A method of providing Earth observation data comprises: acquiring Earth observation echo data on a first satellite in a low Earth orbit, determining a time required to downlink predetermined data to a ground station on Earth from the first satellite at the current position of the first satellite. If the time required exceeds a predetermined threshold, the predetermined data may be transmitted to another satellite in orbit above Earth using space-to-space radio communication. Alternatively, the first satellite may receive data relating to the current position of another satellite in orbit above Earth, determine a time required to the predetermined data to a ground station via the other satellite at the current position of the at least one other satellite, and if the determined time for the other satellite is less than the time determined for the first satellite, transmit the predetermined data to the other satellite in orbit above Earth using space-to-space radio communication.In some possible implementations, the echo data may be processed on-board the first satellite to generate an image and analysed to determine a portion of interest. Then the predetermined data may comprise a data structure comprising a location of the portion of interest which may be transmitted using the space-to-space link.


    Zugriff

    Download


    Exportieren, teilen und zitieren



    Titel :

    Satellite operations


    Beteiligte:

    Erscheinungsdatum :

    23.10.2024


    Medientyp :

    Patent


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch


    Klassifikation :

    IPC:    B64G Raumfahrt , COSMONAUTICS / G01S RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING , Funkpeilung / H04B TRANSMISSION , Übertragung



    Satellite Operations Model Extension

    P. J. F. Millier | NTIS | 1974


    Training for satellite operations

    Widdowson, M. | Tema Archiv | 1990


    HCI commercial satellite operations

    de Silva, L. / Arechiga, T. | AIAA | 1996


    HCI Commercial Satellite Operations

    De Silva, L. / Arechiga, T. / American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1996


    Small Satellite Space Operations

    K. Reiss | NTIS | 1994