Feix & Feix
Wave based satellite constellation
 A constellation (100) comprising a plurality of man-made satellites (1-27). The satellites (1-27) orbit a celestial body (110) along a plurality of orbits (120-128), which are located at a substantially common altitude and have a substantially common inclination. The satellites (1-27) are positioned in a predetermined order substantially along a wave (130). Each satellite (1-27) maintains its position in the predetermined order along the wave (130) while orbiting the celestial body (110). A system in accordance with the invention may further include a ground station adapted for enabling communication with at least one of the satellites (1-27). The satellites (1-27) may be positioned based on a Walker code T/P/F, where T is the total number of satellites (1-27) in a full Walker rosette corresponding to the Walker code, P is the number of distinct orbits (120-128), and F/T is the phase shift between adjacent orbits (120-128). The Walker code T/P/F may be determined by the equation F=(T-c+nP)N/(c-1) where c is the number of cycles in the wave 130, N is the number of satellites (1-27) in each orbit (120-128), N is the greatest common factor of T and (c-1), and n is an integer chosen such that O.ltoreq.F<P. At least one of the satellites (1-27) may also be adapted to maintain a permanent communications link with a second satellite (1-27) which is positioned adjacent to it in the predetermined order along the wave (130). 
Lockheed Martin Corp.
B H B B
B64G H04B B64G B64G
inventional inventional inventional inventional
John H.
Drake