CONSTELLATION OF SATELLITES IN LOW EARTH ORBITS, EACH SATELLITE COMPRISING AN ATTITUDE CONTROL MODULE FOR ROTATING THE SATELLITE ABOUT ITS ROLL AXIS TO ASSURE EARTH RADIO COVERAGE

摘要

A communication-satellite system for providing communication services to the entire Earth is based on a plurality of satellites in low-earth-orbit (LEO). The satellites orbit the Earth in a plurality of orbits, with multiple satellites in each orbit. This orbital arrangement results in some locations on the surface of the Earth receiving redundant satellite coverage. Embodiments of the present invention can selectively and adaptively rotate the orientation of some of the satellites so as to transfer some of the redundant coverage from locations where it is not needed to locations where the redundant coverage is advantageous.