초록 ▼

The instant invention comprises a method and arrangement for station keeping a geostationary satellite cluster, employing an optical intersatellite connection constituted of a number of satellites (14F to 14K), which are located in a common, limited area, for example 0.1, on the geostationary orbit.

The instant invention comprises a method and arrangement for station keeping a geostationary satellite cluster, employing an optical intersatellite connection constituted of a number of satellites (14F to 14K), which are located in a common, limited area, for example 0.1, on the geostationary orbit. In this case the position of the satellite cluster is determined by the temporarily selected master satellite (14J), which receives its correction commands via a ground station (17) and which sees to it that such corrections are simultaneously performed by the remaining satellites of the cluster.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for keeping a geostationary satellite cluster in a desired position by employing bidirectional optical intersatellite links, which satellite cluster is constituted of a plurality of satellites, which are each configured to be able to assume a master function, loc

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for keeping a geostationary satellite cluster in a desired position by employing bidirectional optical intersatellite links, which satellite cluster is constituted of a plurality of satellites, which are each configured to be able to assume a master function, located in a common limited area in geostationary orbit, comprising:assigning a master function to one satellite of said satellite cluster;having said master function satellite be in contact with a ground station;having each satellite make a precise distance measurement as well as angular measurements defining a direction for at least one of the satellites closest to it using said bidirectional optical intersatellite links and communicating said measurements through said bidirectional optical intersatellite links to all of the other satellites in said cluster,calculating at said ground station or in said master function satellite a desired position determination for all satellites in said cluster from said distance and angular measurements,having a corresponding position correction executed by all satellites of the cluster under the leadership of said master function satellite in order to achieve said desired positions.