Patent ID: 10215850

Abstract:
Technology for determining an orbit of a geosynchronous satellite is described. A ground station can receive a transponded (RF) signal from a relay satellite. The relay satellite can receive an RF signal from the geosynchronous satellite and transpond the RF signal to create the transponded RF signal. The ground station can identify a second Doppler shift associated with the transponded RF signal received at the ground station from the relay satellite. The RF signal received at the relay satellite from the geosynchronous satellite can be associated with a first Doppler shift. The ground station can determine a frequency of the transponded RF signal received at the ground station from the relay satellite. The first Doppler shift associated with the RF signal transmitted from the geosynchronous satellite to the relay satellite can be calculated using the frequency of the transponded RF signal and the second Doppler shift associated with the transponded signal. The orbit of the geosynchronous satellite can be determined based on the first Doppler shift associated with the RF signal.