Satellite communication system

Abstract

A satellite communication system and related method for collecting data in space and transmitting it to a processing center on the earth. The communication system includes at least one satellite orbiting the earth that has a device for collecting the data. The satellite transmits the data to a plurality of receive only terminals on the earth. The terminals process the signals and transmit the data on the communications link to the processing center.

1 . A satellite communication system comprising: 
 at least one satellite orbiting the earth, said at least one satellite including a device for collecting data, said satellite transmitting signals including the data to the earth;    a plurality of terminals on the earth receiving the transmitted signals from the at least one satellite, said plurality of terminals processing the signals and transmitting the data on a communications link on the earth; and    a processing center on the earth, said processing center receiving the data on the communications link from the plurality of terminals.    
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of terminals are receive only terminals that do not transmit signals to satellites.  
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of terminals are unmanned terminals.  
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the communications link includes fiber optic cables.  
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one satellite is a plurality of satellites that transmit signals including data to the plurality of terminals.  
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 1  further comprising a satellite operations center on the earth, said satellite operations center receiving signals from the processing center concerning system operations, and said satellite operations center sending signals to the at least one satellite and the plurality of terminals for changing system operations in response thereto.  
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the processing center includes a first processor for processing mission data received from a first satellite and a second processor for processing mission data received from a second satellite.  
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of terminals includes a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals.  
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the device is a sensor that collects weather data.  
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the device collects data for one or more of the group consisting of television, internet, telephone, video conferencing and financial data communications.  
   
   
       11 . A satellite communication system comprising: 
 a plurality of satellites orbiting the earth, each satellite including a device for collecting data, and each satellite transmitting signals including the data to the earth;    a plurality of terminals on the earth receiving the transmitted signals from the plurality of satellites, said plurality of terminals being receive only terminals that are unmanned, said plurality of terminals processing the signals and transmitting the data on a communications link including fiber optic cables on the earth; and    a processing center on the earth, said processing center receiving the data on the communications link from the plurality of terminals.    
   
   
       12 . The system according to  claim 11  further comprising a satellite operations center on the earth, said satellite operations center receiving signals from the processing center concerning system operations, and said satellite operations center sending signals to the at plurality of satellites and the plurality of terminals for changing system operations in response thereto.  
   
   
       13 . The system according to  claim 11  wherein the processing center includes a first processor for processing mission data received from a first satellite and a second processor for processing mission data received from a second satellite.  
   
   
       14 . The system according to  claim 11  wherein each of the plurality of terminals includes a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals.  
   
   
       15 . The system according to  claim 11  wherein the device is a sensor that collects weather data.  
   
   
       16 . A method for transmitting data collected in space to the earth, said method comprising: 
 collecting data by at least one satellite orbiting the earth;    transmitting signals including the data from the at least one satellite to the earth;    providing a plurality of terminals on the earth that receive the transmitted signals from the at least one satellite;    processing the signals at the plurality of terminals;    transmitting the processed signals from the plurality terminals on a communications link on the earth; and    receiving the transmitted signals on the communications link at a processing center on the earth.    
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein providing a plurality of terminals includes providing a plurality of receive only terminals.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein providing a plurality of terminals includes providing a plurality of unmanned terminals  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein transmitting the processed signal on the communications link includes transmitting the signals on fiber optic cables.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 16  further comprising sending signals from a satellite operations center on the earth to the at least one satellite and the plurality of terminals for changing system operations.