MULTI-COMPONENT MULTI-SATELLITE NETWORK
Retrofittable satellite systems for an in-orbit host satellite comprising an enhancement module for adding a capability to the in-orbit host satellite, modifying the function of the in-orbit host satellite, and/or extending the function of the in-orbit host satellite. The in-orbit, retrofittable satellite system comprises a transfer vehicle for transferring the enhancement module from a first to a second location and a service vehicle for receiving the enhancement module from the transfer vehicle and installing the enhancement module on the in-orbit host satellite. In-orbit space situational awareness systems, comprising one or more in-orbit host satellites having one or more enhancement modules attached thereto, the enhancement modules comprising sensors such as satellite spatial location/position sensors, range sensors, navigation sensors, and/or proximity sensors for detecting other objects in-orbit, their location, speed, acceleration, orbital trajectory or the like, wherein the enhancement modules communicate to create a mesh network between the satellites.
1 . A in-orbit space situational awareness system, comprising multiple in-orbit host satellites, each host satellite having at least one space situational awareness enhancement module attached in-orbit or prior to launch, the space situational awareness enhancement modules comprising at least one of a satellite spatial position sensor, a range sensor, a navigation sensor, and a proximity sensor for detecting other objects in-orbit, and determining at least one of location, speed, acceleration, and orbital trajectory of the other objects, wherein the space situational awareness enhancement modules communicate to create an in-orbit mesh network between the in-orbit host satellites.
2 . The in-orbit space situational awareness system of claim 1 , wherein the space situational awareness enhancement modules use at least one of electro-optical, RADAR, LIDAR, IR, and RF to determine space object information related to characteristics comprising at least one a relative size, a geometry, and an identification of other space objects in-orbit.
3 . The in-orbit space situational awareness system of claim 1 , wherein the space situational awareness enhancement module is attached to a first in-orbit host satellite without a direct interface with at least one of a power system, a control system and a processing system of the first in-orbit host satellite.
4 . The in-orbit space situational awareness system of claim 2 , wherein the space situational awareness enhancement module on a first in-orbit host satellite transmits the space object information to a ground-based space situational awareness system.
5 . The in-orbit space situational awareness system of claim 4 , further comprising a hub-and-spoke space situational awareness mesh network further comprising additional space situational awareness enhancement modules on at least one additional in-orbit host satellite that transmits additional object information to the ground-based space situational awareness system.
6 . The in-orbit space situational awareness system of claim 5 , wherein at least one space situational awareness enhancement module communicates with other space assets.
7 . The in-orbit space situational awareness system of claim 5 , wherein the additional space situational awareness enhancement modules communicate with one another to create an in-orbit mesh network between the in-orbit host satellites.
8 . The in-orbit space situational awareness system of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first in-orbit host satellite and the other in-orbit host satellites are configured to change a trajectory based on input from the hub-and-spoke space situational awareness mesh network.