GEO Satellite Cloud Mask Data Distribution to LEO Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) spacecraft systems face inefficiencies due to cloud obscuration, as they often collect and process unusable image data without real-time knowledge of cloud locations, which can change rapidly.
Innovation Solution
A commercial communications or broadcast satellite in geosynchronous orbit is used as a platform to obtain and distribute cloud mask data with low latency to LEO spacecraft systems, utilizing a secondary imaging payload and existing telemetry downlinks to provide near real-time cloud mask image data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If LEO spacecraft systems collect image data without real-time cloud mask data, then they can operate independently, but they waste resources collecting unusable image data due to cloud obscuration
Solution Approach 1:
The GEO satellite obtains and transmits cloud mask data to LEO spacecraft before the LEO spacecraft collects image data. This preliminary provision of cloud information allows LEO systems to plan their observations in advance, avoiding wasted resources on cloud-obscured areas while maintaining operational independence.
2Measurement precision
If cloud mask data is obtained from dedicated weather satellites, then accurate cloud information is provided, but the cost and complexity of deploying such satellites is extremely high
Solution Approach 1:
A commercial GEO communications or broadcast satellite is equipped with a secondary imaging payload to provide cloud mask data as an additional service. This multi-functional approach allows the same satellite infrastructure to serve both communications/broadcast purposes and weather observation purposes, eliminating the need for separate dedicated weather satellites.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of deploying expensive dedicated weather satellites with primary imaging payloads, the invention uses secondary imaging payloads on existing GEO satellites. These secondary payloads replicate the cloud observation function at a fraction of the cost, providing accurate cloud mask data without requiring specialized satellite infrastructure.
3Ease of manufacture
If cloud mask data is transmitted via existing telemetry downlinks, then infrastructure costs are minimized, but data transmission capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud mask data transmission is combined with existing telemetry downlink infrastructure. By merging the cloud data transmission with regular satellite telemetry operations, the system utilizes already-established communication channels and ground stations, minimizing additional infrastructure requirements while providing timely cloud information to LEO spacecraft.
Data Source
AI summary
Cloud mask image data is obtained by a secondary imaging payload disposed on a communications or broadcast satellite operating in geosynchronous orbit. The obtained cloud mask image data is provisioned for use, in near real time, by one or more low earth orbit imaging satellite systems. Provisioning the obtained cloud mask image data may include collecting the data on the ground and making it available to one or more operators of the one or more LEO imaging satellite systems and/or transmitting the data from the communications or broadcast satellite to at least one spacecraft in the one or more LEO imaging satellite systems.