The Boeing Company

Robert Bruce Friend

Kurt William Loheit

Timothy Scott Cook

A system includes an antenna of a ground station. The antenna is configured to generate signal beams. The signal beams define a plurality of cells in the sky. The antenna is fixed in position relative to the ground and mechanically fixed to a particular orientation. The antenna is a phased array antenna. The system also includes a processor coupled to the antenna. The processor is configured to support concurrent communication sessions with a plurality of spacecraft via the signal beams. The plurality of spacecraft is located within the plurality of cells.

Ground-based antenna for concurrent communications with multiple spacecraft

A system includes an antenna of a ground station. The antenna is configured to generate a plurality of signal beams. The plurality of signal beams defines a plurality of cells in the sky. The antenna is mechanically fixed to a particular orientation. The antenna includes a phased array antenna. The system also includes a processor coupled to the antenna. The processor is configured to initiate concurrent communications with a plurality of spacecraft via the plurality of signal beams. The plurality of spacecraft is located within the plurality of cells.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for dual port ring compatible satellites are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a method for removably attaching at least one spacecraft to a payload attach ring on a launch vehicle involves attaching a strongback of each of the spacecrafts to two respective payload ports of the payload attach ring on the launch vehicle. In one or more embodiments, the strongback of each of the spacecrafts is attached to each of the two respective payload ports via a respective beam mounted to a respective port adaptor plate. The method further involves separating the strongback of each of the spacecrafts from the two respective payload ports of the payload attach ring on the launch vehicle by using at least one mechanical actuator on each of the beams.

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Redondo Beach, CA, United States of America

Robert Bruce Friend