SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHARING UPLINK BANDWIDTH AMONG SATELLITES IN A COMMON ORBITAL SLOT

摘要

A system for transmitting data to a plurality of satellites is provided. Afirst satellite (320) in an orbital slot has an associated receive antenna,and is configured to receive signals in a first range of frequencies. A secondsatellite (316) in the orbital slot has an associated receive antenna. Thesecond satellite (316) is separated from the first satellite (320) by at leasta first separation angle, and is configured to receive signals in the firstrange of frequencies. A first earth uplink antenna (308b), located at a firstearth location, is capable of transmitting a first uplink beam ((328a) at thereceive antenna of the first satellite (320). A second earth uplink antenna(308b), collocated at the first earth location, is capable of transmitting asecond uplink beam (324a) at the receive antenna of the second satellite(316). The first uplink beam (328a) includes first signals at the first rangeof frequencies, and the second uplink beam (324a) includes second signals atthe first range of frequencies. Further, the first uplink beam (328a) issubstantially attenuated beyond the first separation angle in the direction ofthe second satellite (316), and the second uplink beam (324a) is substantiallyattenuated beyond the first separation angle in the direction of the firstsatellite (320).