spacecraft transitions between the first and the at least second orbit.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the predefined fixed schedule is a first schedule; and
the receiving of the payload from the launch vehicle occurs in accordance with a second predefined fixed schedule.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first schedule includes a plurality of different orbits; and
the first schedule is generated in view of the second schedule to optimize delivery times for payloads from earth to the plurality of different orbits.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, at the spacecraft, a plurality of payloads from the launch vehicle at a same time; and
transferring the plurality of payloads to a plurality of respective different orbits included in the predefined fixed schedule.
5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
returning to the first orbit after delivering each of the plurality of payloads to the respective different orbits.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first orbit is a low earth orbit (LEO).
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first orbit is a sun synchronous orbit (SSO).
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predefined fixed schedule specifies a plurality of SSOs.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second orbit is at an altitude between 500 and 650 km.
10 - 13 . (canceled)
14 . A spacecraft comprising:
a thruster;
an adapter for removably attaching a payload; and
a controller configured to:
receive the payload from a launch vehicle, while the spacecraft is a first orbit; and
transfer the payload a second orbit in accordance with a predefined fixed schedule that specifies at least the second orbit and a plurality of times at which the spacecraft transitions between the first and the at least second orbit.
15 . The spacecraft of claim 14 , wherein:
the predefined fixed schedule is a first schedule; and
the receiving of the payload from the launch vehicle occurs in accordance with a second predefined fixed schedule.
16 . The spacecraft of claim 14 , wherein:
the first schedule includes a plurality of different orbits; and
the first schedule is generated in view of the second schedule to optimize delivery times for payloads from earth to the plurality of different orbits.
17 . The spacecraft of claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive a plurality of payloads from the launch vehicle at a same time; and
transfer the plurality of payloads to a plurality of respective different orbits included in the predefined fixed schedule.
18 . The spacecraft of claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
return to the first orbit after delivering each of the plurality of payloads to the respective different orbits.
19 . The spacecraft of claim 14 , wherein the first orbit is a low earth orbit (LEO).
20 . The spacecraft of claim 14 , wherein the first orbit is a sun synchronous orbit (SSO).
21 . The spacecraft of claim 14 , wherein the predefined fixed schedule specifies a plurality of SSOs.
22 . The spacecraft of claim 14 , wherein the second orbit is at an altitude between 500 and 650 km.