Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – With special crew accommodations
Patent
1995-10-23
1998-09-29
Barefoot, Galen L.
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
With special crew accommodations
244158R, 455 121, 455427, B64G 102
Patent
active
058136347
ABSTRACT:
In a constellation of orbiting satellites (12) in non-geostationary orbits, a failing satellite is replaced with a spare satellite from a spare orbit (53). The satellites (12) are in one of several orbital planes (14) that have an inclination angle with respect to the equator. An orbiting spare satellite located in a monitor orbit (55) is provided for each orbital plane (14). When a failing satellite in the operational orbit is detected, the spare satellite replaces the failing satellite by exchanging positions with the failing satellite. The failing satellite may remain in the monitor orbit to subsequently replace another failing ("sicker") satellite. Accordingly, the satellites that are the "healthiest" are maintained in operation. Cross-links (23) between satellites are maintained minimizing any disruption in communication service when a hole occurs in an orbital plane (14) as a result of a failure.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3995801 (1976-12-01), Bond
patent: 5120007 (1992-06-01), Pocha et al.
patent: 5408237 (1995-04-01), Patterson et al.
patent: 5619211 (1997-04-01), Horkin et al.
Glickman Ronald E.
Pizzicaroli Joseph Camillo
Barefoot Galen L.
Gorrie Gregory J.
Motorola Inc.
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