Patent ID: 6759978
Filing Date: 2004-07-06
Classification: H01Q,H04B

Abstract:
A method for receiving beams by a plurality of spacecraft, comprising:providing a plurality of spacecraft including at least a first and second transmit spacecraft and at least first and second receive spacecraft, said first receive spacecraft having a first antenna with a number of antenna elements including at least a first antenna element and said second receive spacecraft having a second antenna with a number of antenna elements including at least a first antenna element; sending a first transmit beam by said first transmit spacecraft during a first time interval in a direct way to at least said first receive spacecraft; controlling a first receive beam in a determined first direction that depends on said first transmit beam using at least said first antenna element of said first antenna and controlling a second receive beam in a determined second direction that depends on said first transmit beam using at least a first antenna element of said second antenna; sending a second transmit beam by said second transmit spacecraft during a second time interval in a direct way to at least said first receive spacecraft; and controlling a third receive beam in a determined third direction that depends on said second transmit beam using at least a second antenna element of said first antenna and controlling a fourth receive beam in a determined fourth direction that depends on said second transmit beam using at least a second antenna element of said second antenna said third direction being different than said first direction, said fourth direction being different than said second direction and each of said first, second, third and fourth directions being different than hemispherical and omnidirectional patterns.