Beam splitting in satellite communication systems

Abstract

A satellite in a communication system may be equipped with: a phased array antenna system comprising various configurations of an antenna array on one or more sides of the satellite; and a repeater system coupled between the one or more receive arrays and the one or more transmit arrays (e.g., for relaying communications via the satellite).

Description

[0001] Cross-references

[0002] This patent application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 491,022, entitled “LOW EARTH ORBITSATELLITE SYSTEM”, filed March 17, 2023, which is assigned to the assignee of this patent application and is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The following content relates to communication systems, including beam splitting in satellite communication systems. Background Technology

[0004] In some communication systems, terrestrial terminals can support radio signaling for communication services via a satellite constellation, which may include satellites in appropriate non-geostationary orbits (NGSOs), such as low Earth orbit (LEO) or medium Earth orbit (MEO). For example, satellites in such systems may be configured with one or more antennas that support communication with ground-segment terminals (e.g., gateway terminals, user terminals) or communication between ground-segment terminals, and may support various reconfigurable aspects to perform communication as the satellite travels along its orbital path (e.g., for communication with different terminals or different locations). Some NGSO satellite communication systems can implement a relatively large number of satellites to maintain quality of service, such as continuous service coverage for user terminals via one or more satellites in a constellation. To support (e.g., in NGSO satellite communication systems) the deployment of a relatively large number of satellites, various design trade-offs are considered in the satellite characteristics, including cost, complexity, performance, power consumption, reliability, weight, size, form factor, etc. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The described technology relates to communication systems, including systems that enable wireless signaling for communication services via satellites in non-geostationary orbit (NGSO). Such communication systems may include one or more satellites that support the relaying of signals between target devices, such as between a gateway terminal and a user terminal. For example, satellites in a satellite communication system may support receiving uplink signals (e.g., forward uplink signals from a gateway terminal, and return uplink signals from a user terminal) and transmitting downlink signals (e.g., forward downlink signals to a user terminal, and return downlink signals to a gateway terminal) based on the received uplink signals (e.g., according to a bend-through payload configuration, or according to a processing payload configuration). In some implementations, the signals of the satellite communication system may be relayed via multiple satellites in a constellation, such that one or more satellites in the satellite communication system may support (e.g., receiving crosslink signals from another satellite), (e.g., transmitting crosslink signals to another satellite), or both.

[0006] A communication satellite in a satellite communication system may be equipped with: an antenna system comprising various configurations of an antenna array for receiving and transmitting signals; and a transponder system coupled to such an antenna array, configured to route signals between one or more receive ports (e.g., a receiving system) and one or more transmit ports (e.g., a transmitting system) of the antenna system. In some examples, the antenna array or associated circuitry may be configured to perform directional reception (e.g., receive beamforming), directional transmission (e.g., transmit beamforming), or both, along one or more directions (e.g., beam direction, concurrently in one or more directions, or according to a beam hopping configuration). In some examples, the transponder system between the array for signal reception and the array for signal transmission may perform one or more aspects of signal processing, such as frequency conversion, demodulation or modulation, multiplexing, signal extraction or insertion, analog-to-digital conversion or digital-to-analog conversion, or other examples of signal processing.

[0007] To support payloads that can be efficiently implemented across a relatively large number of satellites (e.g., in an NGSO satellite communication system), satellites may be configured with specific combinations of components in a receiving system (e.g., one or more receiving antenna systems, one or more receiving subsystems), a transmitting system (e.g., one or more transmitting antenna systems, one or more transmitting subsystems), and a transponder system between the receiving and transmitting systems (e.g., to support various aspects of relayed communications). For example, according to the examples disclosed herein, a satellite may include a receiving system having one or more antenna elements (e.g., receiving elements, direct radiating antenna elements, receiving arrays, panel arrays, phased arrays) on a surface of the satellite (e.g., the side or nacelle of the satellite), and a transmitting system having one or more antenna elements (e.g., transmitting elements, direct radiating antenna elements, transmitting arrays, panel arrays, phased arrays) on the same surface of the satellite. In some examples, such receiving and transmitting systems can be configured to concurrently support forward link signaling (e.g., from a gateway terminal to one or more user terminals) and return link signaling (e.g., from one or more user terminals to a gateway terminal), which enables signal orthogonality, such as different polarizations or different frequency ranges between forward link signaling and return link signaling.

[0008] The transponder system in such a satellite can be configured with a forward link path (e.g., a forward link signal path) and a return link path (e.g., a return link signal path). For example, the forward link path can be coupled between a first output port of the receiving system and a first input port of the transmitting system. In some examples, the forward link path can be associated with a first signal polarization (e.g., of the signal received by the receiving system, the signal transmitted by the transmitting system, or both). Further, the return link path can be coupled between a second output port of the receiving system and a second input port of the transmitting system, and in some examples, the return link path can be associated with a second signal polarization (e.g., orthogonal to the first signal polarization). In some such implementations, the receiving and transmitting systems can be configured for signaling in different frequency ranges (e.g., non-overlapping frequency ranges), which can improve signal isolation between uplink and downlink signaling. In such a communication system, the user terminal can be located relatively close to the gateway terminal serving the communication with the user terminal (e.g., within the beamforming scanning capability of the receiving and transmitting systems, within the service coverage area), so that the corresponding antenna elements of the receiving and transmitting systems implemented on the same plane of the satellite can support a relatively efficient payload.

[0009] In some examples, according to the disclosed techniques, the satellite (e.g., an NGSO satellite) can also be configured to support cross-link signaling, which can implement one or more additional antenna systems (e.g., one or more additional arrays, implemented on different faces of the satellite). For example, the satellite may include another receiving system (e.g., another receiving array, another panel array) on another face of the satellite (e.g., the zenith face, opposite the face that includes the forward / return link antenna system), or it may include another receiving system and another transmitting system on different faces of the satellite (e.g., opposite faces) (e.g., the face perpendicular to the nadir face, supporting cross-link relay independent of forward link relay, return link relay, or both). The corresponding transponder system may include one or more additional signal paths (e.g., in addition to forward link and return link paths) to support various combinations of coupling and associated signal processing between the output and input ports of multiple antenna systems on different faces of the satellite.

[0010] In some implementations, such satellites (e.g., NGSO satellites) can be configured to communicate with a relatively wide bandwidth compared to the user terminals. For example, the satellite can be configured to use a beam-shaped beam with a bandwidth of 5 GHz to transmit (e.g., transmit, receive) signaling, while the user terminals can be configured to utilize a bandwidth of 1 GHz or some other bandwidth less than 5 GHz to transmit (e.g., receive, transmit) signaling. When user terminals are relatively dispersed in different locations, some implementations may involve beam hopping or other techniques to direct different beams to different locations. However, when communicating with a relatively small number of user terminals, some of the satellite's capacity may remain unused (e.g., unallocated) if the number of user terminals located within the beam coverage area is insufficient to utilize the full bandwidth of the satellite. Therefore, in some examples of the disclosed technology, a satellite may be configured to transmit (e.g., transmit, receive) using a single beam (e.g., a 5 GHz beam) with multiple lobes (e.g., multiple directions with local peak signal strength, multiple directions with local peak receiver sensitivity), which carries frequency division multiplexing unicast communications to or from user terminals that would not otherwise be entirely located in the coverage area of ​​a narrower focused beam (e.g., in the 1 GHz band).

[0011] Satellites in such configurations (e.g., NGSO satellites) may also include a control system (e.g., one or more controllers) that supports various operating modes of the satellite. For example, such a control system may be configured to enable various signal paths of the transponder system (e.g., beam signal paths, relay paths, transponders) to support various couplings between the receiving and transmitting systems, including relevant aspects of signal processing. Additionally or alternatively, such a control system may be configured for directional reception, directional transmission, or aspects of both, such as modifying beam weights or beam hopping on one or more beamforming networks of the receiving, transmitting, or both systems. Additionally or alternatively, such a control system may be configured to modify the satellite's orbital characteristics (e.g., in coordination with enabling transponder signal paths and configuring beamforming parameters), such as modifying the satellite's alignment (e.g., using the satellite's angular momentum system to perform a body turn to align the satellite surface or antenna system along various directions), or changing the orbital path itself (e.g., using thrusters to change the satellite's altitude and reorient the satellite's orbital path). In various implementations, such control systems may operate based on configurations at the satellite (e.g., pre-configuration, hardware configuration, software configuration), signaling received at the satellite (e.g., command signaling, parameter signaling, instructions, signaling from a network controller or from a terminal), detections at the satellite (e.g., sensor measurements, communication measurements, detection of satellite characteristics, detection of signal quality characteristics, detection of characteristics of satellite-relayed communications, detection of environmental characteristics), or any combination thereof.

[0012] Therefore, according to these and other aspects of this disclosure, satellites can be configured for use in satellite communication systems (e.g., NGSO communication systems) with payloads that support the efficient deployment of constellations of a relatively high number of satellites. Furthermore, the satellite communication system can be configured to operate such constellations of satellites in a relatively flexible manner, such as configuring various physical orientations, signaling orientations (e.g., beamforming orientations), and transponder configurations (e.g., signal path configurations, between one or more receiving systems and one or more transmitting systems) for uplink signaling, downlink signaling, cross-link signaling, or various combinations thereof. Such techniques can provide specific advantages for weighing characteristics such as cost, complexity, performance, power consumption, reliability, weight, size, and form factor for deploying and operating various satellite communication systems (such as NGSO satellite communication systems).

[0013] The further applicability of the methods and systems described in this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, claims, and drawings. The detailed description and specific examples are given by way of illustration only, as various changes and modifications made within the scope of this specification will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 A diagram is shown of a communication system supporting beam splitting in a satellite communication system, as illustrated in the examples disclosed herein.

[0015] Figure 2A and Figure 2B An example of a satellite supporting beam splitting in a satellite communication system, as disclosed herein, is shown.

[0016] Figure 3A and Figure 3B An example of a satellite supporting beam splitting in a satellite communication system, as disclosed herein, is shown.

[0017] Figure 4 An example of a payload supporting beam splitting in a satellite communication system, as disclosed herein, is shown.

[0018] Figures 5A to 5G An example of a payload configuration supporting beam splitting in a satellite communication system is shown, based on examples disclosed herein.

[0019] Figures 6 to 9 An example of a communication system implementation that supports beam splitting in a satellite communication system, as disclosed herein, is shown.

[0020] Figure 10 An example of a method for supporting beam splitting in a satellite communication system, as disclosed herein, is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Satellite communication systems may include constellations of satellites (e.g., NGSO satellites) that support signal relay between target devices, such as between a gateway terminal and a user terminal. For example, satellites in a satellite communication system may support receiving uplink signals (e.g., forward uplink signals from a gateway terminal, and return uplink signals from a user terminal) and transmitting downlink signals (e.g., forward downlink signals to a user terminal, and return downlink signals to a gateway terminal) based on the received uplink signals (e.g., according to a bend-end payload configuration, or according to a processing payload configuration). In some implementations, signals from a satellite communication system may be relayed via multiple satellites in a constellation, such that one or more satellites in the satellite communication system can support (e.g., receiving crosslink signals from another satellite), (e.g., transmitting crosslink signals to another satellite), or both.

[0022] A communication satellite in a satellite communication system may be equipped with: an antenna system comprising various configurations of an antenna array for receiving and transmitting signals; and a transponder system coupled to such an antenna array, configured to route signals between one or more receive ports (e.g., a receiving system) and one or more transmit ports (e.g., a transmitting system) of the antenna system. In some examples, the antenna array or associated circuitry may be configured to perform directional reception (e.g., receive beamforming), directional transmission (e.g., transmit beamforming), or both, along one or more directions (e.g., beam direction, concurrently in one or more directions, or according to a beam hopping configuration). In some examples, the transponder system between the array for signal reception and the array for signal transmission may perform one or more aspects of signal processing, such as frequency conversion, demodulation or modulation, multiplexing, signal extraction or insertion, analog-to-digital conversion or digital-to-analog conversion, or other examples of signal processing.

[0023] To support payloads that can be efficiently implemented across a relatively large number of satellites (e.g., in an NGSO satellite communication system), NGSO satellites may be configured with specific combinations of components in a receiving system (e.g., one or more receiving antenna systems, one or more receiving subsystems), a transmitting system (e.g., one or more transmitting antenna systems, one or more transmitting subsystems), and a transponder system between the receiving and transmitting systems (e.g., to support various aspects of relayed communications). For example, according to the examples disclosed herein, a satellite may include a receiving system having one or more antenna elements (e.g., receiving elements, direct radiating antenna elements, receiving arrays, panel arrays, phased arrays) on a surface of the satellite (e.g., the side of the satellite, the nacelle), and a transmitting system having one or more antenna elements (e.g., transmitting elements, direct radiating antenna elements, transmitting arrays, panel arrays, phased arrays) on the same surface of the satellite. In some examples, such receiving and transmitting systems can be configured to concurrently support forward link signaling (e.g., from a gateway terminal to one or more user terminals) and return link signaling (e.g., from one or more user terminals to a gateway terminal), which enables signal orthogonality, such as different polarizations or different frequency ranges between forward link signaling and return link signaling.

[0024] The transponder system in such a satellite can be configured with a forward link path (e.g., a forward link signal path) and a return link path (e.g., a return link signal path). For example, the forward link path can be coupled between a first output port of the receiving system and a first input port of the transmitting system. In some examples, the forward link path can be associated with a first signal polarization (e.g., of the signal received by the receiving system, the signal transmitted by the transmitting system, or both). Further, the return link path can be coupled between a second output port of the receiving system and a second input port of the transmitting system, and in some examples, the return link path can be associated with a second signal polarization (e.g., orthogonal to the first signal polarization). In some such implementations, the receiving and transmitting systems can be configured for signaling in different frequency ranges (e.g., non-overlapping frequency ranges), which can improve signal isolation between uplink and downlink signaling. In such a communication system, the user terminal can be located relatively close to the gateway terminal serving the communication with the user terminal (e.g., within the beamforming scanning capability of the receiving and transmitting systems, within the service coverage area), so that the corresponding antenna elements of the receiving and transmitting systems implemented on the same plane of the satellite can support a relatively efficient payload.

[0025] In some examples, according to the disclosed techniques, the satellite (e.g., an NGSO satellite) can also be configured to support cross-link signaling, which can implement one or more additional antenna systems (e.g., one or more additional arrays, implemented on different faces of the satellite). For example, the satellite may include another receiving system (e.g., another receiving array, another panel array) on another face of the satellite (e.g., the zenith face, opposite the face that includes the forward / return link antenna system), or it may include another receiving system and another transmitting system on different faces of the satellite (e.g., opposite faces) (e.g., the face perpendicular to the nadir face, supporting cross-link relay independent of forward link relay, return link relay, or both). The corresponding transponder system may include one or more additional signal paths (e.g., in addition to forward link and return link paths) to support various combinations of coupling and associated signal processing between the output and input ports of multiple antenna systems on different faces of the satellite.

[0026] In some implementations, such satellites (e.g., NGSO satellites) can be configured to communicate with a relatively wide bandwidth compared to the user terminals. For example, the satellite can be configured to use a beam-shaped beam with a bandwidth of 5 GHz to transmit (e.g., transmit, receive) signaling, while the user terminals can be configured to utilize a bandwidth of 1 GHz or some other bandwidth less than 5 GHz to transmit (e.g., receive, transmit) signaling. When user terminals are relatively dispersed in different locations, some implementations may involve beam hopping or other techniques to direct different beams to different locations. However, when communicating with a relatively small number of user terminals, some of the satellite's capacity may remain unused (e.g., unallocated) if the number of user terminals located within the beam coverage area is insufficient to utilize the full bandwidth of the satellite. Therefore, in some examples of the disclosed technology, a satellite may be configured to transmit (e.g., transmit, receive) using a single beam (e.g., a 5 GHz beam) with multiple lobes (e.g., multiple directions with local peak signal strength, multiple directions with local peak receiver sensitivity), which carries frequency division multiplexing unicast communication (e.g., in the 1 GHz band) to or from user terminals that would otherwise be dispersed outside the coverage area of ​​a narrower focused beam.

[0027] Satellites in such configurations (e.g., NGSO satellites) may also include a control system (e.g., one or more controllers) that supports various operating modes of the satellite. For example, such a control system may be configured to enable various signal paths of the transponder system (e.g., beam signal paths, relay paths, transponders) to support various couplings between the receiving and transmitting systems, including relevant aspects of signal processing. Additionally or alternatively, such a control system may be configured for directional reception, directional transmission, or aspects of both, such as modifying beam weights or beam hopping on one or more beamforming networks of the receiving, transmitting, or both systems. Additionally or alternatively, such a control system may be configured to modify the satellite's orbital characteristics (e.g., in coordination with enabling transponder signal paths and configuring beamforming parameters), such as modifying the satellite's alignment (e.g., using the satellite's angular momentum system to perform a body turn to align the satellite surface or antenna system along various directions), or changing the orbital path itself (e.g., using thrusters to change the satellite's altitude and reorient the satellite's orbital path). In various implementations, such control systems may operate based on configurations at the satellite (e.g., pre-configuration, hardware configuration, software configuration), signaling received at the satellite (e.g., command signaling, parameter signaling, instructions, signaling from a network controller or from a terminal), detections at the satellite (e.g., sensor measurements, communication measurements, detection of satellite characteristics, detection of signal quality characteristics, detection of characteristics of satellite-relayed communications, detection of environmental characteristics), or any combination thereof.

[0028] Therefore, according to these and other aspects of this disclosure, satellites can be configured for use in satellite communication systems (e.g., NGSO communication systems) with payloads that support the efficient deployment of constellations of a relatively high number of satellites. Furthermore, the satellite communication system can be configured to operate such constellations of satellites in a relatively flexible manner, such as configuring various physical orientations, signaling orientations (e.g., beamforming orientations), and transponder configurations (e.g., signal path configurations, between one or more receiving systems and one or more transmitting systems) for uplink signaling, downlink signaling, cross-link signaling, or various combinations thereof. Such techniques can provide specific advantages for weighing characteristics such as cost, complexity, performance, power consumption, reliability, weight, size, and form factor for deploying and operating various satellite communication systems (such as NGSO satellite communication systems).

[0029] Original Reference Figure 1 The features of this disclosure are described in the context of a communication system. Reference is also made to... Figures 2A to 5G The features of this disclosure are described in the context of example satellites, payloads, and payload implementations. Reference is also made to... Figures 6 to 10 The features of this disclosure are described in the context of satellite, user terminal, and gateway terminal implementations (e.g., communication system implementations) and methods.

[0030] Figure 1 A diagram is shown illustrating a communication system 100 (e.g., a satellite communication system) supporting beam splitting in a satellite communication system according to examples disclosed herein. The communication system 100 may use various architectures to support communication services, such as those including a ground segment 101 and a space segment 102. The space segment 102 may include one or more satellites 120 (e.g., communication satellites). The ground segment 101 may include ground terminals, such as one or more user terminals 150 (e.g., service consumer terminals) and one or more gateway terminals 130 (e.g., access node terminals, network terminals, service provider terminals), as well as network devices 141, such as network operations centers (NOCs), satellite and gateway terminal command centers, etc. In some implementations, the terminals of the communication system 100 (e.g., gateway terminals 130) may be communicatively coupled to each other, or communicatively coupled to one or more networks 140, or combinations thereof (e.g., via mesh networks, via star networks, via wired networks, via wireless networks).

[0031] Satellite 120 may include any suitable type of satellite configured for wireless communication with gateway terminal 130 and user terminal 150 (e.g., for providing communication services) or wireless communication between the two. In some examples, one or more satellites of satellite 120 (e.g., all satellites 120) may be in corresponding orbits (e.g., NGSO, such as Low Earth Orbit (LEO) or Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)) where the satellite 120's position relative to the Earth changes over time. Although at least some techniques are described herein with reference to satellite 120 as an example of a device supporting relay communication between ground terminals, one or more of the techniques described herein are applicable to other types of devices capable of operating to relay signaling (e.g., between ground terminals), which may have a general overhead position relative to the ground terminals (e.g., aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, drones, airships), or may be ground-based relays, including mobile or stationary relay devices.

[0032] Communication system 100 may support uplink signaling (e.g., from ground segment 101 to space segment 102), downlink signaling (e.g., from space segment 102 to ground segment 101), cross-link signaling (e.g., between devices in space segment 102, such as between satellites 120), or any combination thereof. Communication system 100 may also support forward signaling (e.g., from gateway terminal 130 to user terminal 150) and return signaling (e.g., from user terminal 150 to gateway terminal 130), as well as other signaling (e.g., signaling between gateway terminals 130, signaling between user terminals 150, signaling between satellites 120) or any combination thereof. For example, satellite 120 may receive uplink signal 132 (e.g., forward-to-uplink signaling) from one or more gateway terminals 130, and may also transmit downlink signal 172 (e.g., forward-to-downlink signaling) to one or more user terminals 150, which may be associated with relay forward link signaling (e.g., including relay forward link signaling). Alternatively or additionally, satellite 120 may receive uplink signal 173 (e.g., return uplink signal) from one or more user terminals 150 and may also transmit downlink signal 133 (e.g., return downlink signal) to one or more gateway terminals 130, which may be associated with relay return link signaling. Alternatively or additionally, the first satellite 120 may transmit crosslink signal 175 that can be received by the second satellite 120, the crosslink signal including forward crosslink signaling (e.g., between forward uplink signal 132 and forward downlink signal 172), return crosslink signaling (e.g., between return uplink signal 173 and return downlink signal 133), or a combination thereof.

[0033] For signal communication between gateway terminal 130 and user terminal 150 (e.g., via one or more satellites 120), various physical layer modulation and coding techniques can be supported, such as multi-frequency time division multiple access (MF-TDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), or any hybrid or other schemes known in the art. In various examples, the physical layer technology can be the same for each of signals 132, 133, 172, 173, and 175, or at least some of such signals can use a different physical layer technology than other such signals. Satellite 120 can support communication using one or more frequency bands and any number of sub-bands. For example, one or more satellites in satellite 120 can respectively support operation in one or more of the W band, V band, Ka band, K band, Ku band, X band, C band, S band, L band, or V band, as well as other frequency bands or combinations thereof.

[0034] Satellite 120 may include a system of one or more antennas (e.g., one or more antenna systems, one or more transmitting subsystems, one or more receiving subsystems), such as planar array antennas, phased array antennas, direct-radiating phased array antennas, phased array feed reflector (PAFR) antennas, or any other components known in the art for transmitting or receiving signals for communication services. In some examples, the antenna system may support communication via one or more beamformed beams 125 (e.g., beams associated with directional transmission, beams associated with directional reception, beams associated with both directional transmission and directional reception), which may be referred to as point beams, service beams, satellite beams, or any other suitable term. Signals may be delivered via an array of feed elements of the antenna system of satellite 120 (e.g., via beamformers) to transmit or receive spatial electromagnetic radiation patterns (e.g., scan volumes) of beam 125. In some examples, beam 125 may use a single carrier (e.g., a beam signal at a given frequency or a continuous frequency range) or otherwise associated with a single carrier.

[0035] In some examples, beam 125 may be configured (e.g., by location, by frequency range, by polarization) to support only gateway terminal 130 (e.g., a single gateway terminal 130). In this case, beam 125 may be referred to as a gateway beam or gateway point beam (e.g., gateway beam 125-a). For example, gateway beam 125-a may be configured to support one or more uplink signals 132 (e.g., forward uplink signals, as the receive beam of satellite 120) between satellite 120 and gateway terminal 130, one or more downlink signals 133 (e.g., return downlink signals, as the transmit beam of satellite 120) between satellite 120 and gateway terminal 130, or a combination thereof. In some examples, satellite 120 may support a first gateway beam 125 (e.g., an uplink gateway beam, a forward gateway beam) for receiving uplink signals 132 (e.g., forward uplink signals to output forward uplink beam signals), and may support a second gateway beam 125 (e.g., a downlink gateway beam, a return gateway beam) for transmitting downlink signals 133 (e.g., return downlink signals to obtain return downlink beam signals). In various examples, such techniques may include gateway beams 125 aligned along the same direction from satellite 120 (e.g., toward the same gateway terminal 130 for concurrently supporting forward and return services), or aligned along different directions from satellite 120 (e.g., toward correspondingly different gateway terminals 130 for forward and return services), or supported via different antenna systems of satellite 120 (e.g., a receiving antenna system and a transmitting antenna system) or portions thereof.

[0036] In some examples, beam 125 may be configured (e.g., by location, by frequency range, by polarization) to support only user terminals 150 (e.g., one or more user terminals 150). In this case, beam 125 may be referred to as a user beam or user point beam (e.g., user beam 125-b). For example, user beam 125-b may be configured to support one or more downlink signals 172 (e.g., forward downlink signals, serving as the transmit beam of satellite 120) between satellite 120 and user terminals 150, one or more uplink signals 173 (e.g., return uplink signals, serving as the receive beam of satellite 120), or combinations thereof. In some examples, satellite 120 may support a first user beam 125 (e.g., a downlink user point beam, a forward user point beam) for transmitting downlink signals 172 (e.g., forward downlink signals to output forward downlink beam signals), and may support a second user beam 125 (e.g., an uplink user point beam, a return user point beam) for receiving uplink signals 173 (e.g., return uplink signals to obtain return uplink beam signals). In various examples, such techniques may include user beams 125 aligned along the same direction from satellite 120 (e.g., toward the same portion of the service area for concurrently supporting forward and return traffic in the same area), or user beams 125 aligned along different directions from satellite 120 (e.g., toward corresponding different portions of the service area for supporting forward and return traffic in different areas), or user beams supported via different antenna systems of satellite 120 (e.g., a transmit antenna system and a receive antenna system) or portions thereof or both.

[0037] In some examples, beam 125 may be configured to serve both user terminal 150 and gateway terminal 130. For example, beam 125 may be configured to support any combination of downlink signal 172, uplink signal 173, uplink signal 132, or downlink signal 133 between satellite 120 and user terminal 150 and gateway terminal 130. In some examples, satellite 120 may use beam 125 to transmit or receive crosslink signal 175, or both (not shown). Such techniques may be supported by satellite 120 using the same crosslink beam 125 to transmit and receive crosslink signal 175, or using a first crosslink beam 125 to transmit crosslink signal 175 and a second crosslink beam 125 to receive crosslink signal 175, and these techniques may be supported by the same or different antenna systems of satellite 120.

[0038] Beam 125 can support communication services with target devices (e.g., user terminal 150, gateway terminal 130, satellite 120) located within the volume of beam 125, such as within beam coverage area 126 (e.g., a point beam coverage area), or within its projection (e.g., at different distances from a plane or surface of beam coverage area 126). Beam coverage area 126 may be defined by the area of ​​the associated electromagnetic radiation pattern of beam 125, such as the area projected onto the ground or other reference surface, having signal characteristics (e.g., signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR)) above or otherwise satisfying a threshold. The spot beam coverage area 126 can cover any suitable service area (e.g., circular, elliptical, hexagonal, local, regional, national, planar, non-planar) and can support communication services with any number of target devices located within the beam coverage area 126. These target devices may include target devices located within the associated beam 125 (e.g., within the volume of the associated beam 125) but not necessarily at the reference surface of the beam coverage area 126, such as airborne terminals.

[0039] In some examples, satellite 120 may support multiple beamformed beams 125, each associated with a corresponding beam coverage area 126, each of which may or may not overlap with another (e.g., adjacent) beam coverage area 126. For example, satellite 120 may use any number of beam coverage areas 126 to support one or more service areas (e.g., service coverage areas). A service area may be broadly defined as a coverage area from which a terrestrial transmitter or receiver may participate in communication services via one or more satellites 120 (e.g., transmit and / or receive signals associated with the communication service) and may be served by one or more beam coverage areas 126 via one or more satellites 120 (e.g., during a given duration, the satellite 120 in the NGSO is able to serve one or more beam coverage areas 126 that at least partially overlap with the service area). In some systems, the service coverage area for each communication link (e.g., forward uplink coverage area, forward downlink coverage area, return uplink coverage area, and / or return downlink coverage area) may be different.

[0040] User terminal 150 may include various devices configured to transmit signals to satellite 120 or other target devices. These devices may include fixed terminals (e.g., ground-based stationary terminals) or mobile terminals (e.g., terminals on ships, aircraft, or ground-based vehicles), as well as other types of terminals. User terminal 150 may transmit information via satellite 120 or other target devices, which may include communication via gateway terminal 130 to destination devices (such as network device 141 or some other device or distributed server associated with network 140). User terminal 150 may transmit signals according to various physical layer transmission modulation and coding techniques, including, for example, those defined by DVB-S2, WiMAX, LTE, and DOCSIS standards, as well as other standards.

[0041] User terminal 150 may include antenna 155 configured to receive downlink signal 172 (e.g., from satellite 120), transmit uplink signal 173 (e.g., to satellite 120), or both. Antenna 155 may be part of antenna assembly 151 (e.g., user terminal antenna assembly), which may also include various hardware for mounting or orienting antenna 155. Antenna assembly 151 may also include circuitry and / or a processor for converting (e.g., performing frequency conversion, modulation / demodulation, multiplexing / demultiplexing, filtering, and forwarding) between radio frequency (RF) communication signals (e.g., downlink signal 172, uplink signal 173) and user terminal communication signals 157 transmitted between antenna 155 and user terminal controller 158. Such circuitry and / or a processor may be included in antenna assembly 151, which may be referred to as an integrated antenna assembly or a processor-integrated antenna assembly. Additionally or alternatively, the user terminal controller 158 may include circuitry for performing various RF signal operations, such as receiving, performing frequency conversion, modulation / demodulation, multiplexing / demultiplexing, etc. The antenna assembly 151 may also be referred to as a satellite outdoor unit (ODU), and the user terminal controller 158 may be referred to as an indoor unit (IDU).

[0042] In some examples, user terminal 150 may be configured for one-way or two-way communication with satellite 120 via beam 125 (e.g., user beam 125-b). In some implementations, antenna 155 may include an array (e.g., a two-dimensional array, panel array, phased array) of feed elements 156 physically arranged in a feed array assembly, and may manipulate the signals of the respective feed elements 156 to support terminal beams (e.g., terminal point beams, not shown), such as transmit beams (e.g., for directional transmission) and receive beams (e.g., for directional reception), according to various beamforming techniques (e.g., phase and / or amplitude manipulation). In other words, communication via antenna 155 may be electronically configurable using the array of feed elements 156 to align signal transmission and / or reception along a desired direction (e.g., terminal beam orientation). In some other implementations, the signaling direction of antenna 155 may be mechanically configurable (e.g., mechanically steerable, with or without one or more reflectors, such as parabolic reflectors), or it may be both electronically and mechanically configurable, or antenna 155 may be an omnidirectional antenna, among other techniques. Therefore, antenna 155 may be configured to track satellite 120 in NGSO to support directional communication signaling with satellite 120.

[0043] User terminal 150 can connect to one or more instances of Consumer Premises Equipment (CPE) 160 via wired or wireless connection 161, and can provide network access services (e.g., access to network 140, Internet access) or other communication services (e.g., broadcast media, multicast media) to CPE 160 via one or more devices of communication system 100. CPE 160 may include user equipment such as, but not limited to, computers, local area networks, internet-connected appliances, wireless networks, mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), other handheld devices, netbooks, laptops, tablets, desktop computers, display devices (e.g., TVs, computer monitors), printers, sensors, vehicles, and other equipment. CPE 160 may also include any equipment located at the subscriber's premises, including routers, firewalls, switches, private branch exchange (PBX), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) gateways, etc. In some examples, user terminal 150 supports bidirectional communication between one or more CPEs 160 and one or more networks 140 (e.g., via one or more satellites 120, via one or more gateway terminals 130).

[0044] Gateway terminal 130 may serve uplink signal 132 and downlink signal 133 (e.g., to and from one or more satellites 120). Gateway terminal 130 may also be referred to as a ground station, gateway, or hub. Gateway terminal 130 may include gateway antenna system 131 and gateway controller 135 (e.g., access node controller). Gateway antenna system 131 may be bidirectional and is designed to have sufficient transmit power and receive sensitivity to reliably communicate with one or more satellites 120. In some examples, gateway antenna system 131 may include a parabolic reflector with high directivity in the direction of satellite 120 and low directivity in other directions. Gateway antenna system 131 may include various other configurations supporting operating characteristics such as high isolation between orthogonal polarizations, high efficiency in the operating band, low noise, and other features.

[0045] In some examples, gateway terminal 130 (e.g., gateway controller 135, access node controller) may schedule services to user terminal 150. Additionally or alternatively, service scheduling may be performed in other parts of the communication system 100 (e.g., at one or more network devices 141 that may include a NOC and / or gateway command center). Satellite 120 may communicate with gateway terminal 130 by transmitting downlink signals 133, receiving uplink signals 132, or both, via one or more beams 125 (e.g., gateway beam 125-a, which may be associated with a corresponding gateway beam coverage area 126-a). Gateway beam 125-a may, for example, support communication services for one or more user terminals 150 (e.g., relayed by satellite 120), or any other communication between satellite 120 and gateway terminal 130.

[0046] Gateway terminal 130 provides an interface between network 140 and satellite 120 and can be configured to relay information directed between network 140 and one or more user terminals 150. Gateway terminal 130 can format information for delivery to the appropriate user terminal 150. Additionally or alternatively, gateway terminal 130 can be configured to receive signals directed to destinations accessible via network 140 from satellite 120 (e.g., from one or more user terminals 150). Gateway terminal 130 can also format received signals for transmission to network 140.

[0047] Network 140 can be any type of network and may include, for example, the Internet, Internet Protocol (IP) networks, intranets, wide area networks (WANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs), local area networks (LANs), virtual private networks (VPNs), virtual LANs (VLANs), fiber optic networks, fiber-coaxial hybrid networks, cable networks, public switched telephone networks (PSTNs), public switched data networks (PSDNs), public land mobile networks, and / or any other type of network that supports communication between devices as described herein. Network 140 may include both wired and wireless connections as well as optical links. Network 140 may connect one or more gateway terminals 130 to other gateway terminals 130 that can communicate with satellite 120 or other satellites. One or more network devices 141 may be coupled to gateway terminals 130 and control various aspects of communication system 100. In various examples, network devices 141 may be co-located with or otherwise near gateway terminals 130, or may be remote facilities that communicate with gateway terminals 130 and / or network 140 via wired and / or wireless communication links.

[0048] In some examples, communication system 100 (e.g., space segment 102) may include a group (e.g., a constellation) of multiple satellites 120 to support communication services. For example, the service area of ​​such communication service may be configured such that, at a given time, communication can be served by one or more satellites 120 passing through one or more service areas. In some examples, such technology may also be supported by communication system 100 including one or more satellites 180, which may include satellites in orbits different from satellites 120 (e.g., geostationary orbit). Satellite 180 may be implemented to support various technologies of communication system 100. For example, satellite 180 may be configured to support data signaling with or between gateway terminals 130 (e.g., via signal 181, which may include uplink signaling, downlink signaling, or both), with or between user terminals 150 (e.g., via signal 182, which may include uplink signaling, downlink signaling, or both), or combinations thereof (e.g., as a relay between gateway terminal 130 and user terminal 150). Additionally or alternatively, satellite 180 may be configured to support data signaling with or via satellite 120 (e.g., via signal 183 as a GEO link signal), including configuration of cross-link relay signaling via satellite 180 (e.g., for forward or return communication). Additionally or alternatively, satellite 180 may support transmission of configuration signaling, such as for configuring the operation of gateway terminal 130 (e.g., via signal 181), for configuring the operation of user terminal 150 (e.g., via signal 182), or for configuring the operation of satellite 120 (e.g., via signal 183), or any combination thereof.

[0049] According to the examples disclosed herein, satellite 120 can be configured for use in a communication system 100 with a payload that supports the efficient deployment of a constellation of a relatively high number of satellites 120. Furthermore, the communication system 100 can be configured to operate this constellation of satellites 120 in a relatively flexible manner, such as configuring various physical orientations, signaling orientations (e.g., beamforming orientations), and transponder configurations (e.g., signal path configurations, between one or more receiving systems and one or more transmitting systems of the satellites) for uplink signaling, downlink signaling, cross-link signaling, or various combinations thereof. Such techniques can provide specific advantages for balancing characteristics such as cost, complexity, performance, power consumption, reliability, weight, size, form factor, etc., for the deployment and operation of the communication system 100.

[0050] Figure 2A and Figure 2B An example of a satellite 120-a supporting beam splitting in a satellite communication system, as disclosed herein, is shown. Satellite 120-a can be configured for deployment in an NGSO and supports various aspects of the technologies described in communication system 100. For example, satellite 120-a can support target functions for receiving and transmitting beam signals, which enables the relatively small size and relatively low complexity of satellite 120-a. In some examples, the relatively small size of satellite 120-a, along with other factors, supports the relatively low cost and overhead associated with deploying satellite 120-a in communication system 100. For example, multiple satellites 120-a can be deployed from the same launch vehicle payload, rather than launching and deploying satellites 120-a separately. While some technologies are described with reference to satellite 120-a operating in an NGSO, in some other examples, one or more of the described technologies can be implemented in satellite 120 or satellite 180 operating in geostationary orbit, as well as other implementations.

[0051] Satellite 120-a may have a generally prismatic shape and may be described with reference to the x, y, and z directions of coordinate system 200. Satellite 120-a may include a body portion 210 having sides (e.g., faces, which may be flat or curved), including sides 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, and 216. Although in some examples the sides of satellite 120-a may be orthogonal, in some other examples the sides of satellite 120-a may be in different orientations, such as in satellite 120-a having trapezoidal prism properties, elongated oblique square prism shapes, hexagonal prism shapes, or other shapes.

[0052] In some examples, satellite 120-a may include one or more panels 220, such as panels 220-a and 220-b, that can be deployed from the main body 210, and these panels are rotatably connected to the main body 210 using hinges 225. In some implementations, the panels 220 may carry one or more solar elements 230, which may be positioned on one or both sides of a respective panel 220 and provide power for operating components of satellite 120-a. For example, satellite 120-a may include a first solar panel array configured to deploy from side 213 and a second solar panel array configured to deploy from side 214. In some examples, the control system of satellite 120-a may use hinges 225 to manage the deployment of the panels 220.

[0053] Satellite 120-a can support wireless communication between ground terminals, for example, by receiving uplink signaling (e.g., forward uplink signaling, return uplink signaling, uplink signal 132, uplink signal 173) using a receiving array 240 (e.g., uplink array, panel array, direct radiation array) and transmitting downlink signaling (e.g., forward downlink signaling, return downlink signaling, downlink signal 172, downlink signal 133) using a transmitting array 250 (e.g., downlink array, panel array, direct radiation array). For example, the receiving array 240 can be configured to receive signaling from ground terminals, and the transmitting array 250 can be configured to transmit signaling to ground terminals.

[0054] In some implementations, satellite 120-a may also support wireless communication with or via other satellites 120 or 180, for example, by receiving crosslink signaling (e.g., forward crosslink signaling, return crosslink signaling, crosslink signal 175, signal 183) using a receiving array 260 (e.g., a crosslink receiving array, panel array, direct radiation array) and, in some examples, by transmitting crosslink signaling (e.g., forward crosslink signaling, return crosslink signaling, crosslink signal 175, signal 183) using a transmitting array 270 (e.g., a crosslink transmitting array, panel array, direct radiation array). For example, receiving array 260 may be configured to receive signaling from other satellites, and transmitting array 270 may be configured to transmit signaling to other satellites. Including additional receiving array 260 and additional transmitting array 270 allows satellite 120-a to transmit crosslink signals with additional degrees of freedom (e.g., for orienting satellite 120-a, for orienting beam 125), thereby aligning beam 125 toward various target devices. Therefore, Satellite 120-a may include two high-power transmission arrays in some examples.

[0055] Because signal transmission can be associated with relatively high power usage, in some examples, satellite 120-a can operate in a power-limited configuration in which only one of transmitter arrays 250 or 270 is enabled (e.g., at a given time). In various implementations, this power-limited configuration can be a strict configuration of satellite 120-a, in which case satellite 120-a will never concurrently enable both transmitter arrays 250 and 270. In some other examples, this power-limited configuration can be implemented conditionally, such as when satellite 120-a itself operates in a low-power mode (e.g., associated with relatively low power supplied by one or more solar panels, and with a relatively low amount of energy stored in batteries). In other words, in some examples, satellite 120-a can enable both transmitter arrays 250 and 270 based on a threshold that the amount of available power meets, which may be based on the power involved in supporting communication via transmitter arrays 250 and 270. In some other examples, receiver array 260, transmitter array 270, or both may be omitted from satellite 120-a (e.g., in an implementation of satellite 120-a that may not support cross-links, or in an implementation of satellite 120-a that supports cross-links using one or both of receiver array 240 or transmitter array 250).

[0056] Receiver array 240, transmitter array 250, receiver array 260, and transmitter array 270 may be physically arranged on satellite 120-a (e.g., located on or fixed to the satellite) to support efficient transmission of beam signals (e.g., via beam 125) to user terminal 150, gateway terminal 130, and other satellites 120 or 180. For example, both receiver array 240 and transmitter array 250 may be located on side 215 of satellite 120-a, and receiver array 260 and transmitter array 270 may be located on different sides (such as sides opposite each other). For example, the receiver array 260 may be located on side 211 of satellite 120-a, and the transmitter array 270 may be located on side 212 of satellite 120-a (e.g., the side of satellite 120-a opposite to the receiver array 260), or on another side of satellite 120-a (e.g., side 213, side 214), which is different from the side including the receiver array 260 (e.g., providing two sides of satellite 120-a for signal reception and two sides of satellite 120-a for signal transmission). In some examples, the receiver array 240 and the transmitter array 250 may be discrete components of the antenna elements (e.g., components of the receiver elements are separate from components of the transmitter elements), which can support relatively improved signal isolation and packaging, among other advantages. In some other examples, the receiver array 240 and the transmitter array 250 may refer to interleaved antenna elements (e.g., receiver and transmitter elements distributed between at least partially overlapping surface regions), or may be implemented as a single array that implements antenna elements for both receiving and transmitting (e.g., as transceiver elements).

[0057] To support communication with ground segment 101 using receive array 240, transmit array 250, or both, satellite 120-a may be oriented such that side 215 (e.g., nominal orientation of side 215, axis of side 215, positive z-direction of satellite 120-a) is aligned with the Earth (e.g., with respect to the service area, position relative to the service area). Alternatively or additionally, to support signal reception from another satellite 120 or satellite 180 using receive array 260, satellite 120-a may be oriented such that side 211 is generally aligned with the other satellite 120 or satellite 180 (e.g., within the scan range of the beamformer of receive array 260). Alternatively or additionally, to support signal transmission to another satellite 120 or satellite 180 using transmit array 270, satellite 120-a may be oriented such that side 212 is generally aligned with the other satellite 120 or satellite 180 (e.g., within the scan range of the beamformer of transmit array 270). Such orientations can be configured based on one or more types of relays supported by satellite 120-a at a given time.

[0058] Receiver array 240, transmitter array 250, receiver array 260, and transmitter array 270 may each be associated with an axis (e.g., a nominal axis, a line-of-sight axis, a line-of-sight direction, or an outward direction), which may be the nominal orientation of the respective array. In some examples, this nominal orientation may be associated with the direction of the array's peak gain capability (e.g., the direction of maximum radiated power, the direction of maximum receiver sensitivity, or the direction of minimum distortion). For example, receiver array 240 may be associated with axis 245, and transmitter array 250 may be associated with axis 255, each of these axes being aligned along a positive z-direction from satellite 120-a (e.g., along a direction fixed relative to body portion 210, along a direction from side 215, or along a parallel direction). Therefore, aligning receiver array 240, transmitter array 250, or both toward a target may be associated with aligning satellite 120-a such that the positive z-direction is aligned toward the target. Additionally, the receiving array 260 may be associated with axis 265, which may be aligned along the positive x-direction from satellite 120-a (e.g., a direction perpendicular to or otherwise different from axis 245, a direction perpendicular to or otherwise different from axis 255, or a direction different from axes 245 and 255). In some implementations, aligning the receiving array 260 toward a target (e.g., a second target, along the direction of the second target) may additionally or alternatively be associated with aligning satellite 120-a such that the positive x-direction is aligned toward the target. Additionally, the transmitting array 270 may be associated with axis 275, which may be aligned along the negative x-direction of satellite 120-a (e.g., a direction perpendicular to or otherwise different from axis 245, a direction perpendicular to or otherwise different from axis 255, a direction different from axes 245 and 255, or a direction opposite to or different from axis 265). In some implementations, aligning the launch array 270 toward a target (e.g., a third target, along the direction of the third target) may additionally or alternatively be associated with aligning the satellite 120-a toward the target in the negative x direction.

[0059] Therefore, satellite 120-a illustrates an example in which the receiving array 240 (e.g., axis 245) and the transmitting array 250 (e.g., axis 255) can be oriented along one direction from satellite 120-a, the receiving array 260 (e.g., axis 265) can be oriented along a different direction from satellite 120-a, and the transmitting array 270 (e.g., axis 275) can be oriented along a different direction from satellite 120-a, thus providing a variety of degrees of flexibility in orienting beam 125. Although in the example of satellite 120-a, the direction of axis 265 is separated from the directions of axes 245 and 255 by 90 degrees (e.g., in the vertical plane), in some other examples according to the described technique, the direction of axis 265 can be separated from the directions of axes 245 and 255 by different angles, such as 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 120 degrees, 135 degrees, etc. (e.g., as a fixed separation angle between arrays). Furthermore, although in the example of satellite 120-a, the direction of axis 275 is separated from the direction of axis 265 by 180 degrees (e.g., pointing in opposite directions), in some other examples according to the described technique, the direction of axis 275 may be separated from the direction of axis 265 by different angles, such as 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 90 degrees, 120 degrees, 135 degrees, etc. (e.g., as a fixed separation angle between arrays). Such techniques may be supported by the surface of satellite 120 or an array of attached antenna elements that are not flat, such as arrays with one or more curved arrays or other shapes associated with axes 245, 255, 265, and 275 in other ways (e.g., for satellite 120 with one or more curved surfaces, such as cylindrical or spherical surfaces). Furthermore, although axis 245 and axis 255 are parallel in the example of satellite 120-a, in some other examples the orientations of axis 245 and axis 255 may be separated by a fixed angle such as 10 degrees, 20 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees or some other fixed angle (e.g., between outward directions on the side of satellite 120, between the nominal directions of the curved array of satellite 120).

[0060] In some examples, the receiving array 240 and the transmitting array 250 may have similar cross-sectional areas, or the same number of antenna elements, or both. In some other examples, one of the receiving array 240 or the transmitting array 250 may be relatively larger than the other, or may have a relatively larger number of antenna elements, or may have relatively large antenna elements, or a combination thereof. For example, the receiving array 240 may be configured to receive signals in a first frequency range, and the transmitting array 250 may be configured to transmit signals in a second frequency range that does not overlap with the first frequency range. In some examples, the receiving array 260 may be configured to receive signals in a third frequency range that does not overlap with the first and second frequency ranges, and the transmitting array 270 may be configured to transmit signals in the third frequency range.

[0061] For an example where the first frequency range is relatively higher than the second frequency range, the receiving array 240 may be relatively smaller than the transmitting array 250, which may be associated with a relatively shorter wavelength at a relatively higher frequency. Similarly, for an example where the third frequency range is between the first and second frequency ranges, the size of the receiving array 260, the transmitting array 270, or both may be designed to be between the receiving array 240 and the transmitting array 250. However, in various other implementations, such relative sizes or numbers of the antenna elements may be reversed or otherwise differ among the receiving array 240, transmitting array 250, receiving array 260, and transmitting array 270 (e.g., depending on the relative frequencies supported by the respective arrays). Additionally or alternatively, the relative size or number of antenna elements may be determined based on other criteria and balanced among the receiving array 240, transmitting array 250, receiving array 260, and transmitting array 270, such as link balancing or biasing via satellite 120-a (e.g., balancing performance characteristics between forward link communication and return link communication, biasing performance characteristics to support relatively high forward link throughput, balancing performance characteristics between gateway terminals and user terminals, such as associated antenna characteristics), and other balances.

[0062] In some examples, the receiver array 240, the transmitter array 250, or both may have a triangular cross-section. For example, when sharing the surface of satellite 120-a, dividing the surface area of ​​that surface into triangles can support receiver array 240 and transmitter array 250 with more uniform beamforming characteristics than if the surface area were divided into adjacent rectangles or other shapes. In some other examples, the shared surface area of ​​satellite 120-a may be divided into rectangular cross-sections or other shapes for receiver array 240 and transmitter array 250, and in operation, satellite 120-a may be rotated such that any beamforming or other signaling asymmetry is well aligned along a specific direction of rotation. For example, the relatively long dimensions of receiver array 240 or transmitter array 250 may be aligned along a specific direction (such as the separation direction between beams 125), which can reduce beamforming scan loss at angles relative to axes 245 and 255 or relative to the z-direction of satellite 120-a.

[0063] The receiving system of satellite 120-a (e.g., a receiving antenna system, an uplink antenna system, a receiving system including receiving array 240, a crosslink receiving antenna system, a receiving system including receiving array 260) can support receiving beam signals (e.g., uplink signal 132, uplink signal 173, crosslink signal 175, signal 183, received via beam 125) from one or more target devices (such as one or more user terminals 150, one or more gateway terminals 130, another satellite 120, satellite 180, or combinations thereof). For example, receiving array 240 may include one or more receiving elements (e.g., receiving antenna elements, receiving feed elements) located on side 215, which are configured to receive signaling from the target devices, and receiving array 260 may include one or more receiving elements located on side 211, which are configured to receive signaling from the target devices.

[0064] In some implementations, the receiving elements of the receiving array 240 may support the reception of corresponding component signals associated with different polarizations and may be associated with or may include corresponding ports configured for the component signals associated with a specific polarization (e.g., one or more ports, corresponding input ports, corresponding output ports). For example, a set of receiving elements of the receiving array 240 may receive a first component signal (e.g., an electromagnetic component signal) of a first received beam signal, each first component signal having a first polarization. The received first component signal may be converted (e.g., converted to an electrical signal, converted to an electrical component signal) and output using a set of first antenna element ports (e.g., output ports). Thus, at least some of the receiving elements may receive portions or components of the first received beam signal and may output associated electrical signals from corresponding first ports (e.g., output to a first received beamforming network corresponding to the first polarization). In some examples, the set of receiving elements may also receive a second component signal of a second received beam signal, each second component signal having a second polarization (e.g., different from the first polarization, orthogonal to the first polarization). The received second component signal may be converted and output using a set of second antenna element ports. Therefore, at least some of the receiving elements can also receive portions or components of the second receiving beam signal and can output associated electrical signals from the corresponding second ports (e.g., output to the second receiving beamforming network corresponding to the second polarization).

[0065] In some implementations, the receiving elements of the receiving array 260 may support the reception of a corresponding component signal associated with a cross-link polarization (e.g., a single polarization for signals received from another satellite 120 or from satellite 180), which may be the same as or different from a first or second polarization associated with the receiving elements of the receiving array 240. For example, a set of receiving elements of the receiving array 260 may receive a third component signal of a third receive beam signal, each third component signal having a cross-link polarization. In some other examples, the cross-link signaling supported by satellite 120-a may be non-polarized. The received third component signal may be converted and output using a set of third antenna element ports (e.g., output ports). Thus, at least some of the receiving elements of the receiving array 260 may receive portions or components of the third receive beam signal and may output associated electrical signals from the corresponding third ports (e.g., output to a third receive beamforming network corresponding to or lacking cross-link polarization).

[0066] In some examples, the receiver array 240 may be configured to receive signaling based on a first polarization associated with forward link communication and a second polarization associated with return link communication, in which case the first polarization may be orthogonal to the second polarization. For example, the first polarization may be an example of LHCP, and the second polarization may be an example of RHCP. Additionally or alternatively, the first and second polarizations may be linearly polarized, such as the first polarization having vertical polarization and the second polarization having horizontal polarization. The cross-link polarization supported by the receiver array 260 may be LHCP, RHCP, vertical polarization, or horizontal polarization.

[0067] One or more receiving systems of satellite 120-a may include one or more beamforming networks configured to support directional reception relative to axis 245 via receiving array 240 (e.g., via multiple antenna elements of receiving array 240), or configured to support directional reception relative to axis 265 via receiving array 260 (e.g., via multiple antenna elements of receiving array 260). For example, such beamforming networks of one or more receiving systems may each be configured to output one or more beam signals according to a respective beam 125 (e.g., a receiving beam) using component signals from a set of receiving elements from receiving array 240 or from a set of receiving elements from receiving array 260.

[0068] In some implementations, one or more receiving systems of satellite 120-a may include a first beamforming network coupled to the output of a set of first antenna element ports (e.g., associated with receiver array 240), which receives a set of first component signals (e.g., forward link component signals) from the set of first antenna element ports. The first beamforming network may output a single-beam signal (e.g., a forward link beam signal) associated with a first polarization to, for example, a transponder (e.g., to a forward link transponder, to a forward link signal path, to a portion of a transponder system) that routes the beam signal to a transmitting system, such as a transmitting system including transmit array 250 and transmit array 270. In some implementations, one or more receiving systems may also include a second beamforming network coupled to the output of a set of second antenna element ports (e.g., associated with receiver array 240), which receives a set of second component signals (e.g., return link component signals) from the set of second ports. The second beamforming network can output a single-beam signal associated with the second polarization (e.g., a return link beam signal) to, for example, a transponder (e.g., to a return link transponder, to a return link signal path, to a portion of the transponder system), which can route the beam signal to the transmitting system. In some implementations, the receiving system may also include a third beamforming network coupled to the output of a set of third antenna element ports (e.g., associated with the receiving array 260), which can receive a set of third component signals (e.g., cross-link component signals) from the set of third ports. The third beamforming network can output a single-beam signal associated with the cross-link polarization (e.g., a cross-link beam signal) to, for example, a transponder (e.g., to a cross-link signal path, to a portion of the transponder system), which can route the beam signal to the transmitting system.

[0069] The satellite 120-a's transmission system (e.g., a transmit antenna system, a downlink antenna system, a transmission system including transmit array 250, a crosslink transmission system, and a transmission system including transmit array 270) can support the transmission of beam signals (e.g., downlink signal 133, downlink signal 172, crosslink signal 175, signal 183, via beam 125) to one or more target devices (such as one or more user terminals 150, one or more gateway terminals 130, another satellite 120, satellite 180, or combinations thereof). For example, transmit array 250 may include one or more transmitting elements (e.g., transmit antenna elements, transmit feed elements) located on side 215, which are configured to transmit signaling to the target device, and transmit array 270 may include one or more transmitting elements located on side 212, which are configured to transmit signaling from the target device. The transmit antenna elements may include physical transducers that convert electrical signals (e.g., electrical component signals) into electromagnetic signals (e.g., electromagnetic component signals).

[0070] The launch system of satellite 120-a may include one or more beamforming networks (e.g., transmit beamforming networks) configured to support directional transmission relative to axis 255 via transmit array 250 (e.g., via multiple antenna elements of transmit array 250), or configured to support directional transmission relative to axis 275 via transmit array 270 (e.g., via multiple antenna elements of transmit array 270). For example, such beamforming networks of the launch system may each be configured to transmit one or more beam signals according to a respective beam 125 (e.g., transmit beam) using component signals output to a set of transmit elements of transmit array 250 or a set of transmit elements of transmit array 270.

[0071] In some implementations, the transmitting system may include a first beamforming network coupled to the input of a set of first antenna element ports (e.g., of the transmitting array 250). The first beamforming network may, for example, receive a single-beam signal (e.g., a transmit beam signal, a forward link beam signal) associated with a first polarization from a transponder that may route the beam signal from one or more receiving systems including receiving arrays 240 and 260. The first beamforming network may output a set of first component signals (e.g., forward link component signals) to a set of first antenna element ports for transmitting a single beam 125 associated with the first polarization. In some implementations, the transmitting system may also include a second beamforming network coupled to the input of a set of second antenna element ports (e.g., of the transmitting array 250). The second beamforming network may, for example, receive a single-beam signal (e.g., a return link beam signal) associated with a second polarization from a transponder that may route the beam signal from one or more receiving systems. The second beamforming network can output a set of second component signals (e.g., return link component signals) to a set of second antenna element ports for transmitting a single beam 125 associated with a second polarization. In some implementations, the transmitting system may also include a third beamforming network coupled to the inputs of a set of third antenna element ports (e.g., of the transmitting array 270). The third beamforming network can receive a single beam signal (e.g., a cross-link beam signal) from a transponder that can route the beam signal from one or more receiving systems. The third beamforming network can output a set of third component signals (e.g., cross-link component signals) to a set of third antenna element ports for transmitting a single beam 125 (e.g., associated cross-link polarization or lack thereof).

[0072] In some implementations, the transmitting elements of the transmitting array 250 may support the transmission of corresponding component signals associated with different polarizations, and may be associated with or may include corresponding ports configured for the component signals associated with a specific polarization (e.g., corresponding input ports, corresponding output ports). For example, the set of transmitting elements may use a set of first antenna element ports (e.g., input ports) to receive a first component signal (e.g., an electrical component signal from a first transmit beamforming network corresponding to the first polarization) of a first transmit beam signal (e.g., a forward link beam signal), and the first component signal may be converted by the transmitting elements into an electromagnetic signal (e.g., an electromagnetic component signal) that is transmitted by the transmitting elements according to the first polarization. Thus, at least some of the transmitting elements may receive portions or components of the first transmit beam signal and may transmit associated electromagnetic signals with the first polarization. In some examples, the set of transmitting elements may use a set of second antenna element ports (e.g., input ports) to receive a second component signal (e.g., from a second transmit beamforming network corresponding to a second polarization) of a second transmit beam signal (e.g., a return link beam signal), and the second component signal may be converted by the transmitting elements into an electromagnetic signal that is transmitted by the transmitting elements according to the second polarization. Therefore, at least some of the transmitting elements may also receive portions or components of the second transmit beam signal and may transmit associated electromagnetic signals having a second polarization (e.g., different from the first polarization, orthogonal to the first polarization).

[0073] In some examples, the transmit array 250 may transmit signaling according to a first polarization associated with forward link communication (e.g., signaling to user terminal 150) and a second polarization associated with return link communication (e.g., signaling to gateway terminal 130), in which case the first polarization may be orthogonal to the second polarization. For example, the first polarization may be an example of LHCP, and the second polarization may be an example of RHCP. Additionally or alternatively, the first and second polarizations may be linearly polarized, such as the first polarization having vertical polarization and the second polarization having horizontal polarization. In some implementations, the transmit array 250 may implement the same polarization as the receive array 240 for forward communication (e.g., implementing LHCP for the forward link) and the same polarization as the receive array 240 for return communication (e.g., implementing RHCP for the return link). In some other implementations, the transmit array 250 may implement a different polarization than the receive array 240 or the receive array 260, or both, for forward communication or for return communication, or both. In various examples, the transmit array 270 can transmit cross-link signaling based on cross-link polarization or without polarization.

[0074] In some implementations, satellite 120-a may include additional components to support wireless communication with gateway terminal 130, user terminal 150, other satellites 120 or 180, and other devices. For example, satellite 120-a may include patch antenna 284 (e.g., an S-band patch antenna), omnidirectional antenna 282 (e.g., an omnidirectional antenna), or both, which may support communication (e.g., transmit control signaling, receive control signaling) within a limited frequency range (e.g., between 2 GHz and 4 GHz, not overlapping with or otherwise different from receive array 240, transmit array 250, receive array 260, and transmit array 270). In some examples, one or more of these antennas may transmit control signaling (e.g., via a control band), such as scheduling information, orbit adjustment information, etc. Additionally or alternatively, patch antenna 284, omnidirectional antenna 282, or both may support transmitting or receiving signal 182, receiving uplink signal 132, receiving uplink signal 173, transmitting downlink signal 133, transmitting downlink signal 172, transmitting or receiving crosslink signal 175, or any combination thereof, and other examples. In some examples, patch antenna 284, omnidirectional antenna 282, or both may be located on a side of satellite 120-a other than the receiving array 240 and transmitting array 250, such as side 211 or side 216 (e.g., opposite to the receiving array 240 and transmitting array 250).

[0075] In some implementations, satellite 120-a may include a tracking system 280 (e.g., a star tracker) to support the detection of telemetry information for satellite 120-a. For example, tracking system 280 may measure the position of a star or other object to determine the position, velocity, orientation, or any combination thereof of satellite 120-a. In some examples, satellite 120-a may use characteristics determined by tracking system 280 to determine or calculate its orbital path or other telemetry information, and may transmit telemetry information (e.g., using a telemetry beacon) or use the telemetry information to control the orientation of satellite 120-a (e.g., using an angular momentum system) or determine a corresponding direction for one or more beams 125, among other implementations.

[0076] In some implementations, satellite 120-a may include one or more components that support control of the orbital parameters of satellite 120-a. For example, satellite 120-a may include one or more thrusters 286, which in some examples may be located on a side of satellite 120-a that is different from the receiver array 240, transmitter array 250, receiver array 260, and transmitter array 270 (e.g., on side 216), or on one or more other sides. The thrusters 286 may be operable to modify the orbital path of satellite 120-a. Additionally or alternatively, satellite 120-a may include an angular momentum system (e.g., located inside satellite 120-a, not shown) operable to orient (e.g., rotate) satellite 120-a about one or more axes (e.g., to align one or more sides of satellite 120-a along one or more target directions, such as aligning axis 245, axis 255, axis 265, axis 275, or combinations thereof along one or more target directions).

[0077] Satellite 120-a may include a control system that supports various operations of satellite 120-a. For example, such a control system may be configured for directional reception, directional transmission, or aspects of both, such as modifying beam weights or beam hopping on one or more beamforming networks of the receiving system, transmitting system, or both. Additionally or alternatively, such a control system may be configured to modify the orbital characteristics of satellite 120-a (e.g., in coordination with enabling transponder signal paths and configuring beamforming parameters), such as modifying the alignment of satellite 120-a (e.g., using the angular momentum system of satellite 120-a to perform a body turn of the satellite to align the satellite surface (such as side 215, side 211, or side 212) or antenna system (such as axis 245, 255, 265, or 275) along various directions), or changing the orbital path itself (e.g., using thruster 286 to change the altitude of satellite 120-a to reorient the orbital path of satellite 120-a). In various implementations, this control system may operate based on the configuration at satellite 120-a (e.g., pre-configuration, hardware configuration, software configuration), based on signaling received at satellite 120-a (e.g., command signaling, parameter signaling, instructions, signaling from the network controller, signaling from the terminal, signaling via signal 132, signaling via signal 173, signaling via signal 183, signaling via the receiving array 240, signaling via the patch antenna 284, signaling via the omnidirectional antenna 282), based on detection at satellite 120-a (e.g., sensor measurements, communication measurements, detection of characteristics of satellite 120-a, detection of signal quality characteristics, detection of characteristics of communication relayed by satellite 120-a, detection of environmental characteristics), or any combination thereof.

[0078] While in some examples, the receiving array 240 and transmitting array 250 may be configured for communication with a terminal on the ground segment, they may additionally or alternatively be configured for communication with or via another satellite, such as another satellite 120 or another satellite 180. For example, to support various aspects of a GEO link (e.g., an LEO-to-GEO link), satellite 120-a may support wireless communication by receiving signal 183 using the receiving array 240, or transmitting signal 183 using the transmitting array 250, or both (e.g., via a corresponding beam 125). In some examples, such techniques may be supported by aligning the positive z-direction of satellite 120-a toward satellite 180 (e.g., a geostationary satellite, for at least a portion of the orbital path of satellite 120-a).

[0079] Figure 3A and Figure 3B An example of a satellite 120-b supporting beam splitting in a satellite communication system, as disclosed herein, is shown. Satellite 120-b can be configured for deployment in an NGSO and supports various aspects of the technologies described in communication system 100. For example, satellite 120-b can support target functions for receiving and transmitting beam signals, which allows for a relatively small size and relatively low complexity of satellite 120-b. In some examples, the relatively small size of satellite 120-b, along with other factors, supports relatively low costs and overhead associated with deploying satellite 120-b in communication system 100. For example, multiple satellites 120-b can be deployed from the same launch vehicle payload, rather than launching and deploying satellites 120-b individually. While some technologies are described with reference to satellite 120-b operating in an NGSO, in some other examples, one or more of the described technologies can be implemented in satellite 120 or satellite 180 operating in geostationary orbit, as well as other implementations.

[0080] Satellite 120-b may have a generally prismatic shape and may be described with reference to the x, y, and z directions of coordinate system 300. Satellite 120-b may include a body portion 310 having sides (e.g., faces, which may be flat or curved), including sides 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, and 316. Although in some examples the sides of satellite 120-b may be orthogonal, in some other examples the sides of satellite 120-b may be in different orientations, such as in satellite 120-b having trapezoidal prism properties, elongated oblique square prism shapes, hexagonal prism shapes, or other shapes.

[0081] In some examples, satellite 120-b may include one or more panels 320, such as panels 320-a and 320-b, that can be deployed from the main body 310, and these panels are rotatably connected to the main body 310 using hinges 325. In some implementations, the panels 320 may carry one or more solar elements 330, which may be positioned on one or both sides of a respective panel 320 and provide power for operating components of satellite 120-b. For example, satellite 120-b may include a first solar panel array configured to deploy from side 313 and a second solar panel array configured to deploy from side 314. In some examples, the control system of satellite 120-b may use hinges 325 to manage the deployment of the panels 320.

[0082] Satellite 120-b can support wireless communication between ground terminals, for example, by receiving uplink signaling (e.g., forward uplink signaling, return uplink signaling, uplink signal 132, uplink signal 173) using receiver array 240-a and transmitting downlink signaling using transmitter array 250-a. For example, receiver array 240-a can be configured to receive signaling from ground terminals, and transmitter array 250-a can be configured to transmit signaling to ground terminals. In some examples, receiver array 240-a or transmitter array 250-a can be configured according to one or more aspects of receiver array 240 or transmitter array 250 (e.g., similar to satellite 120-a), as referenced. Figure 2A and Figure 2B As described.

[0083] Satellite 120-b can also support wireless communication with or via other satellites 120 or 180, for example, by receiving cross-link signaling using a receiving array 260-a (e.g., a cross-link receiving array), and in some examples, by transmitting cross-link signaling using a transmitting array 250-a (e.g., as a combined downlink and cross-link array). For example, satellite 120-b can use transmitting array 250-a as a downlink array (e.g., to transmit downlink signals), and additionally or alternatively, can use the same transmitting array 250-a as a cross-link transmitting array (e.g., for transmitting signal 175, for transmitting signal 183 to satellite 180 as a GEO link). Using transmitting array 250-a as both a downlink array and a cross-link transmitting array allows satellite 120-b to transmit cross-link signals without excluding a dedicated cross-link transmitting array (e.g., without transmitting array 270), thereby including a single high-power transmitting array. Because signal transmission can be associated with relatively high power usage, using a single transmit array 250-a allows satellite 120-b to operate with reduced power consumption or reduced heat generation, and offers advantages such as reduced cost, lighter weight, reduced complexity, and improved packaging compared to satellite 120 (e.g., satellite 120-a) with a dedicated cross-link transmit array. Additionally, using a single transmit array 250-a can improve or simplify the design of satellite 120-b by providing greater flexibility in arranging (e.g., attaching) components such as receiver array 240-a, transmit array 250-a, and receiver array 260-a.

[0084] The receiving array 240-a, transmitting array 250-a, and receiving array 260-a may be physically arranged on satellite 120-b (e.g., located on or fixed to the satellite) to support effective communication with user terminal 150, gateway terminal 130, and beam signals of other satellites 120 or 180 (e.g., via beam 125). For example, both the receiving array 240-a and the transmitting array 250-a may be located on side 315 of satellite 120-b, and the receiving array 260-a may be located on side 316 of satellite 120-b (e.g., the second side of satellite 120-b, the side opposite to the receiving array 240-a and the transmitting array 250-a), or on another side of satellite 120-b (e.g., side 311, side 312, side 313, side 314), which is different from the side that includes the receiving array 240-a and the transmitting array 250-a (e.g., providing the second side of satellite 120-b for signal reception).

[0085] To support communication with ground segment 101 using receiver array 240-a, transmitter array 250-a, or both, satellite 120-b may be oriented such that side 315 (e.g., nominal orientation of side 315, axis of side 315, positive z-direction of satellite 120-b) is aligned with the Earth (e.g., with respect to the service area, position relative to the service area). Additionally or alternatively, to support communication with one or more other satellites 120 or 180 using receiver array 260-a, transmitter array 250-a, or both, satellite 120-b may be oriented such that side 315, side 316, or both are generally aligned with another satellite 120 or 180 (e.g., within the scan range of the beamformer of the associated array).

[0086] Receiver array 240-a, transmitter array 250-a, and receiver array 260-a may each be associated with an axis (e.g., a nominal axis, a line-of-sight axis, a line-of-sight direction, or an outward direction), which may be the nominal direction of the respective array. In some examples, this nominal direction may be associated with the direction of the array's peak gain capability (e.g., the direction of maximum radiated power, the direction of maximum receiver sensitivity, or the direction of minimum distortion). For example, receiver array 240-a may be associated with axis 245-a, and transmitter array 250-a may be associated with axis 255-a, each of these axes being aligned along a positive z-direction from satellite 120-b (e.g., along a direction fixed relative to body portion 310, along a direction from side 315, or along a parallel direction). Therefore, aligning receiver array 240-a, transmitter array 250-a, or both toward a target may be associated with aligning satellite 120-b such that the positive z-direction is aligned toward the target. Additionally, receiver array 260-a may be associated with axis 265-a, which may be aligned along the negative z-direction from satellite 120-b (e.g., a direction parallel to axis 245-a, a direction parallel to axis 255-a, or a direction different from axes 245-a and 255-a). In some implementations, aligning receiver array 260-a toward a target (e.g., a second target, along the direction of the second target) may additionally or alternatively be associated with aligning satellite 120-b such that the negative z-direction is aligned toward the target.

[0087] Therefore, satellite 120-b illustrates an example in which the receiving array 240-a (e.g., axis 245-a) and the transmitting array 250-a (e.g., axis 255-a) can be oriented along one direction, while the receiving array 260-a (e.g., axis 265-a) can be oriented along different directions, thus providing different degrees of flexibility for the orientation of beam 125. Although in the example of satellite 120-b, the direction of axis 265-a is 180 degrees away from the directions of axes 245-a and 255-a (e.g., pointing in opposite directions), in some other examples according to the described technique, the direction of axis 265-a can be separated from the directions of axes 245-a and 255-a by different angles, such as 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 90 degrees, 120 degrees, 135 degrees, etc. (e.g., as a fixed separation angle between arrays). Furthermore, such technology can be supported by the surfaces or attached antenna element arrays of satellite 120 that are not flat, such as arrays with one or more curved arrays or other shapes associated with axes 245-a, 255-a, and 265-a in other ways (e.g., for satellite 120 with one or more curved surfaces, such as cylindrical or spherical surfaces). Additionally, although axes 245-a and 255-a are parallel in the example of satellite 120-b, in some other examples, the orientations of axes 245-a and 255-a can be fixed at angles such as 10 degrees, 20 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, or some other fixed angular spacing (e.g., between outward directions on the sides of satellite 120, or between the nominal directions of the curved arrays of satellite 120).

[0088] The receiving system of satellite 120-b (e.g., a receiving antenna system, an uplink antenna system, a receiving system including receiving array 240-a, a crosslink receiving antenna system, and a receiving system including receiving array 260-a) can support receiving beam signals (e.g., uplink signal 132, uplink signal 173, crosslink signal 175, signal 183, received via beam 125) from one or more target devices (such as one or more user terminals 150, one or more gateway terminals 130, another satellite 120, satellite 180, or combinations thereof). For example, receiving array 240-a may include one or more receiving elements (e.g., receiving antenna elements, receiving feed elements) located on side 315, which are configured to receive signaling from the target devices, and receiving array 260-a may include one or more receiving elements located on side 316, which are configured to receive signaling from the target devices.

[0089] In some implementations, the receiving elements of the receiving array 240-a may support the reception of corresponding component signals associated with different polarizations and may be associated with or may include corresponding ports configured for the component signals associated with a specific polarization (e.g., one or more ports, corresponding input ports, corresponding output ports). For example, a set of receiving elements of the receiving array 240-a may receive a first component signal (e.g., an electromagnetic component signal) of a first received beam signal, each first component signal having a first polarization. The received first component signal may be converted (e.g., converted to an electrical signal, converted to an electrical component signal) and output using a set of first antenna element ports (e.g., output ports). Thus, at least some of the receiving elements may receive portions or components of the first received beam signal and may output associated electrical signals from corresponding first ports (e.g., output to a first received beamforming network corresponding to the first polarization). In some examples, the set of receiving elements may also receive a second component signal of a second received beam signal, each second component signal having a second polarization (e.g., different from the first polarization, orthogonal to the first polarization). The received second component signal may be converted and output using a set of second antenna element ports. Therefore, at least some of the receiving elements can also receive portions or components of the second receiving beam signal and can output associated electrical signals from the corresponding second ports (e.g., output to the second receiving beamforming network corresponding to the second polarization).

[0090] In some implementations, the receiving elements of receiver array 260-a may support the reception of a corresponding component signal associated with a cross-link polarization (e.g., a single polarization for signals received from another satellite 120 or from satellite 180), which may be the same as one of the first or second polarizations associated with the receiving elements of receiver array 240-a. For example, a set of receiving elements of receiver array 260-a may receive third component signals of a third receive beam signal, each third component signal having a cross-link polarization. The received third component signals may be converted and output using a set of third antenna element ports (e.g., output ports). Thus, at least some of the receiving elements of receiver array 260-a may receive portions or components of the third receive beam signal and may output associated electrical signals from the corresponding third ports (e.g., output to a third receive beamforming network corresponding to the cross-link polarization).

[0091] In some examples, receiver array 240-a may be configured to receive signaling according to a first polarization associated with forward link communication and according to a second polarization associated with return link communication, in which case the first polarization may be orthogonal to the second polarization. For example, the first polarization may be an example of LHCP, and the second polarization may be an example of RHCP. In various examples, the cross-link polarization supported by receiver array 260-a may therefore be LHCP or RHCP. Additionally or alternatively, the first and second polarizations may be linearly polarized, such as the first polarization having vertical polarization and the second polarization having horizontal polarization, and therefore the cross-link polarization supported by receiver array 260-a may be vertical or horizontal polarization.

[0092] One or more receiving systems of satellite 120-b may include one or more beamforming networks configured to support directional reception relative to axis 245-a via receiving array 240-a (e.g., via multiple antenna elements of receiving array 240-a), or configured to support directional reception relative to axis 265-a via receiving array 260-a (e.g., via multiple antenna elements of receiving array 260-a). For example, such beamforming networks of one or more receiving systems may each be configured to output one or more beam signals according to a respective beam 125 (e.g., a receiving beam) using component signals from a set of receiving elements from receiving array 240-a or a set of receiving elements from receiving array 260-a.

[0093] In some implementations, one or more receiving systems of satellite 120-b may include a first beamforming network coupled to the output of a set of first antenna element ports (e.g., associated with receiving array 240-a), which receives a set of first component signals (e.g., forward link component signals) from the set of first antenna element ports. The first beamforming network may output a single-beam signal (e.g., a forward link beam signal) associated with a first polarization to, for example, a transponder (e.g., to a forward link transponder, to a forward link signal path, to a portion of a transponder system), which may route the beam signal to a transmitting system, such as a transmitting system including transmitting array 250-a. In some implementations, one or more receiving systems may also include a second beamforming network coupled to the output of a set of second antenna element ports (e.g., associated with receiving array 240-a), which receives a set of second component signals (e.g., return link component signals) from the set of second ports. The second beamforming network can output a single-beam signal associated with a second polarization (e.g., a return link beam signal) to, for example, a transponder (e.g., to a return link transponder, to a return link signal path, to a portion of the transponder system), which can route the beam signal to a transmitting system, such as a transmitting system including transmit array 250-a. In some implementations, the receiving system may also include a third beamforming network coupled to the output of a set of third antenna element ports (e.g., associated with receive array 260-a), which can receive a set of third component signals (e.g., cross-link component signals) from the third ports. The third beamforming network can output a single-beam signal associated with a cross-link polarization (e.g., a cross-link beam signal) to, for example, a transponder (e.g., to a cross-link signal path, to a portion of the transponder system), which can route the beam signal to a transmitting system, such as a transmitting system including transmit array 250-a.

[0094] The satellite 120-b's transmission system (e.g., a transmit antenna system, a combined crosslink / downlink antenna system, or a transmission system including transmit array 250-a) can support the transmission of beam signals (e.g., downlink signal 133, downlink signal 172, crosslink signal 175, transmitted via beam 125) to one or more target devices (such as one or more user terminals 150, one or more gateway terminals 130, or combinations thereof). For example, transmit array 250-a may include one or more transmitting elements (e.g., transmit antenna elements, transmit feed elements) located on side 315, which are configured to transmit signaling to the target devices. The transmit antenna elements may include physical transducers that convert electrical signals (e.g., electrical component signals) into electromagnetic signals (e.g., electromagnetic component signals).

[0095] The launch system of satellite 120-b may include one or more beamforming networks (e.g., transmit beamforming networks) configured to support directional transmission relative to axis 255-a via transmit array 250-a (e.g., via multiple antenna elements of transmit array 250-a). For example, such beamforming networks of the launch system may each be configured to transmit one or more beam signals according to a respective beam 125 (e.g., transmit beam) using component signals output to a set of transmit elements of transmit array 250-a.

[0096] In some implementations, the transmitting system may include a first beamforming network coupled to the input of a set of first antenna element ports. The first beamforming network may, for example, receive a single-beam signal (e.g., a transmit beam signal, a forward link beam signal, or a cross-link beam signal) associated with a first polarization from a transponder that may route the beam signal from one or more receiving systems including receive array 240-a and receive array 260-a. The first beamforming network may output a set of first component signals (e.g., forward link component signals or cross-link component signals) to a set of first antenna element ports for transmitting a single beam 125 associated with the first polarization. In some implementations, the transmitting system may also include a second beamforming network coupled to the input of a set of second antenna element ports. The second beamforming network may, for example, receive a single-beam signal (e.g., a return link beam signal) associated with a second polarization from a transponder that may route the beam signal from one or more receiving systems. The second beamforming network can output a set of second component signals (e.g., return link component signals) to a set of second antenna element ports for transmitting a single beam 125 associated with the second polarization.

[0097] In some implementations, the transmitting elements of the transmitting array 250-a may support the transmission of corresponding component signals associated with different polarizations, and may be associated with or may include corresponding ports configured for the component signals associated with a specific polarization (e.g., corresponding input ports, corresponding output ports). For example, the set of transmitting elements may use a set of first antenna element ports (e.g., input ports) to receive first component signals (e.g., electrical component signals from a first transmit beamforming network corresponding to the first polarization) of a first transmit beam signal (e.g., forward link signal, cross link signal), and the first component signals may be converted by the transmitting elements into electromagnetic signals (e.g., electromagnetic component signals) that are transmitted by the transmitting elements according to the first polarization. Thus, at least some of the transmitting elements may receive portions or components of the first transmit beam signal and may transmit associated electromagnetic signals with the first polarization. In some examples, the set of transmitting elements may use a set of second antenna element ports (e.g., input ports) to receive a second component signal (e.g., from a second transmit beamforming network corresponding to a second polarization) of a second transmit beam signal (e.g., a return link beam signal), and the second component signal may be converted by the transmitting elements into an electromagnetic signal that is transmitted by the transmitting elements according to the second polarization. Therefore, at least some of the transmitting elements may also receive portions or components of the second transmit beam signal and may transmit associated electromagnetic signals having a second polarization (e.g., different from the first polarization, orthogonal to the first polarization).

[0098] In some examples, transmit array 250-a may transmit signaling according to a first polarization associated with forward link communication (e.g., signaling to user terminal 150) and cross-link communication (e.g., to another satellite 120, to satellite 180) and a second polarization associated with return link communication (e.g., signaling to gateway terminal 130), in which case the first polarization may be orthogonal to the second polarization. For example, the first polarization may be an example of LHCP, and the second polarization may be an example of RHCP. Additionally or alternatively, the first and second polarizations may be linearly polarized, such as the first polarization having vertical polarization and the second polarization having horizontal polarization. In some implementations, transmit array 250-a may implement the same polarization as receive arrays 240-a and 260-a for forward and cross-link communication (e.g., implementing LHCP for forward or cross-link), and implement the same polarization as receive array 240-a for return communication (e.g., implementing RHCP for return link). In some other implementations, the transmit array 250-a may be polarized differently from the receive array 240-a or the receive array 260-a or both for forward communication or for return communication or both.

[0099] In some implementations, satellite 120-b may include additional components to support wireless communication with gateway terminal 130, user terminal 150, other satellites 120 or 180, and other devices. For example, satellite 120-b may include patch antenna 284-a (e.g., an S-band patch antenna), omnidirectional antenna 282-a (e.g., an omnidirectional antenna), or both, which may support communication (e.g., transmit control signaling, receive control signaling) within a limited frequency range (e.g., between 2 GHz and 4 GHz, not overlapping with or otherwise different from receive array 240-a, transmit array 250-a, and receive array 260-a). In some examples, patch antenna 284-a, omnidirectional antenna 282-a, or both may be located on a side of satellite 120-b different from receive array 240-a and transmit array 250-a, such as side 311 or side 316 (e.g., opposite receive array 240-a and transmit array 250-a).

[0100] In some implementations, satellite 120-b may include a tracking system 280-a (e.g., a star tracker) to support the detection of telemetry information of satellite 120-b. The tracking system 280-a may be located on a surface of satellite 120-b that is different from the surface that includes receiver array 240-a, transmitter array 250-a, or receiver array 260-a, such as on side 312.

[0101] In some implementations, satellite 120-b may include one or more components that support the control of orbital parameters of satellite 120-b. For example, satellite 120-b may include one or more thrusters 286-a, which in some examples may be located on a side of satellite 120-b different from receiver array 240-a, transmitter array 250-a, and receiver array 260-a (e.g., on side 311), or on one or more other sides. Additionally or alternatively, satellite 120-b may include an angular momentum system (e.g., located inside satellite 120-b, not shown) that is operable to orient (e.g., rotate) satellite 120-b about one or more axes (e.g., to align one or more sides of satellite 120-b along one or more target directions, such as aligning axis 245-a, axis 255-a, axis 265-a, or combinations thereof along one or more target directions).

[0102] Satellite 120-b may include a control system that supports various operations of satellite 120-b. For example, such a control system may be configured for directional reception, directional transmission, or aspects of both, such as modifying beam weights or beam hopping on one or more beamforming networks of the receiving system, transmitting system, or both. Additionally or alternatively, such a control system may be configured to modify the orbital characteristics of satellite 120-b (e.g., in coordination with enabling transponder signal paths and configuring beamforming parameters), such as modifying the alignment of satellite 120-b (e.g., using the angular momentum system of satellite 120-b to perform a body turn of the satellite to align the satellite surface (such as side 315 or side 316) or antenna system (such as axis 245-a, 255-a, or 265-a) along various directions), or changing the orbital path itself (e.g., using thruster 386-a to change the altitude of satellite 120-b and reorient the orbital path of satellite 120-b). In various implementations, this control system may operate based on the configuration at satellite 120-b (e.g., pre-configuration, hardware configuration, software configuration), based on signaling received at satellite 120-b (e.g., command signaling, parameter signaling, instructions, signaling from the network controller, signaling from the terminal, signaling via signal 132, signaling via signal 173, signaling via signal 183, signaling via receiver array 240-a, signaling via patch antenna 384, signaling via omnidirectional antenna 382), based on detection at satellite 120-b (e.g., sensor measurements, communication measurements, detection of characteristics of satellite 120-b, detection of signal quality characteristics, detection of characteristics of communication relayed by satellite 120-b, detection of environmental characteristics), or any combination thereof.

[0103] While in some examples, the receiver array 240-a and transmitter array 250-a may be configured for communication with a terminal on the ground segment, they may additionally or alternatively be configured for communication with or via another satellite, such as another satellite 120 or another satellite 180. For example, to support various aspects of a GEO link, satellite 120-b may support wireless communication by receiving signal 183 using receiver array 240-a or transmitting signal 183 using transmitter array 250-a, or both (e.g., via a corresponding beam 125). In some examples, such techniques may be supported by aligning the positive z-direction of satellite 120-b toward satellite 180 (e.g., a geostationary satellite, for at least a portion of the orbital path of satellite 120-b).

[0104] Figure 4An example of a beam splitting payload 400 in a satellite communication system, as disclosed herein, is shown. The payload 400 may be implemented in a satellite 120 (such as satellite 120-a or satellite 120-b, and other implementations). For example, the payload 400 may include a receiving system 405 (e.g., a receiving subsystem, a receiving antenna system), a transmitting system 415 (e.g., a transmitting subsystem, a transmitting antenna system), and a transponder system 410 (e.g., a transponder subsystem, a set of transponders, a set of signal paths, a set of beam signal paths), coupled to the receiving system 405 and the transmitting system 415. Although the receiving system 405, the transponder system 410, and the transmitting system 415 are provided with illustrative boundaries, the components may be distributed differently among other systems or subsystems according to the described techniques.

[0105] Payload 400 may support relaying beam signals (e.g., signals associated with one or more beams 125) with or between one or more terminals of ground segment 101 (e.g., between gateway terminal 130 and user terminal 150), with or between one or more other satellites (e.g., another satellite 120, satellite 180), or combinations thereof. For example, receiving system 405 may include receiving subsystem 407-a (e.g., an uplink subsystem), which may include receiving array 240-b and may include or otherwise couple to ports 406 (e.g., ports 406-a and 406-b, output ports, uplink ports). Receiving array 240-b may include one or more antenna elements (e.g., receiving elements) located on the side of satellite 120 (e.g., side 215 or side 315). In some examples, receiving subsystem 407-a may be configured for reception within a first frequency range (e.g., an uplink frequency range, 81 GHz – 86 GHz). The receiving subsystem 407-a may be operable to acquire and output one or more beam signals (e.g., signals of the corresponding beam 125, uplink beam signals, and receive beam signals) based on component signals received via the antenna elements of the receiving array 240-b via ports 406-a and 406-b.

[0106] In some examples (e.g., for a payload in satellite 120 supporting cross-link reception using a separate array), receiving system 405 may also include receiving subsystem 407-b (e.g., a cross-link receiving subsystem), which may include receiving array 260-b and may include port 406-c (e.g., a cross-link port) or otherwise coupled to that port. Receiving array 260-b may include one or more antenna elements (e.g., receiving elements) located on different sides of satellite 120 (such as side 211 or side 316 (e.g., sides orthogonal, opposite, or otherwise different from receiving array 240-b)). This physical arrangement reduces interference when receiving signals from different target devices along different directions. In some examples, receiving subsystem 407-b may be configured for reception within a second frequency range (e.g., a cross-link frequency range, 61 GHz – 66 GHz, or another frequency range that does not overlap with the first frequency range). Receiver subsystem 407-b may be operable to acquire and output beam signals (e.g., signals of beam 125, crosslink beam signals, and receive beam signals) based on component signals received via antenna elements of receiver array 260-b via port 406-c. In some other examples, receiver subsystem 407-b and associated circuitry may be omitted (e.g., for payloads in satellite 120 that do not support crosslink reception, or for payloads in satellite 120 that support crosslink reception via receiver subsystem 407-a).

[0107] Transmission system 415 may include transmission subsystem 417-a (e.g., a downlink transmission subsystem), which may include transmission array 250-b and may include or otherwise couple to ports 416 (e.g., ports 416-a and 416-b, input ports, downlink ports). Transmission array 250-b may include one or more antenna elements (e.g., transmission elements) located on the side of satellite 120 (such as side 215 or side 315). In some examples, transmission subsystem 417-a may be configured to transmit within at least a third frequency range (e.g., at least a downlink frequency range, 71 GHz–76 GHz, or another frequency that does not overlap with the first and second frequency ranges). Transmission subsystem 417-a may be operable to acquire (e.g., via ports 416-a and 416-b) and transmit beam signals (e.g., signals of the corresponding beam 125, downlink beam signals) based on component signals transmitted via the antenna elements of transmission array 250-b.

[0108] In some implementations (e.g., for payloads in satellite 120 supporting cross-link transmission using a separate array, such as in satellite 120-a), the transmission system 415 may also include a transmission subsystem 417-b (e.g., a cross-link transmission subsystem), which may include a transmission array 270-b and may include a port 416-c (e.g., a cross-link port) or otherwise coupled to that port. The transmission array 270-a may include one or more antenna elements (e.g., transmitting elements) located on a side of satellite 120, such as side 212 (e.g., a side opposite to or otherwise different from the receiving array 260-b). This physical arrangement facilitates the relay of cross-link signals along directions different from receiving uplink signals or transmitting downlink signals. In some examples, the transmit subsystem 417-b can be configured to transmit within a second frequency range (e.g., a cross-link frequency range, 61 GHz – 66 GHz, such that the cross-link frequency range is centered between the uplink and downlink frequency ranges, which can improve isolation between different types of signaling and the hardware supporting such signaling). The transmit subsystem 417-b may be able to operate to acquire (e.g., via port 416-c) and transmit beam signals based on component signals transmitted via the antenna elements of the transmit array 270-b (e.g., the signal of the corresponding beam 125, the cross-link beam signal).

[0109] In some other implementations (e.g., for payloads in satellite 120 that do not support cross-link transmission using separate arrays, such as in satellite 120-b), the transmission array 270-b may be omitted, and signals from ports 412-b and 412-c may be combined to propagate along a single signal path along transmission system 415 (e.g., provided to a single shared beamforming network 440-b). For example, when such combination is considered to be included in transmission system 415, signal paths from ports 416-b and 416-c may be combined via coupler 421-e of transmission system 415. In some other examples, such combination may be considered to be included in transponder system 410, in which case at least coupler 421-e may alternatively be included in transponder system 410, and transponder system 410 may be considered to have two ports 412 (e.g., one corresponding to the illustrated port 412-a, and one corresponding to the illustrated combination of ports 412-b and 412-c). In these and other examples, the transmitting system 415 may be considered to include two ports 418 (e.g., two input ports, two beam signal ports), shown as ports 418-a and 418-b. In some examples, port 418-a may be a port dedicated to conveying downlink signals (e.g., return downlink beam signals), and port 418-b may be a shared port operable to convey downlink beam signals (e.g., forward downlink beam signals) or crosslink beam signals (e.g., along a forward link or return link) or both. In some such examples, a second frequency range (e.g., a crosslink frequency range) may be configured to be adjacent (e.g., contiguous) to a third frequency range (e.g., a downlink frequency range) (such as a crosslink frequency range of 66 GHz–71 GHz), and other implementations of such frequencies, which can provide relatively improved antenna characteristics compared to cases where such ranges are not contiguous (e.g., spanning a bandwidth greater than 10 GHz). Thus, in some examples, the transmitting subsystem 417-a may be configured to transmit within both the second and third frequency ranges.

[0110] Transponder system 410 (e.g., a transponder subsystem, a set of transponders, a set of signal paths between receiving system 405 and transmitting system 415) may be operable to couple to port 406 of receiving system 405 and receive one or more beam signals from receiving system 405. For example, transponder system 410 may include ports 411 (e.g., input ports, ports 411-a and 411-b (which may be uplink ports), and port 411-c (which may be crosslink ports)) operable to couple to corresponding ports 406 of receiving system 405. In some other examples, corresponding ports 411 and 406 may be referred to as or equivalent to common ports or nodes. Transponder system 410 may also be operable to couple to port 416 of transmitting system 415 and output one or more beam signals to transmitting system 415. For example, repeater system 410 may include ports 412 (e.g., output ports, ports 412-a and 412-b (which may be downlink ports), and port 412-c (which may be a crosslink port)) operable to be coupled (e.g., in a one-to-one correspondence) to corresponding ports 416 of transmitting system 415. In some other examples, corresponding ports 412 and 416 may be referred to or equivalent to common ports or nodes. Thus, in various examples, repeater system 410 may be considered to include three ports 411 (e.g., three inputs) coupled to corresponding ports 406 (e.g., three outputs) of receiving system 405, and repeater system 410 may be considered to include ports 412 (e.g., three outputs, two outputs) coupled to corresponding ports 416 (e.g., three inputs, two inputs) of transmitting system 415, or ports coupled to corresponding ports 418 (e.g., two inputs) of transmitting system 415, depending on the implementation of transmitting subsystem 417. Therefore, the repeater system 410 can support various signal paths for coupling its port 412 with its port 411 and performing various intermediate signal processing.

[0111] Payload 400 may be operable to support different modes (e.g., signaling mode, communication mode, relay mode, signal path mode, signal routing mode, beam signal mode) or combinations of modes for relaying beam signals. Such modes, as well as other operations of satellite 120 including payload 400, may be at least partially controlled (e.g., configured, coordinated, initiated) by payload control system 460, which may be coupled at least to receiving system 405, transponder system 410, and transmitting system 415 to configure one or more aspects of the respective components. For example, control system 460 may support managing beamforming networks (e.g., beamforming network 420, beamforming network 440), activating and deactivating the signal path of transponder system 410, managing satellite alignment (e.g., aligning satellite 120 toward a target, changing the orbital path of satellite 120), and other operations. Control system 460 may include any number of one or more processors, which may include processors commonly located within payload 400 or distributed throughout payload 400. Any one or more of such processors can be configured (e.g., individually, collectively, via software, via firmware, via hardware, or any combination thereof) to enable satellite 120 (e.g., payload 400) to perform the various operations described herein.

[0112] In various modes, payload 400 may support relay return link signals (e.g., signaling from one or more user terminals 150 to gateway terminal 130) or relay forward link signals (e.g., signaling from gateway terminal 130 to one or more user terminals 150), which may include relay cross-link signals (e.g., signaling from another satellite 120 or satellite 180, signaling to another satellite 120 or satellite 180), or combinations thereof. To support such relaying, payload 400 may receive component signals (e.g., return uplink component signals as electromagnetic component signals of uplink signal 173, cross-link component signals as electromagnetic component signals of cross-link signal 175) via antenna elements (e.g., receiving antenna elements) of receiving array 240-b, receiving array 260-b, or both. In some examples, component signals may be received by antenna elements according to polarization, which may be assigned to a specific type of communication. For example, a component signal associated with return link signaling may be associated with a first polarization (e.g., RHCP), a component signal associated with forward link signaling may correspond to a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization (e.g., LHCP), and a component signal associated with cross link signaling may correspond to the first polarization, the second polarization, or another polarization, or may be unpolarized. In some examples, if a component signal is associated with return link signaling or forward link signaling, the component signal may be received in a first frequency range (e.g., 81 GHz – 86 GHz) (e.g., via receiver array 240-b), and if a component signal is associated with cross link signaling, the component signal may be received in a second frequency range (e.g., 61 GHz – 66 GHz) or another frequency range having the same bandwidth as the first frequency range (e.g., via receiver array 260-b).

[0113] The antenna elements of the receiving array 240-b may (e.g., via a corresponding output port) output a corresponding first component signal (e.g., an electrical component signal associated with a first polarization) to the beamforming network 420-a, and in some examples, output a corresponding second component signal (e.g., associated with a second polarization) to the beamforming network 420-b. In some examples, the beamforming networks 420-a and 420-b may be referred to as a single beamforming network 420 of the receiving subsystem 407-a, which is configured to support directional reception of a single corresponding beam 125 of each of the different polarizations supported by the receiving array 240-b. The antenna elements of the receiving array 260-b may output a corresponding component signal to the beamforming network 420-c. For at least some (if not all) of the respective antenna elements, beamforming network 420 may apply gain, phase adjustment, time adjustment, or any combination thereof to the component signals according to the beamforming direction (e.g., the direction of the receive beam 125, according to the receive beam weights configured by control system 460) to generate a receive beam signal (e.g., a return link uplink beam signal, a forward link uplink beam signal, or a cross link beam signal) based on the component signals received from the antenna elements.

[0114] Each beamforming network 420 may include an output terminal 422 (e.g., a single output terminal, output terminal 422-a corresponding to the return link uplink beam signal, output terminal 422-b corresponding to the forward link uplink beam signal, and output terminal 422-c corresponding to the cross-link beam signal), which may be configured to output the received beam signal to the transponder system 410 (e.g., via ports 406-a, 406-b, or 406-c). In some examples, the output terminal 422 may be configured to output the received beam signal in the same frequency range as the received component signal. In some examples, the output terminal 422 may be supported by activating (e.g., by the control system 460) a corresponding amplifier 465 (e.g., amplifier 465-a, amplifier 465-b, amplifier 465-c).

[0115] The repeater system 410 may include various signal paths between ports 411 and 412. For example, the repeater system 410 may include a first signal path between ports 411-b and 412-b (e.g., for forward uplink to downlink relay), a second signal path between ports 411-c and 412-b (e.g., for forward crosslink to downlink relay), a third signal path between ports 411-b and 412-c (e.g., for forward uplink to crosslink relay), and a fourth signal path between ports 411-c and 412-c (e.g., for crosslink relay). The signaling paths include a fifth signaling path (e.g., for returning an uplink to a cross-link trunk) between port 411-a and port 412-c, a sixth signaling path (e.g., for returning a cross-link to a downlink trunk) between port 411-c and port 412-a, and a seventh signaling path (e.g., for returning an uplink to a downlink trunk) between port 411-a and port 412-a, at least some of which may be concurrently supported by the repeater system 410 (e.g., for multi-directional trunking).

[0116] In some examples, repeater system 410 may include one or more switching components 426 having an input 427 (e.g., an input port) and an output 428 (e.g., an output port). These switching components may be operable to control (e.g., implement, configure, based on the configuration of switching components 426 via control system 460) the coupling between components of various signal paths. For example, repeater system 410 may include switching component 426-a (e.g., a single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switch) that routes a signal from input 427-a to output 428-a-1 or output 428-a-2. Repeater system 410 may also include switching component 426-b (e.g., an SPDT switch) that routes a signal from input 427-b to output 428-b-1 or output 428-b-2. The repeater system 410 may also include a switching element 426-c (e.g., a double-pole double-throw (DPDT) switch) that routes a signal from input 427-c-1 or input 427-c-2 to output 428-c-1 or output 428-c-2. The repeater system 410 may also include a switching element 426-d (e.g., a single-pole triple-throw (SP3T) switch) that routes a signal from input 427-d to output 428-d-1, output 428-d-2, or output 428-d-3.

[0117] In some examples, the repeater system 410 may include one or more couplers 421 (e.g., signal path junctions) that support the transmission of at least a portion of one or more signals input to the coupler 421 through the output of the coupler 421 (e.g., providing coupling between components). For example, coupler 421-a may transmit a signal from output 428-d-1, a signal from port 411-a, or both, to frequency converter 425-a (e.g., an uplink to IF frequency converter). Coupler 421-b may transmit a signal from output 428-d-2, a signal from port 411-b, or both, to frequency converter 425-b (e.g., an uplink to IF frequency converter). Coupler 421-c may transmit a signal from output 428-a-2, a signal from output 428-b-2, or both, to frequency converter 436 (e.g., an IF to crosslink frequency converter). Coupler 421-d can transmit a signal from output 428-d-3 or a signal from frequency converter 436, or both, to port 412-c (e.g., via input 442-b to beamforming network 440-b). Coupler 421 may include one or more switches (e.g., operable using control system 460) to support relay signals, or to support signal addition (e.g., summation), or both, among other examples. In some examples, a signal from a single component coupled to coupler 421 may be transmitted by coupler 421, possibly due to one or more other components coupled to coupler 421 being disabled (e.g., deactivated, powered off).

[0118] Each signal path of the transponder system 410 may be coupled to one of the outputs 422 (e.g., directly coupled, or coupled via amplifier 465 where applicable) and may be operable to receive a received beam signal from the beamforming network 420 (e.g., via port 411). In some implementations, the transponder system 410 may include one or more frequency converters between ports 411 and 412. For example, the transponder system 410 may downconvert a received beam signal (e.g., an uplink beam signal from the receive subsystem 407-a) from a first frequency range (e.g., an uplink frequency range, 81 GHz – 86 GHz) to an IF range to generate an IF signal using frequency converters 425 (e.g., downconverter, frequency converter 425-a, frequency converter 425-b), which receives the received beam signal and converts the frequency for the IF signal to the IF frequency range. In some examples, the IF frequency range may be 11 GHz – 16 GHz, or another frequency range with the same bandwidth as the first frequency range. In some cases, to support such frequency conversion, frequency converter 425 may receive, for example, from frequency generator 430 (e.g., from switching component 426-c, from input terminal 427-c-2) an oscillator signal having a first oscillator frequency (e.g., 70 GHz, to convert from the 81 GHz–86 GHz range to the 11 GHz–16 GHz range), and may output an IF signal having a frequency corresponding to the difference between the frequency of the received beam signal and the first oscillator frequency.

[0119] Additionally or alternatively, the transponder system 410 may downconvert a received beam signal (e.g., a crosslink beam signal from the receiving subsystem 407-b) from a second frequency range (e.g., a crosslink frequency range, 61 GHz – 66 GHz) to an IF frequency range to generate an IF signal using a frequency converter 425 that receives the second received beam signal and converts the frequency for the second IF signal to the IF frequency range. In some cases, to support this frequency conversion, the frequency converter 425 may receive, for example, an oscillator signal having a second oscillator frequency (e.g., 50 GHz, to convert from the 61 GHz – 66 GHz range to the 11 GHz – 16 GHz range) from a frequency generator 430 (e.g., from the switching component 426-c, from the input terminal 427-c-1), and may output a second IF signal having a frequency corresponding to the difference between the frequency of the second received beam signal and the second oscillator frequency.

[0120] In some examples, payload 400 may be considered a processing payload and may include circuitry for processing techniques such as analog-to-digital conversion, demodulation, signal extraction, demultiplexing, multiplexing, signal insertion, modulation, digital-to-analog conversion, and other processing techniques. In some such examples, such processing techniques may be implemented on the IF signal between frequency converter 425 and frequency converters 435 and 436. In some other examples, the payload may be considered a non-processing payload (e.g., in a bend-pipe payload configuration), and the IF signal may be forwarded by transponder system 410 without such processing techniques.

[0121] Along various signal paths, the transponder system 410 can also upconvert the IF signal from the IF frequency range to another frequency range, such as the downlink frequency range, to generate a downlink beam signal (e.g., a return link downlink beam signal, a forward link downlink beam signal), or upconvert it to a crosslink frequency range to generate a crosslink beam signal. For example, the transponder system 410 may include a frequency converter 435 (e.g., an upconverter, frequency converters 435-a and 435-b) that receives the IF signal and converts the frequency for the downlink beam signal to a third frequency range (e.g., the downlink frequency range). In some examples, the third frequency range may be 71 GHz – 76 GHz, or another frequency range having the same bandwidth as the first frequency range, the second frequency range, the IF frequency range, or a combination thereof. In some implementations, the first and third frequency ranges may not overlap, which allows various aspects of the receiving system 405 and the transmitting system 415 (e.g., antenna elements, signal processing hardware) to be configured according to different operating frequencies and avoids crosstalk between the transmitting system 415 and the receiving system 405. In some cases, to support such frequency conversion, the frequency converter 435 may receive an oscillator signal with a third oscillator frequency (e.g., 60 GHz, to convert from the 11 GHz–16 GHz range to the 71 GHz–76 GHz range) from the frequency generator 430 (e.g., from the oscillator 480-a), and may output a downlink beam signal (e.g., via port 412-a or 412-b) corresponding to the sum of the frequency of the IF signal and the third oscillator frequency.

[0122] The transponder system 410 may also include a frequency converter 436 that receives an IF signal (e.g., from switching components 426-a or 426-b) and converts the frequency for the crosslink beam signal to a second frequency range (e.g., 61 GHz – 66 GHz). In some cases, to support this frequency conversion, the frequency converter 436 may, for example, receive an oscillator signal with a second oscillator frequency (e.g., 50 GHz, converted from the 11 GHz – 16 GHz range to the 61 GHz – 66 GHz range) from a frequency generator 430, and may output a crosslink beam signal with a frequency corresponding to the sum of the frequency of the IF signal and the second oscillator frequency.

[0123] Transponder system 410 (e.g., frequency converter 435, frequency converter 436) can output one or more (e.g., one or two) downlink beam signals, or crosslink beam signals, or both, to transmitter system 415 (e.g., via one or more ports 412, via one or more ports 416), such as to beamforming network 440 (e.g., beamforming network 440-a, beamforming network 440-b, beamforming network 440-c, transmit beamformer). Each beamforming network 440 may include an input 442 (e.g., a single input) that can be configured to receive beam signals from transponder system 410 (via a corresponding port 416). In some examples, input 442 may be configured to receive downlink beam signals or crosslink beam signals in the same frequency range as the component signal to be transmitted. In some examples, beamforming networks 440-a and 440-b may be referred to as a single beamforming network 440 of transmit subsystem 417-a, which is configured to support directional transmission of a single corresponding beam 125 of each of the different polarizations supported by transmit array 250-b.

[0124] In some examples, input 442 can be supported by activating the associated amplifier 470. For at least some (if not all) of the antenna elements of transmit array 250-b or transmit array 270-b (e.g., where applicable), beamforming network 440 can apply a corresponding gain, a corresponding phase adjustment, a corresponding time adjustment, or any combination thereof to the beam signal to generate component signals (e.g., return link component signals, forward link component signals, cross link component signals) for the antenna elements. Such component signals can be provided to the antenna elements (e.g., to the corresponding first input port of the antenna element) such that transmit array 250-b or transmit array 270-b can transmit downlink beam signals or cross link beam signals according to the beamforming direction (e.g., the direction of transmit beam 125, according to the transmit beam weights configured by control system 460).

[0125] Frequency generator 430 can be implemented in various configurations to support frequency converters 425, 435, and 436 (e.g., to output oscillator signals at one or more frequencies). For example, frequency generator 430 can use one or more oscillators 480 (e.g., oscillator circuitry), or a combination of one or more oscillators 480 and one or more frequency converters 475, as well as other configurations to output one or more oscillator signals. In the example of payload 400, frequency generator 430 can be configured to use two oscillators 480 (e.g., at 60 GHz and 10 GHz) to generate oscillator signals at three frequencies (e.g., 70 GHz, 60 GHz, and 50 GHz). For example, oscillator 480-a can be configured to generate and output an oscillator signal with a third oscillator frequency (e.g., 60 GHz) (e.g., output to frequency converters 435-a, 435-b, 475-a, and 475-b). Oscillator 480-b can be configured to generate and output an oscillator signal with a fourth frequency (e.g., 10 GHz) (e.g., output to frequency converters 475-a and 475-b). In some other examples, frequency generator 430 may include three oscillators 480 that directly generate oscillator signals at their respective frequencies (e.g., 70 GHz, 60 GHz, and 50 GHz) for frequency converters 425, 435, and 436.

[0126] Oscillator 480-b can be used by frequency generator 430 to generate oscillator signals of other frequencies. For example, frequency generator 430 may include frequency converter 475-a that generates and outputs an oscillator signal having a first oscillator frequency (e.g., output to switching member 426-c), which is equal to the sum of the frequencies of oscillator 480-a and oscillator 480-b (e.g., 70 GHz as the sum of the third and fourth oscillator frequencies, or the sum of 60 GHz and 10 GHz). Frequency generator 430 may also include frequency converter 475-b that generates and outputs an oscillator signal having a second oscillator frequency (e.g., shown to switching member 426-c), which is equal to the difference between the frequencies of oscillator 480-a and oscillator 480-b (e.g., 50 GHz as the difference between the third and fourth oscillator frequencies, or the difference between 60 GHz and 10 GHz). However, other configurations of the frequency generator 430 may be implemented according to the described techniques, such as including a separate oscillator 480 for each oscillator frequency used by the frequency converters 425, 435 or 436 (e.g., omitting the frequency converter 475) and other implementations.

[0127] Payload 400 may include or implement positioning and steering system 485, which can manage operations related to modifying the orbital characteristics of satellite 120 including payload 400, such as modifying the orbital path of satellite 120 (e.g., velocity along the orbital path, altitude of the orbital path, heading of the orbital path) or the orientation of satellite 120 (e.g., for steering satellite 120 along the orbital path, for orienting axis 245 of receiver array 240-b, for orienting axis 255 of transmitter array 250-b, for orienting axis 265 of receiver array 260-b, for orienting axis 275 of transmitter array 270-b (where applicable), for orienting side 215 or side 315 of satellite 120, for orienting side 211 of satellite 120, for orienting side 212 of satellite 120, for orienting side 316 of satellite, or combinations thereof). For example, the positioning and steering system 485 may include a thruster 286, which is at least partially operated by the control system 460 to modify the orbital path of satellite 120. Additionally or alternatively, the positioning and steering system 485 may include an angular momentum system, such as a reaction wheel, a control moment gyroscope (CMG), or both. The control system 460 may implement the angular momentum system (e.g., to steer satellite 120 by converting angular momentum into electrical energy) to adjust the orientation of satellite 120, for example, to support improved communication of beam signals.

[0128] In some cases, payload 400 may receive power from satellite 120 (e.g., from solar elements 230 or 330), for example, using power system 408 (e.g., a direct current (DC) power converter). In some cases, power system 408 may include or be coupled to a power storage system (such as an onboard battery). Power system 408 may draw power from the battery to power various aspects of payload 400, transfer power to the battery, or both. Additionally or alternatively, power system 408 may be coupled to positioning and steering system 485. For example, power system 408 may draw power from an angular momentum system, transfer power to the angular momentum system, or both (e.g., to apply angular acceleration or deceleration to satellite 120).

[0129] In some cases, the control system 460 may operate based on signaling received from satellite 120. Such signaling may be associated with a frequency band centered on the IF frequency range (e.g., 13.5 GHz). For example, payload 400 may include an operation command receiver 462 that can decode commands (e.g., command messages) received by receiving system 405. In some examples, operation command receiver 462 may decode messages included in the forward uplink beam signal (e.g., commands from gateway terminal 130). For example, the signal path from receiving system 405 may include a coupler (not shown) that supports relaying at least a portion of the IF signal to both frequency converter 435-b and operation command receiver 462. The coupler may include one or more switches (e.g., operable using control system 460) to support relaying the IF signal to operation command receiver 462, may support signal addition (e.g., summation), or both, and other examples. In some cases, the operation command receiver 462 may receive a schedule including information such as beam weights (e.g., array beam pointing information for beamforming networks 420 and 440), commands for body steering maneuvers, beam hopping information, etc., which may be provided to the control system 460.

[0130] Additionally or alternatively, satellite 120 may use data link transmitter 467 (e.g., command transmitter) to transmit signaling to indicate the status of satellite 120. Such signaling may also be associated with a frequency band centered in the IF frequency range (e.g., 13.5 GHz). For example, data link transmitter 467 may generate beacons that include information such as telemetry, satellite 120 health status, payload status (e.g., payload 400 status), or other information. Data link transmitter 467 may transmit the generated beacon signal to a coupler (not shown) that can add the beacon signal to the downlink beam signal. For example, the coupler may include one or more switches or other circuitry that supports adding the beacon signal to the IF signal.

[0131] Therefore, payload 400 illustrates various examples for supporting communication with receiving system 405, transponder system 410, and transmitting system 415, which have specific ports assigned to specific types of communication and thus specific types of signaling characteristics. For example, receiving system 405 (e.g., its subsystem 407) may be configured for uplink frequency ranges (e.g., 81 GHz – 86 GHz) and crosslink frequency ranges (e.g., 61 GHz – 66 GHz, 66 GHz – 71 GHz), and transmitting system 415 (e.g., its subsystem) may be configured for downlink frequency ranges (e.g., 71 GHz – 76 GHz) and crosslink frequency ranges (e.g., 61 GHz – 66 GHz). Orthogonality of the different ports between forward, return, and crosslink communication at receiving system 405 and transmitting system 415 can be provided by different frequencies and orthogonal polarizations (such as assigning RHCP to return communication and LHCP to forward communication), where crosslink communication can be polarized or non-polarized.

[0132] Therefore, in some examples, the repeater system 410 may include: a single signal path for forward communication between the receiving system 405 and the transmitting system 415, the single signal path including a net frequency conversion from the uplink frequency range to the downlink frequency range and maintaining forward link polarization; a single signal path for return communication between the receiving system 405 and the transmitting system 415, the single signal path including a net frequency conversion from the uplink frequency range to the downlink frequency range and maintaining return link polarization association; and a single signal path for cross-link communication between the receiving system 405 and the transmitting system 415, the single signal path omitting frequency conversion (e.g., maintaining cross-link frequency range) and maintaining cross-link polarization or lacking cross-link polarization. Payload 400 also illustrates examples of input and output mappings for various relays and associated signal characteristic conversions between uplink, downlink, and cross-link signaling. Such a configuration can provide an effective means for one-way or multi-way forward and return signal relay in satellites 120 (e.g., satellite 120-a, satellite 120-b) including payloads 400, including such relays that may involve cross-link signaling with another satellite 120 or satellite 180.

[0133] In some examples, the gains for the forward link repeaters (e.g., between output 422-b and input 442-b), return link repeaters (e.g., between output 422-a and input 442-a), and cross-link repeaters (e.g., between output 422-c and input 442-c) of payload 400 may differ and be configured based on the corresponding signaling characteristics. For example, amplifier 465-a may be configured with a gain based on the transmit power of antenna assembly 151, amplifier 465-b may have a gain based on the transmit power of gateway antenna system 131, and amplifier 465-c may have a gain based on the transmit power of satellite 120 or satellite 180. Furthermore, amplifier 470-a may be configured with a gain based on the receive sensitivity of gateway antenna system 131, amplifier 470-b may have a gain based on the receive sensitivity of antenna assembly 151, and amplifier 470-c may have a gain based on the receive sensitivity of satellite 120 or satellite 180. In some examples, such gain can be biased to be more biased towards a particular type of communication relative to another type of communication. For example, a forward link transponder can be configured with a gain that is relatively higher or lower than that of a return link transponder (e.g., within a given power constraint of satellite 120 including payload 400), and other examples. Although amplifier 465 is shown as a component of receiving system 405 and amplifier 470 is shown as a component of transmitting system 415, in some other examples, amplifier 465, amplifier 470, or both can be considered as a component of transponder system 410, or otherwise configured to support a net gain of a given signal path of payload 400 for use with a particular type of communication with a particular type of device.

[0134] Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the configuration of the scan angles used for beamforming network 420 and beamforming network 420 may differ, such as between any combination of uplink, downlink, or crosslink communication, between forward and return communication, or combinations thereof, or other differences in various aspects of link balancing or biasing. For example, payload 400 may be configured to relay signaling with gateway terminal 130 within a relatively small portion of the service area, rather than being configured to relay signaling with user terminal 150. In such examples, beamforming network 420-b, beamforming network 440-a, or both may be configured according to a first scan angle range, and beamforming network 420-a, beamforming network 440-b, or both may be configured according to a second scan angle range greater than the first scan angle range. In some examples, the scanning angles for beamforming networks 420-c and 440-c (e.g., for cross-link reception or transmission) can be configured independently of beamforming networks 420-a, 420-b, 440-a, and 440-b.

[0135] Therefore, in some such examples, the communication system 100 may be configured such that the axis 245, axis 255, or both of the satellite 120 including the payload 400 may be more closely aligned with the gateway terminal 130 than with the user terminals 150 served by the gateway terminal 130. In some examples, to support communication within the coverage area via the gateway terminal 130, the satellite 120 including the payload 400 may be configured to orient itself in the positive z-direction toward the coverage area, within a first angular separation from the direction of the gateway terminal 130. With such an orientation, the satellite 120 may support communication with one or more user terminals 150, each positioned along a corresponding other direction within a second angular separation from the positive z-direction, wherein the second angular separation may be greater than the first angular separation.

[0136] Figures 5A to 5G An example of a payload implementation 500 supporting beam splitting in a satellite communication system, as disclosed herein, is shown. Each of the payload implementations 500 may be supported by satellite 120-c, which may be an example of aspects of satellite 120 (e.g., satellite 120-a, satellite 120-b) described herein. Satellite 120-c may include payload 400-a (e.g., some components are omitted for clarity), which may be a reference. Figure 4 An example of various aspects of the described payload 400. Payload 400-a may support one or more operating modes for satellite 120-c to relay communication between gateway antenna system 131 (e.g., associated with gateway terminal 130) and antenna assembly 151 (e.g., antenna assembly of user terminal 150), which may include cross-link relay via one or more other satellites 120 or 180 and other devices. To support such operating modes, payload 400-a may support one or more configurations (e.g., one or more signal path configurations, one or more relay configurations) that support return link signaling, forward link signaling, or combinations thereof. For example, payload 400-a may be configured to support signal path 505 such that each of signal paths 505 includes one of path 530 (e.g., a single forward path), path 535 (e.g., a single return path), or path 540 (e.g., a single cross-link path), and some of signal paths 505 also include path 545 (e.g., a transmission path).

[0137] To support various configurations or combinations thereof, satellite 120-c can be configured to orient itself in various directions (e.g., main steering, using control system 460, using positioning and steering system 485) to support the signal relay performance of payload 400-a (e.g., during the duration during which satellite 120-c traverses a portion of orbital path 520, when one or more signal paths 505 are activated). For example, satellite 120-c can be configured to steer a direction 515 from satellite 120-c (e.g., the axis of satellite 120-c or the axis from which the satellite originates), which may correspond to an outward direction from side 215, side 315, the positive z-direction of satellite 120-c, axis 245, axis 255, or a combination thereof. Additionally or alternatively, satellite 120-c may be configured to turn direction 511 from satellite 120-c (e.g., for an example where satellite 120-c includes a receiver array 260 for cross-link reception). For various configurations of receiver array 260, this direction may correspond to an outward direction from side 211, an outward direction from side 316, the positive x-direction of satellite 120-c, the negative z-direction of satellite 120-c, axis 265, or a combination thereof. Additionally or alternatively, satellite 120-c may be configured to turn direction 512 from satellite 120-c (e.g., for an example where satellite 120-c includes a transmitter array 270 for cross-link transmission). This direction may correspond to an outward direction from side 212, the negative x-direction of satellite 120-c, axis 275, or a combination thereof. In some other examples (e.g., when satellite 120-c includes a transmission array 250 configured for downlink and crosslink transmission), directions 515 and 512 can be equivalent.

[0138] In some examples, satellite 120-c may be oriented nadir-down, such that positioning and steering system 485 is configured to orient direction 515 toward the center of the Earth or at other angles relative to the Earth as the satellite travels along orbital path 520. In some other examples, positioning and steering system 485 may be configured to orient direction 515 toward target 510 as satellite 120-c traverses orbital path 520 (e.g., or orient direction 515 toward target 510 as satellite 120-c traverses a portion of orbital path 520 between positions 525). In some examples, target 510 may be a fixed location (e.g., a ground location, a location within a service area associated with one or more user terminals 150, a location within a service area associated with one or more gateway terminals 130, the center of a service area), and satellite 120-c may orient direction 515 toward target 510 continuously or discontinuously (e.g., according to multiple discrete steering pulses) between positions 525 of orbital path 520, among other examples. In some other examples, the control system 460 may be configured to orient the satellite 120-c relative to one or more target devices (e.g., direction 515, direction 511, direction 512, or a combination thereof), which may be based on one or more of the payload implementations 500 configured at the satellite 120-c at a given time.

[0139] Satellite 120-c can be configured to perform such operations in various ways. For example, satellite 120-c can determine such a configuration based on information stored at satellite 120-c, such as information about communication allocation, terminal location, characteristics of orbital path 520, information about target 510, and other information. In some examples, satellite 120-c can be configured by one or more controllers of ground segment 101, which may involve signaling one or more aspects of the aforementioned information from ground segment 101 to satellite 120-c (e.g., signals received earlier along orbital path 520 from gateway terminal 130 via uplink signals 132, 181, 183, 173, 175, or combinations thereof, which may be relayed via another satellite 120 or satellite 180). For example, network device 141 or gateway terminal 130 (e.g., network controller) can determine various aspects of the configuration of satellite 120-c to support one or more configurations for relay signaling (e.g., forward signaling or return signaling, which may involve cross-links), and satellite 120-c can be configured via signaling to satellite 120-c.

[0140] Figure 5AAn example of payload implementation 500-a supporting a first configuration of payload 400-a (e.g., a forward uplink to downlink relay configuration) is shown, which may include relay signaling from gateway antenna system 131-c to antenna assembly 151-c.

[0141] In the first configuration, the receiving system 405-a (e.g., receiving subsystem 407-a) can be configured to receive uplink signal 132-c (e.g., receiving beam signal, forward uplink signal, according to uplink frequency range, according to forward polarization) from the gateway antenna system 131-c according to beam 125-c-1 (e.g., receiving beam). Beam 125-c-1 can be formed using beamforming network 420-b, which can be configured by control system 460 (e.g., to implement receive beam weights aligned with directional reception along beam direction 127-c-1 at beamforming network 420-b to generate beam 125-c-1 according to a scan angle θ1 relative to direction 515).

[0142] To support the first configuration, the control system 460 can also be configured to activate (e.g., enable, configure) the signal path 505-a of the transponder system 410-a (e.g., including path 530), which couples port 411-b to port 412-b to route the beam signal from the receiving system 405-a to the transmitting system 415-a. This activation may include, for example, activating beamforming network 420-b or beamforming network 440-b, activating amplifier 465-b or amplifier 470-b, activating ports 406-b, 411-b, 412-b, 416-b or connections therebetween, activating path 530, activating frequency converter 425-b or 435-b, configuring switch 426-b to couple input 427-b to output 428-b-1, configuring switch 426-c to couple input 427-c-1 to output 428-c-2, or any combination thereof, and other activations. Therefore, signal path 505-a can realize frequency conversion of frequency converters 425-b and 435-b (e.g., to convert from the uplink frequency range to the IF range, and from the IF range to the downlink frequency range).

[0143] Therefore, in the first configuration, the transmitting system 415-a (e.g., the transmitting subsystem 417-a) can transmit a downlink signal 172-c (e.g., a transmit beam signal, a forward downlink signal, based on the downlink frequency range, based on the forward polarization) to the antenna assembly 151-c, which is at least partially based on the uplink signal 132-c (e.g., including information about the uplink signal, being a relay of the uplink signal). The transmitting system 415-a can transmit the downlink signal 172-c according to beam 125-c-2 (e.g., a transmit beam). Beam 125-c-2 can be formed using a beamforming network 440-b, which can be configured by the control system 460 (e.g., to implement transmit beam weights aligned with the directional transmission along the beam direction 127-c-2 at the beamforming network 440-b to generate beam 125-c-2 according to the scanning angle θ2).

[0144] In some implementations, the first configuration can be supported by turning direction 515 toward target 510-a (e.g., during the duration of satellite 120-c traversing between points 525-a-1 and 525-a-2). In some implementations, turning satellite 120-c to support the first configuration may be based at least in part on a combination of the position of gateway antenna system 131-c and the position of antenna assembly 151-c (e.g., in combination with the position of satellite 120-c). For example, positioning and turning system 485 may be configured to turn satellite 120-c at least in part based on the orientation of direction 515 relative to the position of gateway antenna system 131-c and the position of antenna assembly 151-c. In some examples, the orientation toward direction 515 may be determined based on beam performance (such as the roll-off characteristics of the receive array 240 and the transmit array 250, or the difference between the receive array and the transmit array) or the transmit and receive capabilities of the target device (e.g., antenna assembly 151-c, gateway antenna system 131-c), or a combination thereof (e.g., at satellite 120-c, at the network controller of ground segment 101). In some examples, as satellite 120-c traverses orbital path 520-a, the orientation toward direction 515 may be continuously calculated as an angle (e.g., bisecting the angle) between beam directions 127-c-1 and 127-c-2, which can mitigate the scan angles of beamforming networks 420 and 440 and improve signal integrity (e.g., by maintaining θ1 equal to θ2, or within a threshold difference of θ2, or by selecting θ1 and θ2 to support the same or similar scan roll-off characteristics or otherwise balancing link characteristics).

[0145] Figure 5BAn example of payload implementation 500-b is shown that supports a second configuration (e.g., a forward crosslink to downlink relay configuration) for payload 400-a, which may include relay signaling from satellite 120-d (e.g., in geostationary orbit or along NGSO) to antenna assembly 151-c.

[0146] In the second configuration, receiving system 405-a (e.g., receiving subsystem 407-b) can be configured to receive crosslink signal 175-d (e.g., forward crosslink signal, depending on the crosslink frequency range, crosslink polarization, or lack thereof) from satellite 120-d according to beam 125-d-1. Beam 125-d-1 can be formed using beamforming network 420-c, which can be configured by control system 460 (e.g., to implement receive beam weights aligned with directional reception along beam direction 127-d-1 at beamforming network 420-c to generate beam 125-d-1 according to a scan angle θ1 relative to direction 511).

[0147] To support the second configuration, the control system 460 can also be configured to activate (e.g., enable, configure) the signal path 505-b of the transponder system 410-a (e.g., including paths 545-a and 530), which couples port 411-c to port 412-b to route the beam signal from the receiving system 405-a to the transmitting system 415-a. Such activation may include, for example, activating beamforming network 420-c or beamforming network 440-b, activating amplifier 465-c or amplifier 470-b, activating ports 406-c, 411-c, 412-b, 416-b or connections therebetween, activating paths 545-a and 530, activating frequency converter 425-b or 435-b, configuring switch 426-b to couple input 427-b to output 428-b-1, configuring switch 426-c to couple input 427-c-2 to output 428-c-2, or any combination thereof, and other activations. Thus, signal path 505-b can enable frequency conversion of frequency converters 425-b and 435-b (e.g., conversion from crosslink frequency range to IF range, and conversion from IF range to downlink frequency range).

[0148] Therefore, in the second configuration, the transmitting system 415-a (e.g., the transmitting subsystem 417-a) can transmit a downlink signal 172-d (e.g., a forward downlink signal, based on the downlink frequency range and the forward link polarization) to the antenna assembly 151-c, which is at least partially based on the crosslink signal 175-d. The transmitting system 415-a can transmit the downlink signal 172-d according to beam 125-d-2. Beam 125-d-2 can be formed using a beamforming network 440-b, which can be configured by the control system 460 (e.g., to implement transmit beam weights aligned with the directional transmission along the beam direction 127-d-2 at the beamforming network 440-b, to generate beam 125-d-2 according to a scan angle θ2 relative to direction 515).

[0149] In some implementations, the second configuration can be supported by turning direction 515 toward target 510-b (e.g., during the duration of satellite 120-c traversing between points 525-b-1 and 525-b-2). In some implementations, turning satellite 120-c to support the second configuration may be based at least in part on a combination of the position of satellite 120-d and the position of antenna assembly 151-c (e.g., in combination with the position of satellite 120-c). For example, positioning and turning system 485 may be configured to turn satellite 120-d at least in part based on the orientation of direction 511 relative to the position of satellite 120-c and based on the orientation of direction 515 relative to the position of antenna assembly 151-c. In some examples, the orientation for directions 511 and 515 may be determined based on beam performance (such as the roll-off characteristics of the receiver array 260 and the transmitter array 250, or the difference between the receiver array and the transmitter array) or the transmit and receive capabilities of the target equipment (e.g., satellite 120-d, antenna assembly 151-c) or a combination thereof (e.g., at satellite 120-c, at the network controller of ground segment 101). In some examples, the orientation for directions 511 and 515 may be calculated continuously as satellite 120-c traverses orbital path 520-b, which may mitigate the scan angles of beamforming networks 420 and 440 and improve signal integrity (e.g., by maintaining θ1 equal to θ2 or within a threshold difference of θ2, or by selecting θ1 and θ2 to support the same or similar scan roll-off characteristics or otherwise balancing link characteristics).

[0150] Figure 5C An example of payload implementation 500-c supporting a third configuration (e.g., a forward uplink to crosslink relay configuration) for payload 400-a is shown. This third configuration may include relay signaling from gateway antenna system 131-c to satellite 120-d (e.g., in geostationary orbit or along NGSO).

[0151] In the third configuration, the receiving system 405-a (e.g., receiving subsystem 407-a) can be configured to receive uplink signal 132-e (e.g., forward uplink signal, based on the uplink frequency range, based on forward polarization) from the gateway antenna system 131-c according to beam 125-e-1. Beam 125-e-1 can be formed using beamforming network 420-b, which can be configured by control system 460 (e.g., to implement receive beam weights aligned with directional reception along beam direction 127-e-1 at beamforming network 420-b, to generate beam 125-e-1 according to a scan angle θ1 relative to direction 515).

[0152] To support a third configuration, the control system 460 can also be configured to activate (e.g., enable, configure) the signal path 505-c of the transponder system 410-a (e.g., including paths 545-b and 540), which couples port 411-b to port 412-c to route beam signals from the receiving system 405-a to the transmitting system 415-a. Such activation may include, for example, activating beamforming network 420-b or beamforming network 440-c, activating amplifier 465-b or amplifier 470-c, activating ports 406-b, 411-b, 412-c, 416-c or connections therebetween, activating paths 545-b and 540, activating frequency converter 425-b or 436, configuring switch 426-b to couple input 427-b to output 428-b-2, configuring switch 426-c to couple input 427-c-1 to output 428-c-2, or any combination thereof, and other activations. Thus, signal path 505-c can enable frequency conversion of frequency converters 425-b and 436 (e.g., conversion from uplink frequency range to IF range, and conversion from IF range to crosslink frequency range).

[0153] Therefore, in the third configuration, the transmission system 415-a (e.g., transmission subsystem 417-a or 417-b, depending on which is configured for crosslink transmission) can transmit a crosslink signal 175-e (e.g., a forward crosslink signal, depending on the crosslink frequency range, crosslink polarization, or lack thereof) to satellite 120-d, which is at least partially based on the uplink signal 132-e. The transmission system 415-a can transmit the crosslink signal 175-e according to beam 125-e-2. Beam 125-e-2 can be formed using a beamforming network 440-c, which, for example, can be configured by the control system 460 (e.g., to implement transmit beam weights aligned with directional transmission along beam direction 127-e-2 at beamforming network 440-c to generate beam 125-e-2 according to a scan angle θ2 relative to direction 512).

[0154] In some implementations, the third configuration can be supported by turning direction 515 toward target 510-c (e.g., during the duration of satellite 120-c's transit between points 525-c-1 and 525-c-2). In some implementations, turning satellite 120-c to support the third configuration can be based at least in part on a combination of the position of gateway antenna system 131-c and the position of satellite 120-d (e.g., in combination with the position of satellite 120-c). For example, positioning and turning system 485 can be configured to turn satellite 120-d at least in part based on the orientation of direction 515 relative to the position of gateway antenna system 131-c and the orientation of direction 512 relative to the position of satellite 120-c. In some examples, the orientation of directions 515 and 512 may be determined based on beam performance (such as the roll-off characteristics of the receive array 240 and the transmit array 250 or 270, or the difference between the receive array and the transmit array) or the transmit and receive capabilities of the target device (e.g., gateway antenna system 131-c, satellite 120-d) or a combination thereof (e.g., at satellite 120-c, at the network controller of ground segment 101). In some examples, as satellite 120-c traverses orbital path 520-c, the orientation of directions 515 and 512 may be continuously calculated as an angle (e.g., bisecting the angle) between beam directions 127-e-1 and 127-e-2, which can mitigate the scan angles of beamforming networks 420 and 440 and improve signal integrity (e.g., by maintaining θ1 equal to θ2, or within a threshold difference of θ2, or selecting θ1 and θ2 to support the same or similar scan roll-off characteristics or otherwise balance link characteristics).

[0155] Figure 5DAn example of payload implementation 500-d supporting a fourth configuration of payload 400-a (e.g., a cross-link to cross-link relay configuration for forward or return relay) is shown. This fourth configuration may include relay signaling from satellite 120-d-1 to satellite 120-d-2 (e.g., each in geostationary orbit or traveling along NGSO).

[0156] In the fourth configuration, receiving system 405-a (e.g., receiving subsystem 407-b) can be configured to receive crosslink signal 175-f-1 from satellite 120-d-1 according to beam 125-f-1 (e.g., forward receiving crosslink signal or return receiving crosslink signal, depending on the crosslink frequency range, crosslink polarization, or lack thereof). Beam 125-f-1 can be formed using beamforming network 420-c, which can be configured by control system 460 (e.g., to implement receive beam weights aligned with directional reception along beam direction 127-f-1 at beamforming network 420-c to generate beam 125-f-1 according to a scan angle θ1 relative to direction 511).

[0157] To support the fourth configuration, the control system 460 can also be configured to activate (e.g., enable, configure) the signal path 505-d of the transponder system 410-a (e.g., including path 540), which couples port 411-c to port 412-c to route beam signals from the receiving system 405-a to the transmitting system 415-a. This activation may include, for example, activating beamforming network 420-c or beamforming network 440-c, activating amplifier 465-c or amplifier 470-c, activating ports 406-c, 411-c, 412-c, 416-c or connections therebetween, activating path 540, or any combination thereof, and other activations. Therefore, signal path 505-d can be implemented without frequency switching (e.g., maintaining signaling within the cross-link frequency range).

[0158] Therefore, in the fourth configuration, the transmission system 415-a (e.g., transmission subsystems 417-a or 417-b, depending on which is configured for crosslink transmission) can transmit a crosslink signal 175-f-2 to satellite 120-d-2 (e.g., forward transmission of the crosslink signal, return transmission of the crosslink signal, depending on the crosslink frequency range, depending on the crosslink polarization, or lack thereof), which is at least partially based on crosslink signal 175-f-1. The transmission system 415-a can transmit the crosslink signal 175-f-2 according to beam 125-f-2. Beam 125-f-2 can be formed using beamforming network 440-c, which can be configured by control system 460 (e.g., to implement transmit beam weights aligned with directional transmission along beam direction 127-f-2 at beamforming network 440-c to generate beam 125-f-2 according to scan angle θ2 relative to direction 512).

[0159] In some implementations, the fourth configuration can be supported by turning direction 515 toward target 510-d (e.g., during the duration of satellite 120-c's transit between points 525-d-1 and 525-d-2). In some implementations, turning satellite 120-c to support the fourth configuration may be based at least in part on a combination of the positions of satellite 120-d-1 and satellite 120-d-2 (e.g., in combination with the position of satellite 120-c). For example, positioning and turning system 485 may be configured to turn satellite 120-c at least in part based on the orientation of direction 511 relative to the position of satellite 120-d-1 and the orientation of direction 512 relative to the position of satellite 120-d-2. In some examples, the orientation toward directions 515, 511, or 512 may be determined based on beam performance (such as the roll-off characteristics of the receiver array 260 and the transmitter array 250 or 270, or the difference between the receiver array and the transmitter array) or the transmit and receive capabilities of the target equipment (e.g., satellites 120-d-1 and 120-d-2) or a combination thereof (e.g., at satellite 120-c, at the network controller of ground segment 101). In some examples, the orientation toward directions 515, 511, or 512 may be calculated continuously as satellite 120-c traverses orbital path 520-d, which may mitigate the scan angles of beamforming networks 420 and 440 and improve signal integrity (e.g., by maintaining θ1 equal to θ2 or within a threshold difference of θ2, or by selecting θ1 and θ2 to support the same or similar scan roll-off characteristics or otherwise balancing link characteristics).

[0160] Figure 5EAn example of payload implementation 500-e is shown that supports a fifth configuration (e.g., a return-to-uplink-to-crosslink relay configuration) of payload 400-a, which may include relay signaling from antenna assembly 151-c to satellite 120-d (e.g., in geostationary orbit or along NGSO).

[0161] In the fifth configuration, the receiving system 405-a (e.g., receiving subsystem 407-a) can be configured to receive uplink signal 173-g from antenna assembly 151-c according to beam 125-g-1 (e.g., return uplink signal, according to the uplink frequency range, according to the return polarization). Beam 125-g-1 can be formed using beamforming network 420-a, which can be configured by control system 460 (e.g., to implement receive beam weights aligned with directional reception along beam direction 127-g-1 at beamforming network 420-a, to generate beam 125-g-1 according to a scan angle θ1 relative to direction 515).

[0162] To support the fifth configuration, the control system 460 can also be configured to activate (e.g., enable, configure) the signal path 505-e of the transponder system 410-a (e.g., including paths 545-c and 540), which couples port 411-a to port 412-c to route the beam signal from the receiving system 405-a to the transmitting system 415-a. Such activation may include, for example, activating beamforming network 420-a or beamforming network 440-c, activating amplifier 465-a or amplifier 470-c, activating ports 406-a, 411-a, 412-c, 416-c or connections therebetween, activating paths 545-c and 540, activating frequency converter 425-a or 436, configuring switch 426-a to couple input 427-a to output 428-a-2, configuring switch 426-c to couple input 427-c-1 to output 428-c-1, or any combination thereof, and other activations. Therefore, signal path 505-e can enable frequency conversion of frequency converters 425-a and 436 (e.g., conversion from uplink frequency range to IF range, and conversion from IF range to crosslink frequency range).

[0163] Therefore, in the fifth configuration, the transmission system 415-a (e.g., transmission subsystem 417-a or 417-b, depending on which is configured for crosslink transmission) can transmit a crosslink signal 175-g (e.g., a forward crosslink signal, depending on the crosslink frequency range, crosslink polarization, or lack thereof) to satellite 120-d, which is at least partially based on the uplink signal 173-g. The transmission system 415-a can transmit the crosslink signal 175-g according to beam 125-g-2. Beam 125-g-2 can be formed using a beamforming network 440-c, which, for example, can be configured by the control system 460 (e.g., to implement transmit beam weights aligned with directional transmission along beam direction 127-g-2 at beamforming network 440-c to generate beam 125-g-2 according to a scan angle θ2 relative to direction 512).

[0164] In some implementations, the fifth configuration can be supported by turning direction 515 toward target 510-e (e.g., during the duration of satellite 120-c's transit between points 525-e-1 and 525-e-2). In some implementations, turning satellite 120-c to support the fifth configuration can be based at least in part on a combination of the position of antenna assembly 151-c and the position of satellite 120-d (e.g., in combination with the position of satellite 120-c). For example, positioning and turning system 485 can be configured to turn satellite 120-c at least in part based on the orientation of direction 515 relative to the position of antenna assembly 151-c and the orientation of direction 512 relative to the position of satellite 120-d. In some examples, the orientation of directions 515 and 512 may be determined based on beam performance (such as the roll-off characteristics of the receive array 240 and the transmit array 250 or 270, or the difference between the receive array and the transmit array) or the transmit and receive capabilities of the target device (e.g., antenna assembly 151-c, satellite 120-d) or a combination thereof (e.g., at satellite 120-c, at the network controller of ground segment 101). In some examples, as satellite 120-c traverses orbital path 520-e, the orientation of directions 515 and 512 may be continuously calculated as an angle (e.g., bisecting the angle) between beam directions 127-g-1 and 127-g-2, which can mitigate the scan angles of beamforming networks 420 and 440 and improve signal integrity (e.g., by maintaining θ1 equal to θ2, or within a threshold difference of θ2, or selecting θ1 and θ2 to support the same or similar scan roll-off characteristics or otherwise balance link characteristics).

[0165] Figure 5FAn example of payload implementation 500-f is shown that supports a sixth configuration (e.g., a cross-link to downlink relay configuration) for payload 400-a, which may include relay signaling from satellite 120-d (e.g., in geostationary orbit or along NGSO) to gateway antenna system 131-c.

[0166] In the sixth configuration, receiving system 405-a (e.g., receiving subsystem 407-b) can be configured to receive crosslink signal 175-h from satellite 120-d according to beam 125-h-1 (e.g., return crosslink signal, based on crosslink frequency range, based on crosslink polarization, or lack thereof). Beam 125-h-1 can be formed using beamforming network 420-c, which can be configured by control system 460 (e.g., to implement receive beam weights aligned with directional reception along beam direction 127-h-1 at beamforming network 420-c, to generate beam 125-h-1 according to a scan angle θ1 relative to direction 511).

[0167] To support the sixth configuration, the control system 460 can also be configured to activate (e.g., enable, configure) the signal path 505-f of the transponder system 410-a (e.g., including paths 545-d and 535), which couples port 411-c to port 412-a to route the beam signal from the receiving system 405-a to the transmitting system 415-a. Such activation may include, for example, activating beamforming network 420-c or beamforming network 440-a, activating amplifier 465-c or amplifier 470-a, activating ports 406-c, 411-c, 412-a, 416-a or connections therebetween, activating paths 545-d and 535, activating frequency converter 425-a or 435-a, configuring switch 426-a to couple input 427-a to output 428-a-1, configuring switch 426-c to couple input 427-c-2 to output 428-c-1, or any combination thereof, and other activations. Therefore, signal path 505-f can enable frequency conversion of frequency converters 425-b and 435-b (e.g., conversion from crosslink frequency range to IF range, and conversion from IF range to downlink frequency range).

[0168] Therefore, in the sixth configuration, the transmitting system 415-a (e.g., the transmitting subsystem 417-a) can transmit a downlink signal 133-h to the gateway antenna system 131-c (e.g., a return downlink signal, based on the downlink frequency range and the return link polarization), which is at least partially based on the crosslink signal 175-h. The transmitting system 415-a can transmit the downlink signal 133-h according to beam 125-h-2. Beam 125-h-2 can be formed using a beamforming network 440-a, which, for example, can be configured by the control system 460 (e.g., to implement transmit beam weights aligned with directional transmission along beam direction 127-h-2 at the beamforming network 440-a, to generate beam 125-h-2 according to a scan angle θ2 relative to direction 515).

[0169] In some implementations, the sixth configuration can be supported by turning direction 515 toward target 510-f (e.g., during the duration of satellite 120-c's transit between points 525-f-1 and 525-f-2). In some implementations, turning satellite 120-c to support the sixth configuration may be based at least in part on a combination of the position of satellite 120-d and the position of gateway antenna system 131-c (e.g., in combination with the position of satellite 120-c). For example, positioning and turning system 485 may be configured to turn satellite 120-c at least in part based on the orientation of direction 511 relative to the position of satellite 120-d and the orientation of direction 515 relative to the position of gateway antenna system 131-c. In some examples, the orientation for directions 515 and 511 may be determined based on beam performance (such as the roll-off characteristics of the receiver array 260 and the transmitter array 250, or the difference between the receiver array and the transmitter array) or the transmit and receive capabilities of the target equipment (e.g., satellite 120-d, gateway antenna system 131-c), or a combination thereof (e.g., at satellite 120-c, at the network controller of ground segment 101). In some examples, the orientation for directions 515 and 511 may be calculated continuously as satellite 120-c traverses orbital path 520-f, which can mitigate the scan angles of beamforming networks 420 and 440 and improve signal integrity (e.g., by maintaining θ1 equal to θ2 or within a threshold difference of θ2, or by selecting θ1 and θ2 to support the same or similar scan roll-off characteristics or otherwise balancing link characteristics).

[0170] Figure 5G An example of payload implementation 500-g supporting a seventh configuration (e.g., a return-to-uplink-to-downlink relay configuration) for payload 400-a is shown, which may include relay signaling from antenna assembly 151-c to gateway antenna system 131-c.

[0171] In the seventh configuration, the receiving system 405-a (e.g., receiving subsystem 407-a) can be configured to receive uplink signal 173-i from antenna assembly 151-c according to beam 125-i-1 (e.g., return uplink signal, according to the uplink frequency range, according to the return link polarization). Beam 125-i-1 can be formed using beamforming network 420-a, which can be configured by control system 460 (e.g., to implement receive beam weights aligned with directional reception along beam direction 127-i-1 at beamforming network 420-a, to generate beam 125-i-1 according to a scan angle θ1 relative to direction 515).

[0172] To support the seventh configuration, the control system 460 can also be configured to activate (e.g., enable, configure) the signal path 505-g (e.g., including path 535) of the transponder system 410-a, which couples port 411-a to port 412-a to route the beam signal from the receiving system 405-a to the transmitting system 415-a. This activation may include, for example, activating beamforming network 420-a or beamforming network 440-a, activating amplifier 465-a or amplifier 470-a, activating ports 406-a, 411-a, 412-a, 416-a or connections therebetween, activating path 535, activating frequency converter 425-a or 435-a, configuring switch 426-a to couple input 427-a to output 428-a-1, configuring switch 426-c to couple input 427-c-1 to output 428-c-1, or any combination thereof, and other activations. Therefore, signal path 505-g can realize frequency conversion of frequency converters 425-a and 435-a (e.g., to convert from uplink frequency range to IF range, and from IF range to downlink frequency range).

[0173] Therefore, in the seventh configuration, the transmitting system 415-a (e.g., the transmitting subsystem 417-a) can transmit a downlink signal 133-i to the gateway antenna system 131-c (e.g., a return downlink signal, based on the downlink frequency range and the return link polarization), which is at least partially based on the uplink signal 173-i. The transmitting system 415-a can transmit the downlink signal 133-i according to beam 125-i-2. Beam 125-i-2 can be formed using a beamforming network 440-a, which, for example, can be configured by the control system 460 (e.g., to implement transmit beam weights aligned with the directional transmission along beam direction 127-i-2 at the beamforming network 440-a, to generate beam 125-i-2 according to a scan angle θ2 relative to direction 515).

[0174] In some implementations, the seventh configuration can be supported by turning direction 515 toward target 510-g (e.g., during the duration of satellite 120-c traversing between points 525-g-1 and 525-g-2). In some implementations, turning satellite 120-c to support the seventh configuration may be based at least in part on a combination of the position of gateway antenna system 131-c and the position of antenna assembly 151-c (e.g., in combination with the position of satellite 120-c). For example, positioning and turning system 485 may be configured to turn satellite 120-c at least in part based on the orientation of direction 515 relative to the position of gateway antenna system 131-c and the position of antenna assembly 151-c. In some examples, the orientation toward direction 515 may be determined based on beam performance (such as the roll-off characteristics of the receive array 240 and the transmit array 250, or the difference between the receive array and the transmit array) or the transmit and receive capabilities of the target device (e.g., antenna assembly 151-c, gateway antenna system 131-c), or a combination thereof (e.g., at satellite 120-c, at the network controller of ground segment 101). In some examples, as satellite 120-c traverses orbital path 520-g, the orientation toward direction 515 may be continuously calculated as an angle (e.g., bisecting the angle) between beam directions 127-i-1 and 127-i-2, which can mitigate the scan angles of beamforming networks 420 and 440 and improve signal integrity (e.g., by maintaining θ1 equal to θ2, or within a threshold difference of θ2, or by selecting θ1 and θ2 to support the same or similar scan roll-off characteristics or otherwise balancing link characteristics).

[0175] Although payload implementation 500 is shown and described separately, satellite 120-c, which includes payload 400-a, can support a mode in which multiple payload implementations 500 coexist.

[0176] In some examples, satellite 120-c may be operable to support any pair of configurations implementing different ports 406 (e.g., supporting any two of forward, return, or cross-link reception) and different ports 416. In some examples (e.g., in a power-constrained configuration), satellite 120-c may be operable to support signal paths for beamforming network 440-b implementing beamforming network 440-a (e.g., for transmitting return downlink signaling) and beamforming network 440-b or beamforming network 440-c (e.g., for transmitting forward downlink signaling or cross-link signaling, but not both, depending on the configuration of satellite 120-a), or for transmitting forward downlink signaling or cross-link signaling (e.g., depending on the configuration of satellite 120-b). For example, if any one of signal paths 505-a through 505-d is enabled, the other signal paths among these signal paths can be disabled. Additionally or alternatively, if any of signal paths 505-e to 505-g are enabled, the other signal paths in these signal paths may be disabled.

[0177] In some examples, for a mode supporting bidirectional repeaters without cross-links, satellite 120-c can be configured to enable signal paths 505-a and 505-g (e.g., concurrently), and in this mode, satellite 120-c can be configured to disable other signal paths 505-b to 505-f (e.g., disable amplifiers 465-c and 470-c, disable beamforming networks 420-c and 440-c, disable ports 406-c, 411-c, 412-c, 416-c or connections between them, disable switching component 426-d or their interconnections, and other disables). In some other examples (e.g., in a non-power-limited configuration, when available power meets a threshold), for a mode supporting tridirectional repeaters, satellite 120-c can be configured to concurrently enable signal paths 505-a, 505-d, and 505-g.

[0178] In another example, for a first mode supporting bidirectional relay with forward cross-links, satellite 120-c can be configured to enable signal paths 505-b and 505-g, and in this mode, satellite 120-c can be configured to disable signal paths 505-a and 505-c through 505-f. In another example, for a second mode supporting bidirectional relay with forward cross-links, satellite 120-c can be configured to enable signal paths 505-c and 505-g, and in this mode, satellite 120-c can be configured to disable signal paths 505-a, 505-b, and 505-d through 505-f.

[0179] In another example, for a first mode supporting bidirectional relay with a return cross-link, satellite 120-c can be configured to enable signal paths 505-a and 505-e, and in this mode, the satellite can be configured to disable other signal paths 505-b through 505-d, 505-f, and 505-g. In another example, for a second mode supporting bidirectional relay with a return cross-link, satellite 120-c can be configured to enable signal paths 505-a and 505-f, and in this mode, the satellite can be configured to disable other signal paths 505-b through 505-e and 505-g.

[0180] In another example, for a mode that supports return relay and cross-link relay (e.g., in a power-limited configuration), satellite 120-c can be configured to enable signal paths 505-d and 505-g, and in this mode, satellite 120-c can be configured to disable signal paths 505-a through 505-c, 505-e, and 505-f.

[0181] In each of these examples, the steering of satellite 120-c can be balanced between one or more enabled configurations, such as minimizing the scan angle, balancing or biasing link characteristics, and other considerations.

[0182] Therefore, satellite 120-c can operate in different modes, which can implement configurations one through seven or combinations thereof (e.g., concurrently for two-way relay, for three-way relay). In some examples, orienting satellite 120-c may also include rotating satellite 120-c about its central axis (e.g., about the z-direction, about direction 515, when signal paths 505-a and / or 505-g are enabled). For example, control system 460 may configure positioning and steering system 485 to rotate satellite 120-c about the z-direction (e.g., about direction 515) based on antenna parameters (e.g., the directional sensitivity of receiver array 240, receiver array 260, transmitter array 250, or transmitter array 270 along the x-direction, along the y-direction, or both), or satellite 120-c may be oriented to improve energy harvesting using solar elements 230 or 330, and other examples.

[0183] In some implementations, satellite 120 may be configured to communicate with a relatively wide bandwidth compared to user terminal 150. For example, satellite 120 (e.g., payload 400, receiver array 240, transmitter array 250, receiver array 260, transmitter array 270, payload implementation 500) may be configured to transmit (e.g., transmit, receive) signaling using beam 125 with a system bandwidth of 5 GHz, while user terminal 150 (e.g., user terminal antenna 155, user terminal controller 158) may be configured to transmit (e.g., receive, transmit) signaling using a user bandwidth of 1 GHz or some other bandwidth less than 5 GHz. When user terminals 150 are relatively dispersed at different locations (e.g., along a different direction from satellite 120), some implementations may involve beam hopping or other techniques to direct different beams 125 to different locations. However, when communicating with a relatively small number of user terminals 150, if the number of user terminals 150 located within the beam coverage area 126 is insufficient to utilize the full bandwidth of satellite 120, some capacity of satellite 120 may remain unused (e.g., unallocated). Therefore, according to the examples disclosed herein, satellite 120 may be configured to transmit (e.g., transmit, receive) using a single beam 125 (e.g., a 5 GHz beam) with multiple lobes (e.g., multiple directions with local peak signal strength, multiple directions with local peak receiver sensitivity) or other frequency division multiplexing signaling, which carries frequency division multiplexing unicast communication (e.g., corresponding signal 172, corresponding signal 173, in the 1 GHz band) to or from user terminals 150 that are originally dispersed outside the beam coverage area 126 of the narrower focused beam 125.

[0184] Figure 6An example of a communication system implementation 600 (e.g., an implementation of communication system 100) supporting beam splitting in a satellite communication system, as disclosed herein, is shown. Communication system implementation 600 may include satellite 120-e, which implements one or more aspects of payload 400 (e.g., according to one or more payload implementations 500). Satellite 120-e may relay communication between one or more gateway terminals 130 (e.g., via a corresponding gateway antenna system 131) and one or more user terminals 150 (e.g., via a corresponding antenna assembly 151), in some cases of which the relay may include cross-link relay via one or more other satellites 120 or 180 and other equipment (not shown). To support such communication, satellite 120-e may be configured to steer itself in various directions (e.g., using a control system, using a positioning and steering system for orientation, body steering) to support the signal relay performance of payload 400 during duration 605-a, during which satellite 120-e traverses one or more portions of orbital path 520-h (e.g., the path of NGSO).

[0185] For example, satellite 120-e may be configured to turn direction 515-a from satellite 120-e, which may correspond to a direction outward from side 215 or side 315, or the positive z-direction of satellite 120-e, or axis 245 and / or axis 255 (e.g., the line-of-sight direction of the phased array antenna of satellite 120-e) or a combination thereof, and other examples. In some examples, the positioning and steering system may be configured to orient direction 515-a toward position 510-h (e.g., the target position) when satellite 120-e traverses orbital path 520-h (e.g., when serving communications including gateway terminal 130-d, user terminals 150-d-1, 150-d-2, 150-d-3, 150-d-4 and 150-d-5 or a combination thereof or their associated service area). The service area can be a geographical coverage area associated with a corresponding set of one or more gateway terminals 130 or a corresponding set of one or more user terminals 150, or both. In some implementations, location 510-h can be a fixed location associated with the service area (e.g., a ground location, a central location). In some other examples, location 510-h can be based, at least in part, on the location (e.g., orientation) of user terminals 150-d-1 to 150-d-5, or the location of gateway terminal 130-d, or a combination thereof (e.g., a location supporting signal relay between gateway terminal 130-d and user terminals 150-d-1 to 150-d-5).

[0186] When serving communications within the service area (e.g., during a duration of 605-a while traversing orbital path 520-h), satellite 120-e may continuously or discontinuously (e.g., according to multiple discrete steering pulses) steer direction 515-a (e.g., causing satellite 120-e to perform a main steering) toward position 510-h between positions on orbital path 520-h, and other examples. In some examples, position 510-h may be the center location of the service area (e.g., the center), and aligning direction 515-a toward position 510-h for duration 605-a facilitates relatively small scan angles (e.g., scan angles within a threshold) for beamforming of beam 125 toward different locations within the service area (e.g., along various directions, toward user terminal 150 toward user beam 125, toward gateway terminal 130 toward gateway beam 125), such as in a configuration where direction 515 is aligned with gateway terminal 130 at one end of the service area and user terminal 150 serving satellite 120-e at the other end of the service area, and other implementations.

[0187] Satellite 120-e can support communication services (e.g., relaying communication between them) for at least a portion of duration 605-a for one or more gateway terminals 130 (e.g., gateway terminal 130-d) and one or more user terminals 150 (e.g., user terminals 150-d-1 to 150-d-5). For example, one or more entities of communication system 100 (e.g., one or more entities of ground segment 101, gateway terminal 130-d, network device 141 (such as a scheduling entity communicating with gateway terminal 130-d), or a combination thereof) can identify forward link communication for relaying to user terminals 150-d-1 to 150-d-5 via satellite 120-e according to one or more time slots (e.g., during one or more time slots). In some examples, at least some of such signals (if not every one of them) may include unicast data for user terminals 150-d-1 to 150-d-5, or may include multicast data for a subset of fewer than all user terminals 150-d-1 to 150-d-5, and other examples. Therefore, based at least in part on identifying the different forward link communications of user terminals 150-d-1 to 150-d-5, communication system 100 may generate a composite signal 610-a for transmission by gateway terminal 130-d, which includes multiple different forward uplink signals 132-j to be relayed via satellite 120-e (e.g., forward uplink signal 132-j-1 for user terminal 150-d-1, forward uplink signal 132-j-2 for user terminal 150-d-2, etc.).

[0188] In some examples, the gateway terminal 130 and satellite 120 of communication system 100 may be configured for signaling using a first bandwidth (e.g., system bandwidth, relay bandwidth, 5 GHz bandwidth), and the user terminal 150 of communication system 100 may be configured for signaling using a second bandwidth (e.g., channel bandwidth, carrier bandwidth, subband, 1 GHz bandwidth) less than the first bandwidth. In some examples, implementing a smaller bandwidth at user terminal 150 can support relatively low-cost user terminal antenna 155 or associated signal processing circuitry (e.g., modem of user terminal controller 158) and other cost reductions for user terminal 150 compared to other implementations configured to support larger bandwidths. Therefore, in some examples, communication system 100 may generate a composite signal 610-a for use in an uplink frequency range F with a first bandwidth. UL Internal transmission enables the forward uplink signal 132-j to operate within the uplink frequency range F. UL Frequency division multiplexing is performed between corresponding portions (e.g., channel, carrier sub-channel, sub-band, portion with second bandwidth). For example, according to time slot t1, composite signal 610-a may include forward uplink signal 132-j-1 allocated to a first uplink channel (e.g., f1u), forward uplink signal 132-j-2 allocated to a second uplink channel (e.g., f2u), and so on. For which the uplink signal is configured in F... UL = For example, within the frequency range of 81 GHz–86 GHz, f1u may correspond to the frequency range of 81 GHz–82 GHz, f2u may correspond to the frequency range of 82 GHz–83 GHz, and so on. Furthermore, the composite signal 610-a may be transmitted by the gateway terminal 130-d according to forward polarization (e.g., LHCP).

[0189] To receive the composite signal 610-a (e.g., according to time slot t1), satellite 120-e can be configured (e.g., by one or more entities of ground segment 101, such as gateway terminal 130-d or a scheduling entity, by satellite 120-e itself, or a combination thereof) to generate a forward uplink beam 125-j-1 (e.g., a receiving beam for directional reception) along a beam direction 127-j-1 toward the location of gateway terminal 130-d, such that the gateway terminal is included in the beam coverage area 126-j-1. The forward uplink beam 125-j-1 can be formed using a beamforming network (e.g., beamforming network 420), which can be configured by control system 460 (e.g., to implement beamforming weights at beamforming network 420 to align directional reception along beam direction 127-j-1 to generate beam 125-j-1). Therefore, satellite 120-e can receive composite signal 610-a (e.g., as a composite of forward uplink signal 132-j, using receiving system 405, using receiving array 240) and forward the received signaling via transponder system 410 (e.g., via a single forward link transponder, along the enabled signal path 505-a). The signal path of transponder system 410 may include one or more frequency converters (e.g., frequency converter 425 for conversion from uplink frequency range to IF range, frequency converter 435 for conversion from IF range to downlink frequency range), such that satellite 120-e can be configured to transmit composite signal 620-a (e.g., a frequency-converted composite signal to relay composite signal 610-a), which includes multiple different forward downlink signals 172-j (e.g., forward downlink signal 172-j-1 for user terminal 150-d-1, forward downlink signal 172-j-2 for user terminal 150-d-2, etc.).

[0190] Composite signal 620-a can be configured for use in a downlink frequency range F with a first bandwidth (e.g., system bandwidth). DL Internal transmission causes the forward downlink signal 172-j to be emitted in the frequency range F. DL Frequency division multiplexing is performed between corresponding portions (e.g., channel, carrier sub-channel, sub-band, portion with second bandwidth). For example, according to time slot t1, composite signal 620-a may include a forward downlink signal 172-j-1 allocated to a first downlink channel (e.g., f1d), a forward downlink signal 172-j-2 allocated to a second downlink channel (e.g., f2d), and so on. For which the downlink signal is configured in F... DL= Examples within the frequency range of 71 GHz–76 GHz, f1d may correspond to the frequency range of 71 GHz–72 GHz, f2d may correspond to the frequency range of 72 GHz–73 GHz, and so on. Furthermore, the composite signal 620-a may be transmitted by satellite 120-e according to forward polarization (e.g., LHCP).

[0191] User terminal 150-d can be configured to receive in a corresponding downlink channel in various ways. In some examples, user terminal 150-d may have persistent or semi-persistent channel allocations, such that the corresponding user terminal 150-d is pre-configured (e.g., before the transmission of composite signal 620-a) for receiving in certain channels at certain times. In some other examples, composite signal 620-a may include control signaling indicating channel assignments for each of the forward downlink signals 172-j. For example, the control signaling of composite signal 620-a may indicate that downlink channel f1d (e.g., forward downlink signal 172-j-1) is assigned to user terminal 150-d-1, downlink channel f1d (e.g., forward downlink signal 172-j-2) is assigned to user terminal 150-d-2, and so on. In some such examples, the control signaling may be before time slot t1 of composite signal 620-a, or may be an initial portion of time slot t1, to notify user terminal 150-d of the corresponding receive allocation. In various examples, this control signaling may be interleaved with forward downlink signals within the downlink channel, or it may be carried in the control band of the system bandwidth, or other implementations.

[0192] To transmit the composite signal 620-a (e.g., according to time slot t1), satellite 120-e can be configured (e.g., by one or more entities of ground segment 101 (such as gateway terminal 130-d or a scheduling entity), by satellite 120-e itself, or a combination thereof) to generate a forward downlink beam 125-j-2 (e.g., a transmit beam for directional transmission). However, in some examples, user terminals 150-d-1 to 150-d-5 can be relatively dispersed and may not be positioned within the relatively small beam coverage area 126 of the relatively narrow-focused beam 125, which can be achieved to obtain a relatively high signal strength. Therefore, satellite 120-e can be configured to generate a beam 125-j-2 (e.g., a 5 GHz beam) with multiple lobes 630 (e.g., beam lobes) corresponding to the direction 635-a of user terminal 150-d, each of which carries the frequency division multiplexing forward downlink signal 172-j of the composite signal 620-a. For example, the first lobe 630-a-1 of beam 125-j-2 can correspond to the direction 635-a-1 between satellite 120-e and user terminal 150-d-1, and the second lobe 630-a-2 of beam 125-j-2 can correspond to the direction 635-a-2 between satellite 120-e and user terminal 150-d-2, and so on.

[0193] Each of these lobes 630-a can be associated with a local peak transmit intensity, which can be configured to provide a relatively stronger signal to the corresponding user terminal 150-d (e.g., along direction 635) compared to the case where beam 125-j-2 is uniformly broadened (e.g., defocused). Therefore, lobes 630 can distribute the available transmit power of the associated transmit system 415 (e.g., associated with antenna array 250) to multiple regions along multiple directions. In some examples, beam 125-j-2 may have one or more local minima of transmit intensity. For example, beam 125-j-2 may include a local minimum 640 between lobes 630-a-1 and lobes 630-a-2 (e.g., along the direction between direction 635-a-1 and direction 635-a-2), and so on. Additionally or alternatively, one or more lobes 630 can be combined without local minimum transmit intensity. For example, lobes 630-a-4 and 630-a-5 can be considered as a combination forming a single lobe (e.g., a relatively wide lobe), although 635-a-4 and 635-a-5 focus the corresponding transmitted energy along different directions. In some examples, one or more lobes of 630 can be configured to have the same or similar size as a single narrow-focused beam 125. Thus, in these and other examples, one lobe 630 or a combination of lobes 630 can be configured to support the transmission of signal 172 (e.g., via composite signal 620) to multiple user terminals 150.

[0194] The beam 125-j-2's lobes 630-a can project transmitted energy toward ground segment 101, such that the corresponding beam coverage area 126-j-2 (e.g., a geographic area) is divided among multiple individual coverage portions 650, each coverage portion having transmission characteristics (e.g., signal strength, SNR, SINR) that satisfy a threshold (e.g., reach or exceed a threshold). For example, lobe 630-a-1 can support coverage portion 650-a-1 with transmission characteristics satisfying the threshold, lobes 630-a-4 and 630-a-5 can be combined to support coverage portion 650-a-4 with transmission characteristics satisfying the threshold, and so on. Each of these portions 650-a can refer to the threshold transmission characteristics of beam 125-j-2 (e.g., threshold signal strength, SNR, or SINR, corresponding to the threshold transmission characteristics of beam coverage area 126-j-2, at a ground level or other reference level), and each of these portions 650-a can include one or more relative peaks of transmission characteristics above the threshold transmission characteristics. In some examples, one or more of the coverage portions 650 (e.g., a single lobe 630) may have the same or similar regions (e.g., in surface area, in shape) as the beam coverage area 126 of a single narrow-focused transmit beam 125 implemented in other cases. While such regions are shown as circular or elliptical areas, in some other examples, one or more portions 650 or the transmit beam coverage area 126 itself may involve more complex shapes according to the described technology, including regions extending inward or outward relative to the center location of portion 650 or the beam coverage area 126 (e.g., having boundaries including convex and concave curvatures in the ground plane). In some examples, such technologies can be supported by allocating certain frequency channels to certain user terminals 150-d based on their respective locations. For example, in order to counteract or utilize aspects of beam skew that may occur when a phase shifter is implemented in the beamforming network 440, user terminals 150-d positioned relatively further away from satellite 120-e (e.g., associated with a relatively high scan angle and a relatively large angular spacing from direction 515-a) may be assigned relatively low-frequency channels, while user terminals 150-d positioned relatively closer to satellite 120-e (e.g., associated with a relatively small scan angle and a relatively small angular spacing from direction 515-a) may be assigned relatively high-frequency channels.

[0195] The forward downlink beam 125-j-2 can be formed using a beamforming network (e.g., beamforming network 440), which can be configured by a control system 460 (e.g., to implement beamforming weights at beamforming network 440 to distribute directional transmitted energy along different directions 635-a around beam direction 127-j-2 to generate beam 125-j-2). In some examples, such beamforming weights can be calculated and transmitted to satellite 120-e by one or more entities of ground segment 101 (e.g., gateway terminal 130-d, scheduling entity) (e.g., via signal 132, via signal 175, via signal 183, via composite signal 610-a). In some other examples, such beamforming weights can be calculated by satellite 120-e (e.g., based on the position of satellite 120-e along orbital path 520-h, based on the corresponding position of user terminal 150-d), and other implementations. Therefore, user terminals 150-d can be configured to receive the corresponding forward downlink signal 172-j as part of the composite signal 620-a according to their respective frequency channel allocation (e.g., during time slot t1), and demodulate their respective forward downlink signal 172-j to receive the corresponding data (e.g., user terminal 150-d-1 receives and demodulates the forward downlink signal 172-j-1 according to downlink channel f1d, user terminal 150-d-2 receives and demodulates the forward downlink signal 172-j-2 according to downlink channel f2d, etc.).

[0196] Therefore, based on these and other examples, one or more devices of the satellite communication system 100 may be configured to identify (e.g., at gateway terminal 130, at the scheduling entity) forward link signals (e.g., forward uplink signal 132, forward downlink signal 172) for transmission to multiple user terminals 150 during a time slot, wherein each of the forward link signals may include unicast data for the corresponding user terminal 150. One or more devices of the satellite communication system 100 may be configured to generate (e.g., at gateway terminal 130, at the scheduling entity) composite signals comprising the forward link signals (e.g., composite signal 610, composite signal 620), wherein each of the forward link signals is assigned to a corresponding frequency channel (e.g., one of f1u to f5u, one of f1d to f5d) of the bandwidth (e.g., system bandwidth) of the composite signal. One or more devices of the satellite communication system 100 may also be configured to generate (e.g., at gateway terminal 130, at a scheduling entity) a set of beamforming weights for use by satellite 120 to relay a first composite signal (e.g., as composite signal 620) to user terminal 150 during the time slot, wherein the set of beamforming weights (e.g., based on the corresponding location of user terminal 150, based on the spatial spacing of user terminal 150) is generated to form a forward link beam 125 with a plurality of lobes 630 corresponding to a corresponding direction 635 of the user terminal 150 relative to the direction 515 (e.g., line of sight, axis 255) of the antenna array (e.g., antenna array 250) of satellite 120. One or more devices of the satellite communication system 100 may also be configured to transmit (e.g., via gateway terminal 130) composite signals for relay by one or more satellites (e.g., one or more satellites 120, one or more satellites 180), including satellite 120 configured to transmit downlink beam 125 to user terminal 150 during the time slot.

[0197] Communication system 100 can be configured to perform the operation of communication system implementation mode 600 in various ways. For example, gateway terminal 130-d, satellite 120-e, or user terminal 150-d can be configured by one or more devices of the corresponding communication system 100 (such as one or more controllers of ground segment 101), which can transmit configuration signaling to gateway terminal 130-d, satellite 120-e, or user terminal 150-d (e.g., directly, or via relay from another device). One or more controllers can determine information such as information about communication allocation, terminal location, characteristics of orbital path 520-h, information about location 510-h, orientation 127 or 635, beamforming weights, and other information. One or more controllers may signal to satellite 120-e or user terminal 150-d one or more aspects of information from the ground segment (e.g., signals received earlier along orbital path 520-h from gateway terminal 130 via uplink signals 132, 181, 183, 173, 175, or combinations thereof, which may be relayed via another satellite 120 or satellite 180). For example, network device 141 or gateway terminal 130 (e.g., network controller) may determine various aspects of the configuration of satellite 120-e or user terminal 150-d to support one or more configurations for relay signaling (e.g., forward signaling, which may involve cross-links), and may configure satellite 120-e or user terminal 150-d via signaling to satellite 120-e or user terminal 150-d.

[0198] Figure 7 An example of a communication system implementation 700 supporting beam splitting in a satellite communication system, as disclosed herein, is shown. Communication system implementation 700 may include satellite 120-e, gateway terminal 130-d, and user terminals 150-d-4 to 150-d-8, but other scenarios in which satellite 120 relays communication between one or more gateway terminals 130 and one or more user terminals 150 may also be shown. In some cases, this relay may include a cross-link relay (not shown). To support such communication, satellite 120-e may be configured to turn direction 515-a from satellite 120-e toward position 510-h (e.g., as described with reference to communication system implementation 600).

[0199] In an example of communication system implementation 700, one or more entities of communication system 100 (e.g., one or more entities of ground segment 101, gateway terminal 130-d, network device 141 (such as a scheduling entity communicating with gateway terminal 130-d), or a combination thereof) may identify forward link communications for relaying to user terminals 150-d-4 to 150-d-8 via satellite 120-e according to one or more time slots (e.g., during one or more time slots). In some examples, at least some of such signals (if not every one of such signals) may include unicast data for user terminals 150-d-4 to 150-d-8, or may include multicast data for a subset of fewer than all user terminals 150-d-4 to 150-d-8, or such signals may include unicast data for all user terminals 150-d-4 to 150-d-8, and other examples. Therefore, based at least in part on identifying one or more instances of forward link communication of user terminals 150-d-4 to 150-d-8, communication system 100 may generate a composite signal 610-b for transmission by gateway terminal 130-d, the composite signal including one or more instances of forward uplink signal 132-k to be relayed via satellite 120-e (e.g., forward uplink signal 132-k-4 for user terminal 150-d-4, forward uplink signal 132-k-5 for user terminal 150-d-5, etc.).

[0200] In some examples, the communication system 100 may generate a composite signal 610-b for use in an uplink frequency range F having a first bandwidth (e.g., system bandwidth). UL Internal transmission enables the forward uplink signal 132-k to operate within the uplink frequency range F. UL Frequency division multiplexing is performed between corresponding parts. For example, depending on time slot t2 (e.g., different from time slot t1 of communication system implementation 600, such as before or after time slot t1), composite signal 610-b may include a forward uplink signal 132-k-4 allocated to a first uplink channel (e.g., f1u), a forward uplink signal 132-k-5 allocated to a second uplink channel (e.g., f2u), and so on. For which the uplink signal is configured in F... UL = For example, within the frequency range of 81 GHz–86 GHz, f1u may correspond to the frequency range of 81 GHz–82 GHz, f2u may correspond to the frequency range of 82 GHz–83 GHz, and so on. Furthermore, the composite signal 610-b may be transmitted by the gateway terminal 130-d according to forward polarization (e.g., LHCP).

[0201] To receive the composite signal 610-b (e.g., according to time slot t2), satellite 120-e can be configured (e.g., by one or more entities of ground segment 101 (such as gateway terminal 130-d or a scheduling entity), by satellite 120-e itself, or a combination thereof) to generate a forward uplink beam 125-k-1 (e.g., a receiving beam for directional reception) along a beam direction 127-k-1 toward the location of gateway terminal 130-d, such that gateway terminal 130-d is included in the beam coverage area 126-k-1. The forward uplink beam 125-k-1 can be formed using a beamforming network (e.g., beamforming network 420), which can be configured by control system 460 (e.g., to implement beamforming weights at beamforming network 420 to align directional reception along beam direction 127-k-1 to generate beam 125-k-1). Therefore, satellite 120-e can receive composite signal 610-b (e.g., as a composite of forward uplink signal 132-k, using receiving system 405, using receiving array 240) and forward the received signaling via transponder system 410 (e.g., via a single forward link transponder, along the enabled signal path 505-a). The signal path of transponder system 410 may include one or more frequency converters (e.g., frequency converter 425 for conversion from uplink frequency range to IF range, frequency converter 435 for conversion from IF range to downlink frequency range), such that satellite 120-e can be configured to transmit composite signal 620-b (e.g., a frequency-converted composite signal to relay composite signal 610-b), which may include multiple different forward downlink signals 172-k (e.g., forward downlink signal 172-k-4 for user terminal 150-d-4, forward downlink signal 172-k-5 for user terminal 150-d-5, etc.).

[0202] The composite signal 620-b can be configured for use in a downlink frequency range F with a first bandwidth (e.g., system bandwidth). DL Internal transmission enables the forward downlink signal 172-k to operate within the frequency range F. DL Frequency division multiplexing is performed between corresponding portions (e.g., channel, carrier sub-channel, sub-band, portion with second bandwidth). For example, according to time slot t2, composite signal 620-b may include a forward downlink signal 172-k-4 allocated to a first downlink channel (e.g., f1d), a forward downlink signal 172-k-5 allocated to a second downlink channel (e.g., f2d), and so on. For which the downlink signal is configured in F... DL= Examples within the frequency range of 71 GHz–76 GHz, f1d may correspond to the frequency range of 71 GHz–72 GHz, f2d may correspond to the frequency range of 72 GHz–73 GHz, and so on. Furthermore, the composite signal 620-b may be transmitted by satellite 120-e according to forward polarization (e.g., LHCP).

[0203] User terminal 150-d can be configured to receive in a corresponding downlink channel in various ways. In some examples, user terminal 150-d may have persistent or semi-persistent channel allocations, such that the corresponding user terminal 150-d is pre-configured for receiving in certain channels (e.g., before the transmission of composite signal 620-b). In some other examples, composite signal 620-b may include control signaling indicating channel assignment for each of the forward downlink signals 172-k. For example, the control signaling of composite signal 620-b may indicate that downlink channel f1d (e.g., forward downlink signal 172-k-4) is assigned to user terminal 150-d-4, downlink channel f1d (e.g., forward downlink signal 172-k-5) is assigned to user terminal 150-d-5, and so on. In some such examples, the control signaling may be before time slot t2 of composite signal 620-b, or may be an initial portion of time slot t2, to notify user terminal 150-d of the corresponding receive allocation. In various examples, this control signaling may be interleaved with forward downlink signals within the downlink channel, or it may be carried in the control band of the system bandwidth, or other implementations.

[0204] To transmit the composite signal 620-b (e.g., according to time slot t2), satellite 120-e can be configured (e.g., by one or more entities of ground segment 101 (such as gateway terminal 130-d or a scheduling entity), by satellite 120-e itself, or a combination thereof) to generate a forward downlink beam 125-k-2 (e.g., a transmit beam for directional transmission). In an example of communication system implementation 700, user terminals 150-d-4 to 150-d-8 can be relatively close together and positioned within a relatively small beam coverage area 126-k-2 of the relatively narrowly focused beam 125-k-2, which can be achieved to obtain a relatively high signal strength (e.g., a higher signal density for a given transmit power). Therefore, satellite 120-e can be configured to generate a beam 125-k-2 (e.g., a 5 GHz beam) that does not have multiple lobes 630 (e.g., a single lobe 630-b), which carries the downlink signal 172-k of the composite signal 620-b before frequency division multiplexing along a single direction 127-k-2.

[0205] The forward downlink beam 125-k-2 can be formed using a beamforming network (e.g., beamforming network 440), which can be configured by a control system 460 (e.g., to implement beamforming weights at beamforming network 440 for symmetrical or uniformly distributed directional transmission around beam direction 127-k-2 to generate beam 125-k-2). In some examples, such beamforming weights can be calculated and transmitted to satellite 120-e by one or more entities of ground segment 101 (e.g., gateway terminal 130-d, scheduling entity) (e.g., via signal 132, via signal 175, via signal 183, via composite signal 610-b). In some other examples, such beamforming weights can be calculated by satellite 120-e (e.g., based on the position of satellite 120-e along orbital path 520-h, based on the corresponding position of user terminal 150-d), and other implementations.

[0206] In some examples, the transmit power used to transmit the composite signal 620-b (e.g., using a relatively narrow-focused beam 125-k-2) may be the same as the transmit power used to transmit the composite signal 610-b (e.g., using a beam 125-j-2 with multiple lobes 630). However, beam 125-k-2 may be associated with a beam coverage area 126-k-2 that is smaller than the beam coverage area 126-j-2 of beam 125-j-2, and beam 125-k-2 may therefore have a higher peak SNR (e.g., transmit SNR). Therefore, forming a relatively narrow-focused transmit beam 125 (such as beam 125-k-2 with a single lobe (e.g., a single lobe 630-b)) can be advantageous in situations where sufficient user terminals 150 are positioned relatively close together to effectively utilize the system bandwidth. Nevertheless, forming a multi-lobed transmit beam 125 (such as beam 125-j-2) can, in some other cases, be advantageous for distributing transmit energy over a wider area and for serving user terminals 150 with relatively wide spacing to make fuller use of the system bandwidth of a given time slot, rather than hopping the beam 125 across multiple time slots to serve user terminals 150 (e.g., in this case, the frequency range F during multiple time slots). DL(A portion may not be allocated). In some such examples, the relatively low SNR of the multi-lobe beam 125 can be overcome by other techniques, such as implementing a lower modulation or coding scheme for one or more of the forward downlink signals 172 (e.g., forward downlink signal 172-j), and other techniques (where applicable). Thus, user terminals 150-d can be configured to receive the corresponding forward downlink signal 172-k as part of the composite signal 620-b according to their respective frequency channel allocation, and demodulate the corresponding forward downlink signal 172-k to receive the corresponding data (e.g., user terminal 150-d-4 receives and demodulates the forward downlink signal 172-k-4 according to downlink channel f1d, user terminal 150-d-5 receives and demodulates the forward downlink signal 172-k-5 according to downlink channel f2d, etc.).

[0207] Therefore, based on these and other examples, one or more devices of the satellite communication system 100 may be configured to identify (e.g., at gateway terminal 130, at the scheduling entity) forward link signals (e.g., forward uplink signal 132, forward downlink signal 172) for transmission to multiple user terminals 150 during a time slot, wherein each of the forward link signals may include unicast data for the corresponding user terminal 150. One or more devices of the satellite communication system 100 may be configured to generate (e.g., at gateway terminal 130, at the scheduling entity) composite signals comprising the forward link signals (e.g., composite signal 610, composite signal 620), wherein each of the forward link signals is assigned to a corresponding frequency channel (e.g., one of f1u to f5u, one of f1d to f5d) of the bandwidth (e.g., system bandwidth) of the composite signal. One or more devices of the satellite communication system 100 may also be configured to generate (e.g., at gateway terminal 130, at a scheduling entity) a set of beamforming weights for use by satellite 120 to relay a first composite signal (e.g., as composite signal 620) to user terminal 150 during the time slot, wherein the set of beamforming weights is generated to form a forward link beam 125 having a single lobe 630 along a single direction 127. One or more devices of the satellite communication system 100 may also be configured to transmit (e.g., via gateway terminal 130) a composite signal for relay by one or more satellites (e.g., one or more satellites 120, one or more satellites 180), including satellite 120 configured to transmit beam 125 to user terminal 150 during the time slot.

[0208] Communication system 100 can be configured to perform the operation of communication system implementation mode 600 in various ways. For example, gateway terminal 130-d, satellite 120-e, or user terminal 150-d can be configured by one or more devices of the corresponding communication system 100 (such as one or more controllers of ground segment 101), which can transmit configuration signaling to gateway terminal 130-d, satellite 120-e, or user terminal 150-d (e.g., directly, or via relay from another device). One or more controllers can determine information such as information about communication allocation, terminal location, characteristics of orbital path 520-h, information about location 510-h, orientation 127 or 635, beamforming weights, and other information. One or more controllers may signal to satellite 120-e or user terminal 150-d one or more aspects of information from the ground segment (e.g., signals received earlier along orbital path 520-h from gateway terminal 130 via uplink signals 132, 181, 183, 173, 175, or combinations thereof, which may be relayed via another satellite 120 or satellite 180). For example, network device 141 or gateway terminal 130 (e.g., network controller) may determine various aspects of the configuration of satellite 120-e or user terminal 150-d to support one or more configurations for relay signaling (e.g., forward signaling, which may involve cross-links), and may configure satellite 120-e or user terminal 150-d via signaling to satellite 120-e or user terminal 150-d.

[0209] Figure 8 An example of a communication system implementation 800 supporting beam splitting in a satellite communication system, as disclosed herein, is shown. Communication system implementation 800 may include satellite 120-e, gateway terminal 130-d, and user terminals 150-d-1 to 150-d-5, but other scenarios in which satellite 120 relays communication between one or more gateway terminals 130 and one or more user terminals 150 may also be shown. In some cases, this relay may include a cross-link relay (not shown). To support such communication, satellite 120-e may be configured to turn direction 515-a from satellite 120-e toward position 510-h (e.g., as described with reference to communication system implementation 600).

[0210] In an example of communication system implementation 800, one or more entities of communication system 100 (e.g., one or more entities of ground segment 101, gateway terminal 130-d, network device 141 (such as a scheduling entity communicating with gateway terminal 130-d), or a combination thereof) may identify return link communications for relaying from user terminals 150-d-1 to 150-d-5 via satellite 120-e according to one or more time slots (e.g., during one or more time slots). In some examples, each of such signals may include unicast data from user terminals 150-d-1 to 150-d-5, and other examples exist. Therefore, based at least in part on identifying different return link communications from user terminals 150-d-1 to 150-d-5, communication system 100 can be configured (e.g., scheduled, allocated) to receive a composite signal 810-a by satellite 120-e, which includes multiple different return uplink signals 173-l transmitted by user terminal 150-d (e.g., return uplink signal 173-l-1 transmitted by user terminal 150-d-1, return uplink signal 173-l-2 transmitted by user terminal 150-d-2, etc.) to be relayed via satellite 120-e.

[0211] In some examples, the communication system 100 may be configured with a composite signal 810-a for use in an uplink frequency range F having a first bandwidth (e.g., system bandwidth). UL Internal reception ensures that the returned uplink signal 173-l is within the uplink frequency range F. UL Frequency division multiplexing is performed between corresponding parts. For example, according to time slot t3 (e.g., different from time slot t1 of communication system implementation 600 or time slot t2 of communication system implementation 700, such as before, after, or between time slots t1 and t2, or at least partially overlapping with one or both of time slots t1 and t2, wherein the forward and return time slots can be configured to overlap, or be the same as time slots t1 or t2 to support various combinations of signal propagation delay and / or half-duplex or full-duplex configurations), composite signal 810-a can be configured to include a return uplink signal 173-l-1 assigned to a first uplink channel (e.g., f1u), a return uplink signal 173-l-2 assigned to a second uplink channel (e.g., f2u), and so on. For which the uplink signal is configured in F ULFor example, within the frequency range of 81 GHz–86 GHz, f1u could correspond to the frequency range of 81 GHz–82 GHz, f2u could correspond to the frequency range of 82 GHz–83 GHz, and so on. To support the generation of composite signal 810-a for reception at satellite 120-e, user terminal 150-d-1 can be allocated transmission resources for time slot t3 within uplink frequency channel f1u, user terminal 150-d-2 can be allocated transmission resources for time slot t3 within uplink frequency channel f2u, and so on. Each return uplink signal in the return uplink signals 173-l of composite signal 810-a can be configured to be transmitted by the corresponding user terminal 150-d according to the return polarization (e.g., RHCP).

[0212] User terminal 150-d can be configured to transmit in a corresponding uplink channel in various ways. In some examples, user terminal 150-d may have persistent or semi-persistent channel assignments, such that the corresponding user terminal 150-d is pre-configured to transmit in certain channels at certain times. In some other examples, downlink signaling 172 from satellite 120-e or signaling 182 from satellite 180 may include control signaling indicating channel assignment for each of the returned uplink signals 173-l. For example, such control signaling may indicate that uplink channel f1u is assigned to user terminal 150-d-1 (e.g., for returned uplink signal 173-l-1), uplink channel f2u is assigned to user terminal 150-d-2 (e.g., for returned uplink signal 173-l-2), and so on. In some such examples, control signaling may precede, or be part of, time slot t3 of composite signal 810-a, to notify user terminal 150-d of the corresponding transmit allocation. In various examples, this control signaling may be interleaved with forward downlink signals within the downlink channel, carried in the control band of the system bandwidth, or implemented in other ways.

[0213] To receive the composite signal 810-a (e.g., according to time slot t3), satellite 120-e can be configured (e.g., by one or more entities of ground segment 101 (such as gateway terminal 130-d or a scheduling entity), by satellite 120-e itself, or a combination thereof) to generate a return uplink beam 125-l-1 (e.g., a receiving beam for directional reception). However, in some examples, user terminals 150-d-1 to 150-d-5 can be relatively dispersed and may not be positioned within the relatively small beam coverage area 126 of the relatively narrow-focused beam 125, which can be achieved to obtain relatively high reception sensitivity. Therefore, satellite 120-e can be configured to generate a beam 125-j-1 (e.g., a 5 GHz beam) with multiple lobes 830 (e.g., beam lobes) corresponding to the direction 835-a of user terminal 150-d, each of which receives the energy of the composite signal 810-a (e.g., in the uplink frequency range F). UL (Inner). For example, the first lobe 830-a-1 of beam 125-l-1 can correspond to the direction 835-a-1 between satellite 120-e and user terminal 150-d-1, and the second lobe 830-a-2 of beam 125-l-1 can correspond to the direction 835-a-2 between satellite 120-e and user terminal 150-d-2, and so on.

[0214] Each of these lobes 830-a can be associated with a local peak receiving sensitivity, which can be configured to provide relatively stronger reception from the corresponding user terminal 150-d (e.g., along direction 835) compared to the case where beam 125-l-1 is uniformly broadened (e.g., defocused). Therefore, lobes 830 can distribute the available receiving sensitivity of the associated receiving system 405 (e.g., associated with antenna array 240) in multiple regions along multiple directions. In some examples, beam 125-l-1 may have one or more local minima of receiving sensitivity. For example, beam 125-l-1 may include a local minimum 840 between lobes 830-a-1 and lobes 830-a-2 (e.g., along the direction between direction 835-a-1 and direction 835-a-2), and so on. Additionally or alternatively, one or more lobes 830 can be combined without local minimum receiving sensitivity. For example, lobes 830-a-4 and 830-a-5 can be considered as a combination forming a single lobe (e.g., a relatively wide lobe), although 835-a-4 and 835-a-5 focus on corresponding receiving sensitivities along different directions. Therefore, in these and other examples, one lobe 830 or a combination of multiple lobes 830 can be configured to support the reception of signals 173 from multiple user terminals 150 (e.g., via composite signal 810).

[0215] The beam 125-l-1's lobes 830-a can be configured to collect transmitted energy from ground segment 101, such that the corresponding beam coverage area 126-l-1 is divided among multiple individual coverage portions 850, each coverage portion having reception characteristics (e.g., receive sensitivity, receive attenuation, SNR, SINR) that satisfy a threshold (e.g., reach or exceed a threshold). For example, lobe 830-a-1 may support coverage portion 850-a-1 with reception characteristics satisfying the threshold, lobes 830-a-4 and 830-a-5 may be combined to support coverage portion 850-a-4 with reception characteristics satisfying the threshold, and so on. Each of these portions 850-a may refer to a threshold reception characteristic of beam 125-l-1 (e.g., threshold receive sensitivity, SNR, or SINR, corresponding to the threshold reception characteristic of beam coverage area 126-l-1, at a ground level or other reference level), and each of these portions 850-a may include one or more relative peaks of reception characteristics above the threshold reception characteristic. In some examples, one or more of the coverage portions 850 (e.g., a single lobe 830) may have the same or similar regions (e.g., in surface area, in shape) as the beam coverage area 126 of a single narrow-focused receiving beam 125 implemented in other cases. While such regions are shown as circular or elliptical areas, in some other examples, one or more portions 850 or the receiving beam coverage area 126 itself may involve more complex shapes according to the described technology, including regions extending inward or outward relative to the center location of portion 850 or the beam coverage area 126 (e.g., having boundaries including convex and concave curvatures in the ground plane). In some examples, such technologies can be supported by allocating certain frequency channels to certain user terminals 150-d based on their respective locations. For example, in order to counteract or utilize aspects of beam skew that may occur when a phase shifter is implemented in the beamforming network 420, user terminals 150-d positioned relatively further away from satellite 120-e (e.g., associated with a relatively high scan angle and a relatively large angular spacing from direction 515-a) may be assigned relatively low-frequency channels, while user terminals 150-d positioned relatively closer to satellite 120-e (e.g., associated with a relatively small scan angle and a relatively small angular spacing from direction 515-a) may be assigned relatively high-frequency channels.

[0216] The uplink beam 125-l-1 can be formed using a beamforming network (e.g., beamforming network 420), which can be configured by a control system 460 (e.g., to implement beamforming weights at beamforming network 420 to distribute directional reception around beam direction 127-l-1 along different directions 835-a to generate beam 125-l-1). In some examples, such beamforming weights can be calculated and transmitted to satellite 120-e by one or more entities of ground segment 101 (e.g., gateway terminal 130-d, scheduling entity) (e.g., via signal 132, via signal 175, via signal 183). In some other examples, such beamforming weights can be calculated by satellite 120-e (e.g., based on the position of satellite 120-e along orbital path 520-h, based on the corresponding position of user terminal 150-d), and other implementations.

[0217] Therefore, satellite 120-e can receive composite signal 810-a (e.g., as a composite of the return uplink signal 173-l, using receiving system 405, using receiving array 240), and forward the received signaling via transponder system 410 (e.g., via a single return link transponder, along the enabled signal path 505-g). The signal path of transponder system 410 may include one or more frequency converters (e.g., frequency converter 425 for conversion from uplink frequency range to IF range, frequency converter 435 for conversion from IF range to downlink frequency range), such that satellite 120-e can be configured to transmit composite signal 820-a (e.g., a frequency-converted composite signal to relay composite signal 810-a), which includes multiple different return downlink signals 133-l (e.g., return downlink signal 133-l-1 from user terminal 150-d-1, return downlink signal 133-l-2 from user terminal 150-d-2, etc.).

[0218] To transmit the composite signal 820-a (e.g., according to time slot t3), satellite 120-e can be configured (e.g., by one or more entities of ground segment 101 (such as gateway terminal 130-d or a scheduling entity), by satellite 120-e itself, or a combination thereof) to generate a return downlink beam 125-l-2 (e.g., a transmit beam for directional transmission) along a beam direction 127-l-2 toward a location toward gateway terminal 130-d. The return downlink beam 125-l-2 can be formed using a beamforming network (e.g., beamforming network 440), which can be configured by control system 460 (e.g., to implement beamforming weights at beamforming network 440 to align directional transmission along beam direction 127-l-2 to generate beam 125-l-2).

[0219] The composite signal 820-a can be configured for use in a downlink frequency range F with a first bandwidth (e.g., system bandwidth). DL Internal transmission enables the return downlink signal 133-l to operate within the frequency range F. DL Frequency division multiplexing is performed between corresponding parts. For example, according to time slot t3, composite signal 820-a may include a return downlink signal 133-l-1 allocated to a first downlink channel (e.g., f1d), a return downlink signal 133-l-2 allocated to a second downlink channel (e.g., f2d), and so on. Where the downlink signal is configured in F... DL For example, within the frequency range of 71 GHz–76 GHz, f1d could correspond to the frequency range of 71 GHz–72 GHz, f2d could correspond to the frequency range of 72 GHz–73 GHz, and so on. Furthermore, the composite signal 820-a can be transmitted by satellite 120-e according to the return polarization (e.g., RHCP). Gateway terminal 130-d can receive the composite signal 820-a (e.g., on the return link bandwidth) and demodulate the return downlink signal 133-l according to the corresponding frequency channels assigned to user terminals 150-d-1 to 150-d-5.

[0220] Therefore, based on these and other examples, one or more devices of the satellite communication system 100 may be configured to identify (e.g., at gateway terminal 130, at the scheduling entity) return link signals (e.g., return uplink signal 173, return downlink signal 133) for transmission from multiple user terminals 150 during time slots (e.g., different from, overlapping with, or the same as the time slot for forward link communication), wherein each return link signal may include unicast data from the corresponding user terminal 150. One or more devices of the satellite communication system 100 may be configured to configure (e.g., generate, schedule, allocate, at gateway terminal 130, at the scheduling entity) composite signals including return link signals (e.g., composite signal 810, composite signal 820) for relay by satellite 120, wherein each return link signal is assigned to a corresponding frequency channel (e.g., one of f1u to f5u, one of f1d to f5d) of the bandwidth (e.g., system bandwidth) of the composite signal. One or more devices of the satellite communication system 100 may also be configured to generate (e.g., at gateway terminal 130, at a scheduling entity) a set of beamforming weights for use by satellite 120 to receive a first composite signal (e.g., as composite signal 810, as a composite of return uplink signal 173) from user terminal 150 during the time slot, wherein the set of beamforming weights is generated to form a return link beam 125 having a plurality of lobes 830 corresponding to a respective direction 835 of user terminal 150 relative to the direction 515 (e.g., line of sight, axis 245) of the antenna array (e.g., antenna array 240) of satellite 120. One or more devices of the satellite communication system 100 may also be configured to relay composite signal 810 (e.g., via one or more satellites 120, one or more satellites 180), such as via satellite 120 that receives composite signal 810 from user terminal 150 during the time slot.

[0221] Communication system 100 can be configured to perform the operation of communication system implementation mode 800 in various ways. For example, gateway terminal 130-d, satellite 120-e, or user terminal 150-d can be configured by one or more devices of the corresponding communication system 100 (such as one or more controllers of ground segment 101), which can transmit configuration signaling to gateway terminal 130-d, satellite 120-e, or user terminal 150-d (e.g., directly, or via relay from another device). One or more controllers can determine information such as information about communication allocation, terminal location, characteristics of orbital path 520-h, information about location 510-h, orientation 127, beamforming weights, and other information. One or more controllers may signal to satellite 120-e or user terminal 150-d one or more aspects of information from the ground segment (e.g., signals received earlier along orbital path 520-h from gateway terminal 130 via uplink signals 132, 181, 183, 173, 175, or combinations thereof, which may be relayed via another satellite 120 or satellite 180). For example, network device 141 or gateway terminal 130 (e.g., network controller) may determine various aspects of the configuration of satellite 120-e or user terminal 150-d to support one or more configurations for relay signaling (e.g., forward signaling, which may involve cross-links), and may configure satellite 120-e or user terminal 150-d via signaling to satellite 120-e or user terminal 150-d.

[0222] Figure 9 An example of a communication system implementation 900 supporting beam splitting in a satellite communication system, as disclosed herein, is shown. Communication system implementation 900 may include satellite 120-e, gateway terminal 130-d, and user terminals 150-d-4 to 150-d-8, but another scenario may also be shown where satellite 120 relays communication between one or more gateway terminals 130 and one or more user terminals 150, in some cases including cross-link relay (not shown). To support such communication, satellite 120-e may be configured to turn direction 515-a from satellite 120-e toward position 510-h (e.g., as described with reference to communication system implementation 600).

[0223] In an example of communication system implementation 900, one or more entities of communication system 100 (e.g., one or more entities of ground segment 101, gateway terminal 130-d, network device 141 (such as a scheduling entity communicating with gateway terminal 130-d), or a combination thereof) may identify return link communications for relaying from user terminals 150-d-4 to 150-d-8 via satellite 120-e according to one or more time slots (e.g., during one or more time slots). In some examples, each of such signals may include unicast data from user terminals 150-d-4 to 150-d-8, and other examples exist. Therefore, based at least in part on identifying different return link communications from user terminals 150-d-4 to 150-d-8, communication system 100 can be configured (e.g., scheduled, allocated) to use a composite signal 810-b for reception by satellite 120-e, the composite signal including multiple different return uplink signals 173-m to be relayed via satellite 120-e (e.g., return uplink signal 173-m-1 transmitted by user terminal 150-d-4, return uplink signal 173-m-2 transmitted by user terminal 150-d-5, etc.).

[0224] In some examples, the communication system 100 may be configured with a composite signal 810-b for use in an uplink frequency range F having a first bandwidth (e.g., system bandwidth). UL Internal reception ensures that the returned uplink signal 173-m is within the uplink frequency range F. UL Frequency division multiplexing is performed between corresponding parts. For example, depending on time slot t4 (e.g., different from time slot t3 of communication system implementation 800, such as before or after time slot t3), composite signal 810-b can be configured to include a return uplink signal 173-m-4 allocated to a first uplink channel (e.g., f1u), a return uplink signal 173-m-5 allocated to a second uplink channel (e.g., f2u), and so on. For which the uplink signal is configured in F... UL For example, within the frequency range of 81 GHz–86 GHz, f1u could correspond to the frequency range of 81 GHz–82 GHz, f2u could correspond to the frequency range of 82 GHz–83 GHz, and so on. To support the generation of composite signal 810-b for reception at satellite 120-e, user terminal 150-d-1 can be allocated transmission resources for time slot t4 within uplink frequency channel f1u, user terminal 150-d-2 can be allocated transmission resources for time slot t4 within uplink frequency channel f2u, and so on. Each return uplink signal in the return uplink signals 173-m of composite signal 810-b can be configured to be transmitted by the corresponding user terminal 150-d according to the return polarization (e.g., RHCP).

[0225] User terminal 150-d can be configured to transmit in a corresponding uplink channel in various ways. In some examples, user terminal 150-d may have persistent or semi-persistent channel assignments, such that the corresponding user terminal 150-d is pre-configured to transmit in certain channels at certain times. In some other examples, downlink signaling 172 from satellite 120-e or signaling 182 from satellite 180 may include control signaling indicating channel assignment for each of the returned uplink signals 173-m. For example, such control signaling may indicate that uplink channel f1u is assigned to user terminal 150-d-4 (e.g., for returned uplink signal 173-m-4), uplink channel f2u is assigned to user terminal 150-d-5 (e.g., for returned uplink signal 173-m-5), and so on. In some such examples, control signaling may precede, or be part of, time slot t4 of composite signal 810-b, to notify user terminal 150-d of the corresponding transmit allocation. In various examples, this control signaling may be interleaved with forward downlink signals within the downlink channel, carried in the control band of the system bandwidth, or implemented in other ways.

[0226] To receive the composite signal 810-b (e.g., according to time slot t4), satellite 120-e can be configured (e.g., by one or more entities of ground segment 101 (such as gateway terminal 130-d or a scheduling entity), by satellite 120-e itself, or a combination thereof) to generate a return uplink beam 125-m-1 (e.g., a receive beam for directional reception). In an example of communication system implementation 900, user terminals 150-d-4 to 150-d-8 can be relatively close together and positioned within a relatively small beam coverage area 126-m-1 of the relatively narrowly focused beam 125-m-1, which can be achieved to obtain relatively high receive sensitivity. Therefore, satellite 120-e can be configured to generate a beam 125-m-1 (e.g., a 5 GHz beam) that does not have multiple lobes 830 (e.g., a single lobe 830-b), which is used to receive the frequency division multiplexing return uplink signal 173-m of the composite signal 810-b along a single direction 127-m-1.

[0227] The uplink beam 125-m-1 can be formed using a beamforming network (e.g., beamforming network 420), which can be configured by a control system 460 (e.g., to implement beamforming weights at beamforming network 420 for directional reception along beam direction 127-m-1 to generate beam 125-m-1). In some examples, such beamforming weights can be calculated and transmitted to satellite 120-e by one or more entities of ground segment 101 (e.g., gateway terminal 130-d, scheduling entity) (e.g., via signal 132, via signal 175, via signal 183). In some other examples, such beamforming weights can be calculated by satellite 120-e (e.g., based on the position of satellite 120-e along orbital path 520-h, based on the corresponding position of user terminal 150-d), and other implementations.

[0228] In some examples, beam 125-m-1 may be associated with a beam coverage area 126-m-1 that is smaller than the beam coverage area 126-l-1 of beam 125-l-1, and beam 125-m-1 may therefore have a higher peak SNR (e.g., received SNR). Therefore, forming a relatively narrow-focused receive beam 125 (such as beam 125-m-1 with a single lobe (e.g., single lobe 830)) can be advantageous in situations where sufficient user terminals 150 are positioned relatively close together to effectively utilize the system bandwidth. Nevertheless, forming a multi-lobe receive beam 125 (such as beam 125-l-1) can, in some other cases, be advantageous for distributing reception over a wider area and for serving user terminals 150 to more fully utilize the system bandwidth of a given time slot, rather than hopping beam 125 across multiple time slots to serve the user terminal (e.g., in this case, frequency range F during multiple time slots). UL (A portion may not be allocated). In some such examples, the relatively low SNR of multi-lobe beams can be overcome by other techniques, such as implementing lower modulation or coding schemes, and other techniques (where applicable).

[0229] Therefore, satellite 120-e can receive composite signal 810-b (e.g., as a composite of the return uplink signal 173-m, using receiving system 405, using receiving array 240), and forward the received signaling via transponder system 410 (e.g., via a single return link transponder, along the enabled signal path 505-g). The signal path of transponder system 410 may include one or more frequency converters (e.g., frequency converter 425 for conversion from uplink frequency range to IF range, frequency converter 435 for conversion from IF range to downlink frequency range), such that satellite 120-e can be configured to transmit composite signal 820-b (e.g., a frequency-converted composite signal to relay composite signal 810-a), which includes multiple different return downlink signals 133-m (e.g., return downlink signal 133-m-1 from user terminal 150-d-4, return downlink signal 133-m-2 from user terminal 150-d-5, etc.).

[0230] To transmit the composite signal 820-b (e.g., according to time slot t4), satellite 120-e can be configured (e.g., by one or more entities of ground segment 101 (such as gateway terminal 130-d or a scheduling entity), by satellite 120-e itself, or a combination thereof) to generate a return downlink beam 125-m-2 (e.g., a transmit beam for directional transmission) along a beam direction 127-m-2 toward a location toward gateway terminal 130-d. The return downlink beam 125-m-2 can be formed using a beamforming network (e.g., beamforming network 440), which can be configured by control system 460 (e.g., to implement beamforming weights at beamforming network 440 to align directional transmission along beam direction 127-m-2 to generate beam 125-m-2).

[0231] The composite signal 820-b can be configured to operate in a downlink frequency range F with a first bandwidth (e.g., system bandwidth). DL Transmitted in the middle, so that the returned downlink signal 133-m is in the frequency range F DL Frequency division multiplexing is performed between the various parts. For example, according to time slot t4, the composite signal 820-b may include a return downlink signal 133-m-4 allocated to a first downlink channel (e.g., f1d), a return downlink signal 133-m-5 allocated to a second downlink channel (e.g., f2d), and so on. The downlink signals are configured in F... DLFor example, within the frequency range of 71 GHz–76 GHz, f1d could correspond to the frequency range of 71 GHz–72 GHz, f2d could correspond to the frequency range of 72 GHz–73 GHz, and so on. Furthermore, the composite signal 820-b can be transmitted by satellite 120-e according to the return polarization (e.g., RHCP). Gateway terminal 130-d can receive the composite signal 820-b (e.g., within the return link frequency range) and demodulate the return downlink signal 133-m according to the corresponding frequency channels assigned to user terminals 150-d-4 to 150-d-8.

[0232] Therefore, based on these and other examples, one or more devices of the satellite communication system 100 may be configured to identify (e.g., at gateway terminal 130, at the scheduling entity) return link signals (e.g., return uplink signal 173, return downlink signal 133) for transmission from multiple user terminals 150 during a time slot, wherein each of the return link signals may include unicast data from the corresponding user terminal 150. One or more devices of the satellite communication system 100 may be configured to configure (e.g., generate, schedule, allocate, at gateway terminal 130, at the scheduling entity) composite signals including return link signals (e.g., composite signal 810, composite signal 820) for relay by satellite 120, wherein each of the return link signals is assigned to a corresponding frequency channel (e.g., one of f1u to f5u, one of f1d to f5d) of the bandwidth (e.g., system bandwidth) of the composite signal. One or more devices of the satellite communication system 100 may also be configured to generate (e.g., at gateway terminal 130, at a scheduling entity) a set of beamforming weights for use by satellite 120 to receive a first composite signal (e.g., as composite signal 810, as a composite of return uplink signal 173) from user terminal 150 during a time slot, wherein the set of beamforming weights is generated to form a return link beam 125 having a single lobe 830 along a single direction 127. One or more devices of the satellite communication system 100 may also be configured to relay composite signal 810 (e.g., via one or more satellites 120, one or more satellites 180), such as via satellite 120 that receives composite signal 810 from user terminal 150 during that time slot.

[0233] Communication system 100 can be configured to perform the operation of communication system implementation mode 900 in various ways. For example, gateway terminal 130-d, satellite 120-e, or user terminal 150-d can be configured by one or more devices of the corresponding communication system 100 (such as one or more controllers of ground segment 101), which can transmit configuration signaling to gateway terminal 130-d, satellite 120-e, or user terminal 150-d (e.g., directly, or via relay from another device). One or more controllers can determine information such as information about communication allocation, terminal location, characteristics of orbital path 520-h, information about location 510-h, orientation 127, beamforming weights, and other information. One or more controllers may signal to satellite 120-e or user terminal 150-d one or more aspects of information from the ground segment (e.g., signals received earlier along orbital path 520-h from gateway terminal 130 via uplink signals 132, 181, 183, 173, 175, or combinations thereof, which may be relayed via another satellite 120 or satellite 180). For example, network device 141 or gateway terminal 130 (e.g., network controller) may determine various aspects of the configuration of satellite 120-e or user terminal 150-d to support one or more configurations for relay signaling (e.g., forward signaling, which may involve cross-links), and may configure satellite 120-e or user terminal 150-d via signaling to satellite 120-e or user terminal 150-d.

[0234] Figure 10 A flowchart illustrating a method 1000 for beam splitting in a satellite communication system according to an example disclosed herein is shown. Operation of method 1000 can be implemented by a satellite communication system or its components as described herein. For example, operation of method 1000 can be performed by, as referenced... Figures 1 to 9 The components of the described satellite communication system are executed. In some examples, aspects of the satellite communication system may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the satellite communication system to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the satellite communication system may use one or more instances of dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the described functions. Although method 1000 is shown in illustrative order through exemplary operations, various operations of method 1000 may be modified, omitted, added, or performed in a different order depending on the described techniques.

[0235] At 1005, the method may include: identifying a first plurality of forward link signals for transmission to a first plurality of user terminals during a first time slot, wherein each of the first plurality of forward link signals includes unicast data for a corresponding user terminal among the first plurality of user terminals.

[0236] At 1010, the method may include: generating a first composite signal comprising a first plurality of forward link signals, wherein each of the first plurality of forward link signals is assigned to a corresponding frequency channel of the bandwidth of the first composite signal.

[0237] At 1015, the method may include: generating a first set of beamforming weights for use by a satellite application to relay a first composite signal to a first plurality of user terminals during a first time slot, wherein the first set of beamforming weights is generated to form a first forward link beam having a plurality of beam lobes corresponding to the respective directions of the first plurality of user terminals relative to the line of sight of the antenna array of the satellite.

[0238] At 1020, the method may include: transmitting a first composite signal from the gateway for relay by one or more satellites including the satellite during a first time slot.

[0239] In some examples of method 1000, a first plurality of user terminals are configured to receive in a second bandwidth that is less than the bandwidth of the first composite signal.

[0240] Some examples of method 1000 may further include configuring the satellite to orient the line of sight of the antenna array at least in part based on the respective orientations of the first plurality of user terminals.

[0241] In some examples of method 1000, configuring the satellite to orient the line of sight of the antenna array includes configuring the satellite to orient the side of the satellite to which the antenna array is fixed.

[0242] In some examples of method 1000, the first forward link beam has an energy distribution across a geographic region that includes at least one coverage portion separate from at least one other coverage portion of the first forward link beam.

[0243] In some examples of method 1000, the first forward link beam is associated with a corresponding local minimum transmit intensity along one or more directions between multiple beam lobes.

[0244] In some examples of method 1000, the first composite signal includes control signaling indicating frequency channel assignment for each of the first plurality of forward link signals.

[0245] Some examples of method 1000 may further include: assigning a corresponding frequency channel to at least one of the first plurality of forward link signals based at least in part on the location where the corresponding user terminal receives at least one of the first plurality of forward link signals.

[0246] Some examples of method 1000 may further include: relaying a first composite signal via a satellite, wherein the relay includes applying a first set of beamforming weights to transmit the first composite signal via a plurality of antenna elements of an antenna array of a satellite.

[0247] Some examples of method 1000 may further include: identifying a second plurality of forward link signals for transmission to a second plurality of user terminals during a second time slot, wherein each of the second plurality of forward link signals includes unicast data for a corresponding user terminal among the second plurality of user terminals; generating a second composite signal including the second plurality of forward link signals, wherein each of the second plurality of forward link signals is assigned to a corresponding frequency channel of the bandwidth of the second composite signal; generating a second set of beamforming weights for satellite application to relay the second composite signal to the second plurality of user terminals during the second time slot, wherein the second set of beamforming weights is generated to form a second forward link beam having a single lobe along a single direction; and transmitting the second composite signal from a gateway for relay by one or more satellites including the satellite during the second time slot.

[0248] In some examples of method 1000, the second forward link beam is associated with a smaller beam coverage area compared to the first forward link beam.

[0249] In some examples of Method 1000, the second forward link beam is associated with a higher peak signal-to-noise ratio compared to the first forward link beam.

[0250] In some examples of method 1000, the first plurality of user terminals and the second plurality of user terminals have at least one common user terminal.

[0251] In some examples of method 1000, the bandwidth of the second composite signal is equal to the bandwidth of the first composite signal.

[0252] Some examples of method 1000 may further include: relaying a second composite signal via a satellite, wherein the relay includes applying a second set of beamforming weights to transmit the second composite signal via a plurality of antenna elements of an antenna array of the satellite, and wherein the transmission power of the second composite signal is the same as the transmission power of the first composite signal.

[0253] Some examples of method 1000 may further include: identifying a third plurality of user terminals for transmitting a return link signal via a second satellite during a third time slot; assigning each of the third plurality of user terminals to a corresponding frequency channel of the return link bandwidth; generating a third set of beamforming weights for application by the second satellite to relay a third composite signal on the return link bandwidth during the third time slot, wherein the third set of beamforming weights is generated to form a return link beam with a plurality of second beam lobes corresponding to corresponding directions of the line of sight of the third plurality of user terminals relative to the second antenna array of the second satellite; receiving the third composite signal on the return link bandwidth at a second gateway during the third time slot; and demodulating the corresponding return link signal associated with the third plurality of user terminals from the third composite signal according to the corresponding frequency channel assigned to the third plurality of user terminals.

[0254] In some examples, the apparatus as described herein may perform one or more aspects of methods such as method 1000. The apparatus may include features, circuitry, logic, components, or instructions (e.g., processor-executable non-transitory computer-readable medium storage instructions) or any combination thereof for performing aspects of method 1000.

[0255] It should be noted that these methods describe examples of implementation schemes, and the operations and steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified to make other implementations possible. In some examples, two or more aspects from the method may be combined. For example, each aspect of the method may include steps or aspects of other methods, or other steps or techniques described herein.

[0256] The “configuration” operation of the technology described herein can refer to various technologies that support the described operation or variations thereof. In some examples, one or more aspects of such configuration can refer to one or more operations performed at satellite 120 (e.g., “configuration, at satellite”). For example, such “configuration” can refer to one or more operations of satellite 120, namely, configuring (e.g., activating) one or more signal paths, configuring one or more aspects of beamforming (e.g., configuring directional reception, configuring directional transmission, or both), configuring the orientation of satellite 120 (e.g., turning the satellite), or any combination thereof. In various implementations, such configuration can be based at least in part on information stored at satellite 120 (e.g., instructions, parameters), or information conveyed via signals received at satellite 120 (e.g., signal 132, signal 183, signal 173), or any combination thereof, which can be processed by one or more processors (e.g., control systems) of satellite 120.

[0257] Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, one or more aspects of such "configuration" may refer to one or more operations performed at one or more entities of ground segment 101 (e.g., "issuing instructions for satellite configuration," "determining satellite configuration"), which may be performed at gateway terminal 130, network device 141 (such as a NOC or gateway command center), and other devices or combinations thereof. For example, such "configuration" may be achieved by signaling one or more instructions (e.g., commands, directives, parameters) to satellite 120, which may involve signals 132, 181, 182, 183, 173, 175, or any combination thereof. For example, such "configuration" may refer to one or more gateway terminals 130 (e.g., to satellite 120) transmitting one or more instructions, which satellite 120 may respond to by performing one or more operations to perform the associated functions. In various examples, such instructions may be determined by one or more entities of ground segment 101 based on various criteria, such as determinations regarding service scheduling, service requirements, service priorities, equipment location, equipment capabilities, attenuation environment, and other criteria.

[0258] The detailed description above, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, describes examples and does not represent the only examples that can be implemented or are within the scope of the claims. The term "example," as used in this specification, means "serving as an example, instance, or demonstration" and is not "preferred" or "superior to other examples." The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of the described techniques. However, these techniques can be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form so as not to obscure the concept of the described examples.

[0259] The information and signals described herein can be represented using any of a variety of different techniques and skills. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that can be referenced throughout the description can be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, light fields or light particles, or any combination thereof.

[0260] The various illustrative blocks and modules described in connection with the disclosure herein can be implemented or executed using a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but alternatively, it may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a digital signal processor (DSP) and a microprocessor, a combination of multiple microprocessors, a combination of one or more microprocessors combined with a DSP core, or any other combination of such configurations).

[0261] The functions described herein can be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software executed by a processor, these functions can be stored or transmitted to a computer-readable medium as one or more instructions or code. Other examples and implementations are within the scope of this disclosure and the appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, the functions described herein can be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwired, or any combination thereof. Features implementing the functions can also be physically located in various locations, including being distributed such that different parts of the function are implemented in different physical locations.

[0262] Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory computer storage media and communication media, including any medium that facilitates the transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Non-transitory storage media can be any available medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer. For example, and not limitingly, non-transitory computer-readable media can include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, compact disc read-only memory (CDROM) or other optical disc storage devices, magnetic disk storage devices or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transitory medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code elements in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor. Furthermore, any connection is properly referred to as computer-readable media. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then that coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of media. As used herein, discs and platters include CDs, laser discs, optical discs, digital multifunction discs (DVDs), floppy disks, and Blu-ray discs, wherein discs typically reproduce data magnetically, while platters optically reproduce data using lasers. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0263] As used herein, the word "or" included in the claims, as in a list of items (e.g., a list of items beginning with phrases such as "at least one of..." or "one or more of..."), indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, a list of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Similarly, as used herein, the phrase "based on" should not be construed as referring to a closed set of conditions. For example, without departing from the scope of this disclosure, an exemplary step described as "based on condition A" may be based on both condition A and condition B. In other words, as used herein, the phrase "based on" should be interpreted in the same manner as the phrase "at least partially based on".

[0264] In the accompanying drawings, similar parts or features may have the same reference numerals. Furthermore, various parts of the same type may be distinguished by a dashed line following the reference numeral and a second reference numeral used to differentiate them among similar parts. If only the first reference numeral is used in the description, the description applies to any of the similar parts having the same first reference numeral, regardless of the second or other subsequent reference numerals.

[0265] The descriptions herein, illustrated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, depict exemplary configurations and do not represent all achievable examples or all examples within the scope of the claims. The term "exemplary" as used herein means "serving as an example, instance, or demonstration" and is not "preferred" or "superior" to other examples. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of the described techniques. However, these techniques can be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form so as not to obscure the concepts of the described examples.

[0266] The description herein is provided to enable those skilled in the art to make or use this disclosure. Various modifications to this disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein, but should be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method for satellite communications, comprising: identifying a first plurality of forward link signals (132) for transmission to a first plurality of user terminals (150) during a first time slot, wherein each of the first plurality of forward link signals comprises unicast data for a respective user terminal of the first plurality of user terminals; generating a first composite signal (610) comprising the first plurality of forward link signals, wherein each of the first plurality of forward link signals is assigned to a respective frequency channel of a bandwidth of the first composite signal; generating a first set of beamforming weights for application by a satellite (120) to relay the first composite signal to the first plurality of user terminals during the first time slot, wherein the first set of beamforming weights is generated to form a first forward link beam (125) having a plurality of beam lobes (630) corresponding to respective directions (635) of boresights (255) of the first plurality of user terminals relative to an antenna array (250) of the satellite; and transmitting the first composite signal from a gateway (130) for relay by one or more satellites comprising the satellite during the first time slot.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of user terminals are configured for reception in a second bandwidth that is less than the bandwidth of the first composite signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: configuring the satellite to orient the boresight of the antenna array based at least in part on the respective directions of the first plurality of user terminals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the satellite to orient the boresight of the antenna array comprises: configuring the satellite to orient a side (215, 315) of the satellite on which the antenna array is fixed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first forward link beam has an energy distribution across a geographical region comprising at least one coverage portion (650) separate from at least one other coverage portion (650) of the first forward link beam.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first forward link beam is associated with respective local minimum transmit intensities (640) along one or more directions between the plurality of beam lobes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first composite signal comprises control signaling indicative of the frequency channel assignment for each of the first plurality of forward link signals.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: assigning the respective frequency channel for at least one of the first plurality of forward link signals based at least in part on a location at which the respective user terminal receives the at least one of the first plurality of forward link signals.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: relaying the first composite signal via the satellite, wherein the relaying comprises applying the first set of beamforming weights to transmit the first composite signal via a plurality of antenna elements of the antenna array of the satellite.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: identifying a second plurality of forward link signals (132) for communicating to a second plurality of user terminals (150) during a second time slot, wherein each of the second plurality of forward link signals comprises unicast data for a respective user terminal of the second plurality of user terminals; generating a second composite signal (610) comprising the second plurality of forward link signals, wherein each of the second plurality of forward link signals is assigned to a respective frequency channel of a bandwidth of the second composite signal; generating a second set of beamforming weights for application by the satellite to relay the second composite signal to the second plurality of user terminals during the second time slot, wherein the second set of beamforming weights is generated to form a second forward link beam (125) having a single lobe (630) along a single direction (635, 127); and transmitting the second composite signal from the gateway for relaying by the one or more satellites including the satellite during the second time slot.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second forward link beam is associated with a smaller beam coverage area (126) than the first forward link beam.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the second forward link beam is associated with a higher peak signal-to-noise ratio than the first forward link beam.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first plurality of user terminals and the second plurality of user terminals have at least one user terminal in common.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the bandwidth of the second composite signal is equal to the bandwidth of the first composite signal.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising: relaying the second composite signal by the satellite, wherein relaying comprises applying the second set of beamforming weights to transmit the second composite signal via the plurality of antenna elements of the antenna array of the satellite, wherein a transmit power of the second composite signal is the same as a transmit power of the first composite signal.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying a third plurality of user terminals (150) for communicating return link signals (173, 133) via a second satellite (120) during a third time slot; assigning each user terminal of the third plurality of user terminals to a respective frequency channel of a return link bandwidth; A third set of beamforming weights is generated for use by the second satellite to relay a third composite signal over the return link bandwidth during the third time slot (810, 820), wherein the third set of beamforming weights is generated to form a return link beam (125) having a plurality of second beam lobes (830), the plurality of second beam lobes corresponding to the respective directions (835) of the line of sight (245) of the third plurality of user terminals relative to the second antenna array (240) of the second satellite; The third composite signal is received on the return link bandwidth at the second gateway (130) during the third time slot; as well as Demodulate the corresponding return link signal associated with the third plurality of user terminals from the third composite signal according to the corresponding frequency channel assigned to the third plurality of user terminals.

17. A system for satellite communication, comprising: Components for identifying a first plurality of forward link signals (132) for transmission to a first plurality of user terminals (150) during a first time slot, wherein each of the first plurality of forward link signals includes unicast data for a corresponding user terminal among the first plurality of user terminals. A component for generating a first composite signal (610) comprising the first plurality of forward link signals, wherein each of the first plurality of forward link signals is assigned to a corresponding frequency channel of the bandwidth of the first composite signal. The first set of beamforming weights is used to generate a first set of beamforming weights for use by the satellite (120) to relay the first composite signal to the first plurality of user terminals during the first time slot, wherein the first set of beamforming weights is generated to form a first forward link beam (125) having a plurality of beam lobes (630) corresponding to the respective directions (635) of the first plurality of user terminals relative to the line of sight (255) of the antenna array (255) of the satellite. as well as A component for transmitting the first composite signal from the gateway (130) for relay by one or more satellites, including the satellite, during the first time slot.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first plurality of user terminals are configured to receive in a second bandwidth less than the bandwidth of the first composite signal.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising: A component for configuring the satellite to orient the line of sight of the antenna array at least in part based on the respective orientations of the first plurality of user terminals.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the component for configuring the satellite to orient the line of sight of the antenna array comprises: A component for configuring the satellite to orient the side (215, 315) of the satellite on which the antenna array is fixed.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the first forward link beam has an energy distribution across a geographic region, the geographic region including at least one coverage portion (650) separate from at least one other coverage portion (650) of the first forward link beam.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the first forward link beam is associated with a corresponding local minimum transmit intensity along one or more directions between the plurality of beam lobes.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the first composite signal includes control signaling indicating the frequency channel assignment of each of the first plurality of forward link signals.

24. The system of claim 17, further comprising: A component for assigning a corresponding frequency channel to at least one of the first plurality of forward link signals based at least in part on the location where the corresponding user terminal receives at least one of the first plurality of forward link signals.

25. The system of claim 17, further comprising: A component for relaying the first composite signal by the satellite, wherein relaying includes applying the first set of beamforming weights to transmit the first composite signal via a plurality of antenna elements of the antenna array of the satellite.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising: A component for identifying a second plurality of forward link signals (132) for transmission to a second plurality of user terminals (150) during a second time slot, wherein each of the second plurality of forward link signals includes unicast data for a corresponding user terminal among the second plurality of user terminals. A component for generating a second composite signal (610) comprising the second plurality of forward link signals, wherein each of the second plurality of forward link signals is assigned to a corresponding frequency channel of the bandwidth of the second composite signal. The second set of beamforming weights is used to generate a component for use by the satellite to relay the second composite signal to the second plurality of user terminals during the second time slot, wherein the second set of beamforming weights is generated to form a second forward link beam (125) having a single lobe (630) along a single direction (635, 127). as well as A component for transmitting the second composite signal from the gateway for relay by the one or more satellites, including the satellite, during the second time slot.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the second forward link beam is associated with a smaller beam coverage area (126) compared to the first forward link beam.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the second forward link beam is associated with a higher peak signal-to-noise ratio compared to the first forward link beam.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the first plurality of user terminals and the second plurality of user terminals have at least one common user terminal.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the bandwidth of the second composite signal is equal to the bandwidth of the first composite signal.

31. The system of claim 26, further comprising: A component for relaying the second composite signal from the satellite, wherein relaying includes applying the second set of beamforming weights to transmit the second composite signal via the plurality of antenna elements of the antenna array of the satellite. The transmission power of the second composite signal is the same as that of the first composite signal.

32. The system of claim 17, further comprising: Components for identifying a third plurality of user terminals (150) for transmitting return link signals (173, 133) via a second satellite (120) during a third time slot; A component for assigning each of the third plurality of user terminals to the corresponding frequency channel of the return link bandwidth; The components for generating a third set of beamforming weights for use by the second satellite to relay a third composite signal (810, 820) over the return link bandwidth during the third time slot, wherein the third set of beamforming weights is generated to form a return link beam (125) having a plurality of second beam lobes (830) corresponding to the respective directions (835) of the line of sight (245) of the third plurality of user terminals relative to the second antenna array (240) of the second satellite; A component for receiving the third composite signal on the return link bandwidth during the third time slot at the second gateway (130); as well as A component for demodulating a corresponding return link signal associated with the third plurality of user terminals from the third composite signal according to the corresponding frequency channel assigned to the third plurality of user terminals.

33. A system for satellite communication, comprising: Multiple gateway terminals (130) are configured to support communication services via one or more satellites (120); The system is configured as follows: Identify a first plurality of forward link signals (132) for transmission to a first plurality of user terminals (150) during a first time slot, wherein each of the first plurality of forward link signals includes unicast data for a corresponding user terminal among the first plurality of user terminals; Generate a first composite signal (610) comprising the first plurality of forward link signals, wherein each of the first plurality of forward link signals is assigned to a corresponding frequency channel of the bandwidth of the first composite signal; A first set of beamforming weights is generated for application by the satellite (120) to relay the first composite signal to the first plurality of user terminals during the first time slot, wherein the first set of beamforming weights is generated to form a first forward link beam (125) having a plurality of beam lobes (630) corresponding to the respective directions (635) of the first plurality of user terminals relative to the line of sight (255) of the antenna array (250) of the satellite; as well as The first composite signal is transmitted from the gateway (130) for relay by one or more satellites, including the satellite, during the first time slot.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the first plurality of user terminals are configured to receive in a second bandwidth less than the bandwidth of the first composite signal.

35. The system of claim 33, further configured as follows: The satellite is configured to orient the line of sight of the antenna array at least in part based on the corresponding orientation of the first plurality of user terminals.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein in order to configure the satellite to orient itself toward the line of sight of the antenna array, the system is configured to: The satellite is configured to be oriented toward the side (215, 315) of the satellite to which the antenna array is fixed.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the first forward link beam has a power distribution across a geographic region, the geographic region including at least one coverage portion (650) separate from at least one other coverage portion (650) of the first forward link beam.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the first forward link beam is associated with a corresponding local minimum transmit intensity (640) along one or more directions between the plurality of beam lobes.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein the first composite signal includes control signaling indicating the frequency channel assignment of each of the first plurality of forward link signals.

40. The system of claim 33, further configured as follows: The corresponding frequency channel is assigned to the at least one forward link signal among the first plurality of forward link signals, at least in part, based on the location where the corresponding user terminal receives at least one forward link signal among the first plurality of forward link signals.

41. The system of claim 33, further configured as follows: The first composite signal is relayed via the satellite, wherein relaying includes applying the first set of beamforming weights to transmit the first composite signal via a plurality of antenna elements of the antenna array of the satellite.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the device to: A second plurality of forward link signals (132) are identified for transmission to a second plurality of user terminals (150) during a second time slot, wherein each of the second plurality of forward link signals includes unicast data for a corresponding user terminal among the second plurality of user terminals; A second composite signal (610) is generated, comprising the second plurality of forward link signals, wherein each of the second plurality of forward link signals is assigned to a corresponding frequency channel of the bandwidth of the second composite signal; A second set of beamforming weights is generated for use by the satellite application to relay the second composite signal to the second plurality of user terminals during the second time slot, wherein the second set of beamforming weights is generated to form a second forward link beam (125) having a single lobe (630) along a single direction (635, 127); and The second composite signal is transmitted from the gateway for relay by the one or more satellites, including the satellite, during the second time slot.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the second forward link beam is associated with a smaller beam coverage area (126) compared to the first forward link beam.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the second forward link beam is associated with a higher peak signal-to-noise ratio compared to the first forward link beam.

45. The system according to claim 42, wherein the first plurality of user terminals and the second plurality of user terminals have at least one common user terminal.

46. ​​The system of claim 42, wherein the bandwidth of the second composite signal is equal to the bandwidth of the first composite signal.

47. The system of claim 42, further configured as follows: The second composite signal is relayed via the satellite, wherein the relay includes applying the second set of beamforming weights to transmit the second composite signal via the plurality of antenna elements of the antenna array of the satellite. The transmission power of the second composite signal is the same as that of the first composite signal.

48. The system of claim 33, further configured as follows: A third plurality of user terminals (150) are identified for use in transmitting return link signals (173, 133) via a second satellite (120) during a third time slot. Each of the third plurality of user terminals is assigned to the corresponding frequency channel of the return link bandwidth; A third set of beamforming weights is generated for use by the second satellite to relay a third composite signal over the return link bandwidth during the third time slot (810, 820), wherein the third set of beamforming weights is generated to form a return link beam (125) having a plurality of second beam lobes (830), the plurality of second beam lobes corresponding to the respective directions (835) of the line of sight (245) of the third plurality of user terminals relative to the second antenna array (240) of the second satellite; The third composite signal is received on the return link bandwidth at the second gateway (130) during the third time slot; as well as Demodulate the corresponding return link signal associated with the third plurality of user terminals from the third composite signal according to the corresponding frequency channel assigned to the third plurality of user terminals.

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