IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,338,001
Granted Patent B2
US 12,338,001 · App. 17/918,114 · Granted Jun 24, 2025

Space situational awareness business device, space traffic business device, and space traffic management system

Inventor: Hisayuki Mukae (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
B64G1/1007B64G1/1021H04B7/18545
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,338,001
App. No.
17/918,114
Granted
Jun 24, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An SSA business device is a business device with which an SSA business operator manages space object information. The SSA business device includes a space traffic management device that is compatible with space traffic management devices respectively included in business devices that manage space objects. The SSA business device is connected, through the space traffic management device, to a space traffic management system in which the space traffic management devices respectively included in the business devices are mutually connected with a communication line.

Claims (58)

1. A space situational awareness business device that is a business device with which a space situational awareness business operator manages space object information, the space situational awareness business device comprising

a space traffic management device that is compatible with space traffic management devices respectively included in business devices that manage space objects, the space traffic management device including a processor, wherein

the space situational awareness business device is connected, through the space traffic management device, to a space traffic management system in which the space traffic management devices respectively included in the business devices are mutually connected with a communication line, wherein

the space situational awareness business device notifies a danger alert to a space insurance business device, and assists a damage compensation measure in case of occurrence of a collision accident.

2. The space situational awareness business device according to claim 1 , wherein

the space traffic management device includes

a space information recorder to record orbit information of a space object,

a danger analysis device, and

a danger alert device to notify abnormal proximity or a collision with a space object or an intrusion into a danger region by a space object, and

further includes all or at least one of

a danger avoidance action assistance device,

danger avoidance action implementation plan information, and

security management information.

3. The space situational awareness business device according to claim 2 , wherein

the space situational awareness business device performs proximity, collision, or intrusion analysis, using the danger analysis device and using pieces of space object information acquired by the space information recorder, and

when proximity, a collision, or an intrusion involving danger is foreseen, notifies the danger to a business device of a space object to be a party involved, using the danger alert device.

4. The space situational awareness business device according to claim 2 , wherein

the space situational awareness business device coordinates a danger avoidance action with a management business operator of a space object to be a party involved to which danger is notified by the danger alert device, using the danger avoidance action assistance device, and

discloses danger avoidance action implementation plan information.

5. The space situational awareness business device according to claim 2 , wherein

the space situational awareness business device notifies a danger alert to a debris removal business device or a mega-constellation business device, and requests a danger avoidance action.

6. A space traffic business device to manage space traffic, the space traffic business device comprising a processor and one of a control device of a space plane and a collision avoidance assistance device, wherein

the space traffic business device also has a function of the space situational awareness business device according to claim 1 .

7. A space situational awareness business device that is a business device with which a space situational awareness business operator that acquires space object information using a monitoring device manages the space object information, the space situational awareness business device comprising

the monitoring device that flies in a vicinity of a geostationary orbit, wherein

the monitoring device includes a propulsion device, and

while the monitoring device moves eastward with respect to a space object, the monitoring device is operated in the sky on a back side of Earth, which is a side not exposed to sunlight, during a period from local sun time (LST) 18:00 to LST 06:00 of following morning.

8. The space situational awareness business device according to claim 7 , further comprising

a space traffic management device that is compatible with space traffic management devices respectively included in business devices that manage space objects, the space traffic management device including a processor, wherein

the space situational awareness business device is connected, through the space traffic management device, to a space traffic management system in which the space traffic management devices respectively included in the business devices are mutually connected with a communication line.

9. A space situational awareness business device that is a business device with which a space situational awareness business operator that acquires space object information using a monitoring device manages the space object information, the space situational awareness business device comprising

the monitoring device that flies in a vicinity of a geostationary orbit, wherein

the monitoring device includes a propulsion device, and

while the monitoring device moves westward with respect to a space object, the monitoring device is operated in the sky on a front side of Earth, which is a side exposed to sunlight, during a period from local sun time (LST) 06:00 to LST 18:00.

10. A space situational awareness business device that is a business device with which a space situational awareness business operator that acquires space object information using a monitoring device manages the space object information, the space situational awareness business device comprising:

the monitoring device that flies in a vicinity of a geostationary orbit; and

a ground facility including a processor that performs orbit control and monitoring control of the monitoring device, wherein

the monitoring device includes a propulsion device,

the monitoring device is operated, while moving eastward with respect to a space object, in the sky on a back side of Earth, which is a side not exposed to sunlight, during a period from local sun time (LST) 18:00 to LST 06:00 of following morning,

the monitoring device is operated, while moving westward with respect to the space object, in the sky on a front side of Earth, which is a side exposed to sunlight, during a period from local sun time (LST) 06:00 to LST 18:00, and

an average orbit period of the monitoring device is adjusted.

11. A space situational awareness business device that is a business device with which a space situational awareness business operator that acquires space object information using a monitoring device manages the space object information, the space situational awareness business device comprising:

the monitoring device that flies in a vicinity of a geostationary orbit; and

a ground facility including a processor that performs orbit control and monitoring control of the monitoring device, wherein

the monitoring device includes a propulsion device,

the monitoring device is operated, while moving eastward with respect to a space object, in the sky on a back side of Earth, which is a side not exposed to sunlight, during a period from local sun time (LST) 18:00 to LST 06:00 of following morning,

the monitoring device is operated, while moving westward with respect to the space object, in the sky on a front side of Earth, which is a side exposed to sunlight, during a period from local sun time (LST) 06:00 to LST 18:00, and

an average relative position with respect to the ground facility is maintained.

12. A space situational awareness business device that is a business device with which a space situational awareness business operator manages space object information, the space situational awareness business device comprising

a space traffic management device that is compatible with space traffic management devices respectively included in business devices that manage space objects, the space traffic management device including a processor, wherein

the space situational awareness business device is connected, through the space traffic management device, to a space traffic management system in which the space traffic management devices respectively included in the business devices are mutually connected with a communication line,

the space situational awareness business device is connected with a space traffic management device included in a specific business device with a secret line, and

the space situational awareness business device notifies a danger alert to a space insurance business device, and assists a damage compensation measure in case of occurrence of a collision accident.

13. A space traffic management system in which space traffic management devices respectively included in business devices of business operators that each manage a space object are connected with a communication line, wherein

each of the space traffic management devices includes

rule information indicating a rule that satellites with different normal vectors adopt mutually different orbital altitudes, and

processing circuitry to manage the space object based on the rule information.

14. A space situational awareness business device that is a business device with which a space situational awareness business operator manages space object information, the space situational awareness business device comprising a space traffic management device that is included in the space traffic management system according to claim 13 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2022
From: MUKAE, HISAYUKI
To: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 061378/0365 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-078629 · Apr 27, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230137711A1 · May 4, 2023
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