Importance

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Abstract

The excess space and weight capacity of a conventional geosynchronous-transfer launch vehicle is used to deploy satellites to a low-earth orbit (LEO). In a preferred embodiment, an orbit-transfer vehicle provides the navigation, propulsion, and control systems required to transport a payload satellite from a geosynchronous-transfer orbit (GTO) to a predetermined low-earth orbit. Upon entering low-earth orbit, the payload satellite is released from the orbit-transfer vehicle. To reduce the fuel requirements for this deployment via the orbit-transfer vehicle, a preferred embodiment includes aerobraking to bring the satellite into a low-earth orbit. In a preferred embodiment of this method of deployment, the provider of the orbit-transfer vehicle identifies and secures available excess capacity on geosynchronous-transfer launch vehicles, and allocates the excess capacity to the satellites requiring low-earth orbit deployment, thereby providing a deployment means that is virtually transparent to the purchaser of this deployment service.

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First Claim