US 12,296,987 B2
Methods and systems for deploying satellite constellations
Robert Hawkins, Hermosa Beach, CA (US); and Peterson Browning, Los Angeles, CA (US)
Filed by Blue Digs LLC, Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Feb. 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/165,797.
Application 18/165,797 is a continuation of application No. 17/071,901, filed on Oct. 15, 2020, granted, now 11,724,825.
Application 17/071,901 is a continuation of application No. 15/672,221, filed on Aug. 8, 2017, granted, now 10,807,739, issued on Oct. 20, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/523,084, filed on Jun. 21, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0182923 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
Int. Cl. B64G 1/24 (2006.01); B64G 1/10 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/2427 (2023.08) [B64G 1/1007 (2013.01); B64G 1/1085 (2013.01); B64G 1/242 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of deploying a constellation of communication satellites that convey wireless data between one or more gateways and one or more user equipment devices, the method comprising:
with a launch vehicle having a payload fairing, deploying a first communication satellite into a first orbit having a first orbital radius, the first communication satellite being stacked onto a second communication satellite in the payload fairing;
with the launch vehicle, after the first communication satellite has been deployed, deploying the second communication satellite into a second orbit having a second orbital radius that is larger than the first orbital radius; and
with a propulsion system on the second communication satellite, moving the second communication satellite from the second orbit into a third orbit having a third orbital radius that is less than the second orbital radius and greater than the first orbital radius.