A SPACE-BASED INTERNET PROTOCOL SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE TRACKING, SYSTEMS MONITORING AND CONTROL

摘要

This invention is a system for communicating between space-based vehicles, such as rockets, scientific balloons and conventional aircraft, and a ground-based computer, using low earth orbit commercial satellite constellations. Communication is full duplex and commands can be sent to the payload. Data such as position, altitude and systems status are readily transmitted in near real time. An internet protocol connection at the gateway allows worldwide communications with the payload from any computer terminal with an internet hook-up. The potential savings in terms of operations and infrastructure is significant.