Space Systems/loral, LLC

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Eric G Butte

Randall D Tyner

Julie Lynne Miller

Liang C Chu

A satellite communication system for airborne and reachback communications may include a formation orbiting in one or more slots of a geosynchronous orbit. The formation may include two or more communications satellites (COMSATs) encircling a ring. Each COMSAT of the two or more COMSATs may include a communication module configured to communicate with a plurality of communications assets in a benign or contested environment. The formation may be configured to allow a first communications asset having a dish antenna with a first configuration to communicate independently with each of the two or more COMSATs in a first scenario. The formation may also be configured to allow a second communications asset having a dish antenna with a second configuration to communicate simultaneously with the two or more COMSATs in a second scenario.

Geosynchronous triads communications system

A satellite communication system includes a plurality of spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit, where each spacecraft provides a plurality of beams on the surface of the earth, and a plurality of ground stations individual ones of which are located in one of the beams for transmitting uplink signals to one of the spacecraft. Each spacecraft has a plurality of receivers for receiving a plurality of the uplinked signals from ground stations, a frequency translator for translating the received uplink signals to a transmission frequency of a plurality of downlink signals, and a plurality of transmitters for transmitting the plurality of downlink signals within the same beams as the corresponding uplink signals. In accordance with the invention the beams have at least one of different sizes and shapes, including circular and elliptical, and are non-contiguous over a least a portion of the surface of the earth.

Satellite communication system employing unique spot beam antenna design

A satellite communication system includes at least one spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit for providing a plurality of beams on the surface of the earth, and a plurality of ground stations individual ones of which are located in one of the beams for transmitting uplink signals to the spacecraft. The spacecraft has a plurality of receivers for receiving a plurality of the uplinked signals from ground stations, a frequency translator for translating the received uplink signals to a transmission frequency of a plurality of downlink signals, and a plurality of transmitters for transmitting the plurality of downlink signals within the same beams as the corresponding uplink signals. Each transmitter includes a combiner for combining together a plurality of frequency translated signals and a power amplifier, such as a TWTA, for amplifying the combined plurality of frequency translated signals. An analysis is performed of how many transponder channels can be combined and power amplified in a single TWTA, or multiple paralleled TWTAs, and a determination is then made as to which feeds and/or beams have low data traffic and low required downlink power that makes then suitable candidates for combining their feeds and/or beams into a linearly driven TWTA(s). A reverse output multiplexer is used to separate the combined feeds and/or beams to the separate individual downlinks after the RF power amplification.

Satellite communication system using RF power sharing for multiple feeds or beams in downlinks

A satellite communication system includes a plurality of spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit, where each spacecraft provides a plurality of beams on the surface of the earth, and a plurality of ground stations individual ones of which are located in one of the beams for transmitting uplink signals to one of the spacecraft. Each spacecraft has a plurality of receivers for receiving a plurality of the uplinked signals from ground stations, a frequency translator for translating the received uplink signals to a transmission frequency of a plurality of downlink signals, and a plurality of transmitters for transmitting the plurality of downlink signals within the same beams as the corresponding uplink signals. Each transmitter includes a combiner for combining together a plurality of frequency translated signals and a power amplifier, such as a TWTA, for amplifying the combined plurality of frequency translated signals. Each of the plurality of receivers is gain controlled by a corresponding one of the ground stations for providing immunity to rain attenuation. Preferably the beams have different sizes and shapes, and are non-contiguous over a least a portion of the earth's surface. It is also preferred that the uplink beams to a first one of the satellites have a first polarization and downlink beams have a second, opposite polarization, and that uplink beams to a second one of the satellites have the second polarization and downlink beams have the first polarization. The uplink and downlink signals may be digital television signals, and each of the spot beams overlies a predetermined designated television market area.

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Cupertino, CA, United States of America

Eric G Butte