Multi-pathway satellite communication systems and methods
Systems and methods for controlling satellites are provided. In one example embodiment, a computing system can obtain a request for image data. The request can be associated with a priority for acquiring the image data. The computing system can determine an availability of a plurality of satellites to acquire the image data based at least in part on the request. The computing system can select from among a plurality of communication pathways to transmit an image acquisition command to a satellite based at least in part on the request priority. The plurality of communication pathways can include a communication pathway via which the image acquisition command is indirectly communicated to the satellite via a geostationary satellite. The computing system can send the image acquisition command to the selected satellite via the selected communication pathway. Data from the satellite can be relayed to ground-based stations via one or more relay satellites.
1. A computer-implemented method for satellite imaging, the method comprising:
receiving, at a low-earth orbit satellite, a command to capture imagery data of an image target comprising a geographic area on earth;
acquiring, using the low-earth orbit satellite, the imagery data of the image target;
determining that a low-latency downlink communication pathway provides a quicker downlink speed than a direct downlink communication pathway; and
selecting the low-latency downlink communication pathway based on determining that the low-latency downlink communication pathway provides a quicker downlink speed than the direct downlink communication pathway; and
transmitting, via the low-latency downlink communication pathway, the imagery data to a geostationary relay satellite, wherein the low-latency downlink communication pathway comprises optical transmission of the imagery data.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
selecting the low-latency downlink communication pathway from a plurality of downlink communication pathways for transmitting the imagery data from the low-earth orbit satellite, wherein the plurality of downlink communication pathways comprises the direct downlink communication pathway and the low-latency downlink communication pathway, wherein the direct downlink communication pathway comprises communication directly between the low-earth orbit satellite and a ground-based station.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the direct downlink communication pathway comprises radio frequency transmission.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the low-latency downlink communication pathway is configured to transmit the imagery data to one or more geostationary hubs on earth, and wherein the direct downlink communication pathway is configured to transmit the imagery data to a ground-based station.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the command to capture imagery data is high priority; and
selecting the low-latency downlink communication pathway based on determining that the command to capture imagery data is high priority.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the command to capture imagery data of the image target is via a direct uplink communication pathway comprising communication directly between the low-earth orbit satellite and a ground-based station.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the direct uplink communication pathway comprises radio frequency transmission.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein a controlling entity of the geostationary relay satellite is different from a controlling entity of the low-earth orbit satellite.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein a communication pathway between the low-earth orbit satellite and the geostationary relay satellite is configured to be in continual readiness for transmissions over a period of time.
10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein a communication pathway between the low-earth orbit satellite and the geostationary relay satellite is configured to be open according to a schedule.
11. A computing system comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more tangible, non-transitory, computer readable media that store instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:
receiving, at a low-earth orbit satellite, a command to capture imagery data of an image target comprising a geographic area on earth, acquiring, using the low-earth orbit satellite, the imagery data of the image target;
determining that a low-latency downlink communication pathway provides a quicker downlink speed than a direct downlink communication pathway; and
selecting the low-latency downlink communication pathway based on determining that the low-latency downlink communication pathway provides a quicker downlink speed than the direct downlink communication pathway; and
transmitting, via a low-latency downlink communication pathway, the imagery data to a geostationary relay satellite, wherein the low-latency downlink communication pathway comprises optical transmission to a geostationary relay satellite.
12. The computing system of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform operations further comprising:
determining a current orbital position of the low-earth orbit satellite, wherein transmitting the imagery data to the geostationary relay satellite via the low-latency downlink communication pathway is based on determining the current orbital position of the low-earth orbit satellite.
13. The computing system of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform operations further comprising:
a selecting the low-latency downlink communication pathway from a plurality of downlink communication pathways, the plurality of downlink communication pathways comprising the direct downlink communication pathway and the low-latency downlink communication pathway, wherein the direct downlink communication pathway comprises communication directly between the low-earth orbit satellite and a ground-based station, wherein transmitting the imagery data to the geostationary relay satellite via the low-latency downlink communication pathway is based on selecting the low-latency downlink communication pathway.
14. The computing system of claim 13 , wherein the direct downlink communication pathway comprises radio frequency transmission.
15. The computing system of claim 11 , wherein a destination for the low-latency downlink communication pathway is a geostationary hub on earth, and wherein the destination for the direct downlink communication pathway is a ground-based station.
16. The computing system of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining that the command to capture imagery data is high priority; and
selecting the low-latency downlink communication pathway based on determining that the command to capture imagery data is high priority.
17. A computer-implemented method for satellite imaging, the method comprising:
receiving, at a first low-earth orbit satellite, a first command to capture first imagery data of a target;
acquiring, using the first low-earth orbit satellite, the first imagery data of the target;
receiving, at a second low-earth orbit satellite, a second command to capture second imagery data of the target;
acquiring, using the second low-earth orbit satellite, the second imagery data of the target;
determining that a low-latency downlink communication pathway provides a quicker downlink speed than a direct downlink communication pathway; and
selecting the low-latency downlink communication pathway based on determining that the low-latency downlink communication pathway provides a quicker downlink speed than the direct downlink communication pathway; and
transmitting, via optical transmission from at least one of the first or second low-earth orbit satellites, the respective first or second imagery data to a geostationary relay satellite.
18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 , further comprising determining a current orbital position of at least one of the first or second low-earth orbit satellites, wherein transmitting the respective first or second imagery data to the geostationary relay satellite via optical transmission is based on determining the current orbital position of the low-earth orbit satellite.
19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 , wherein transmitting the respective first or second imagery data to the geostationary relay satellite comprises selecting the at least one of the first or second low-earth orbit satellites based on a downlink speed associated with the at least one of the first or second low-earth orbit satellites.
20. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 , further comprising selecting, based on a current orbital position of the at least one of the first or second low-earth orbit satellites, the low-latency downlink communication pathway for transmitting the respective first or second imagery data from the low-earth orbit satellite.