United States Patent [19] [ii] Patent Number: 4,809,935
Draim [45] Date of Patent: Mar. 7,1989
[54] SATELLITE CONTINUOUS COVERAGE CONSTELLATIONS
[75] Inventor; John E. Draim, Vienna, Va.
[73] Assignee: Analytic Services, Inc., Arlington, Va.
[21] Appl. No.: 760,905
[22] Filed: Jul. 31,1985
[51] Int. CI.* B64G1/10
[52] U.S. CI 244/158 R
[58] Field of Search 244/158 R
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
3,243,706 3/1966 Grisham 325/15
4,502,051 2/1985 Dondl 343/356
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
1224159 9/1966 Fed. Rep. of Germany .
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
J. E. Draim, "Three- and Four Satellite Constellations for Optimal Northern Hemisphere Coverage", Aug. 20, 1984, AIAA-84-1766.
"Satellite Constellations for Optimal Northern Hemi-
sphere Coverage", Oct. 4-7, 1983.
R. Luders, "Satellite Networks for Continuous Zonal
Coverage", ARS Journal, Feb. 1961, pp. 179-184.
G. V. Mozhaev, "The Problem of the Continuous Earth
Coverage and the Kinematically Regular Satellite Net-
works, I", Cosmic Research, pp. 755-762.
G. V. Mozhaev, "The Problem of Continuous Earth
Coverage and the Kinematically Regular Satellite Net-
works, II", Cosmic Research, pp. 52-61.
D. C. Beste, "Design of Satellite Constellations for
Optimal Coverage", IEEE Transactions on Aerospace
Electronic Systems, May 1978, pp. 466-473.
A. H. Ballard, "Rosette Constellations of Earth Satel-
lites," IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic
Systems, vol. AES-16, No. 5, Sep. 198, pp. 656-673.
J. G. Walker, "Coverage Predictions and Selection
Criteno for Satellite Constellations", Royal Aircraft
Establishment, Dec. 1982.
J. G. Walker, "Circular Orbit Patterns Providing
Whole Earth Coverage," Royal Aircraft Establishment,
Technical Report No. 70211, Nov. 1970.
Primary Examiner—Galen Barefoot
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Bernard, Rothwell & Brown
[57] ABSTRACT
Satellite hemispheric and global coverage with a minimum number of satellites includes a three-satellite elliptic orbit constellation covering the entire Northern (or Southern) Hemisphere and a four-satellite constellation giving continuous global coverage.
13 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
