Tetrahedral multi-satellite continuous-coverage constellation

• Main Author: DRAIM, JOHN E
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 11.03.1987
• Edition: 4
• Subjects: AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSMISSION; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR

An improved, optimized, four-satellite tetrahedral constellation (S₁ to S₄) using common period elliptic orbits is disclosed which provides continuous global coverage (i.e., any point on the earth can always maintain line-of-sight visibility with at least one of the four satellites). The constellati...