Abstract: A ground-control system for a fleet of satellites provides a highly reliable means that automatically recognizes undesirable telemetry state changes and automatically transmits the required commands to the proper satellite to place the satellite operational parameters into the desired state. The ground-control system utilizes hardware, software and two redundant ground-control sites: a Control site and a Monitor site. There may also be a number of disabled sites to replace one of the redundant ground-control sites, at a moment's notice, if necessary. Both redundant sites constantly and independently monitor and verify validity of satellite telemetry. Upon occurrence of an undesired state change (event) upon a particular satellite, ground-control computers at both sites independently recognize the event and automatically begin a response.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 18, 2000
Date of Patent:
July 22, 2003
Assignee:
SES Americom
Inventors:
Winfield A. Caldwell, III, Anthony W. Massaro, Kevin J. Moscatiello, Thomas G. Nowak, Michael E. Pritchard, John Philip Schramm, Christopher Taylor, Henry H. White