The present invention relates to an accelerated satellite acquisition scheme. According to the present invention, a user terminal comprises a reconfigurable satellite array antenna with a plurality of antenna elements. The user terminal is configured to perform: a step of extending a field of regard of the reconfigurable satellite array antenna; a step of using the reconfigurable satellite array antenna to receive a signal from a plurality of satellites within the field of regard; and a step of selecting one of the satellites for communications based on an attribute of the received signal. The user terminal, after the satellite is selected, is configured for the following steps of: switching over to a directional mode for the reconfigurable satellite array antenna; using the reconfigurable satellite array antenna to establish communications with the selected satellite; and tracking the selected satellite. Accordingly, ephemeris data broadcasted by a satellite is used by the user terminal in order to track the satellite and perform handover between the satellites.
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