A method for satellite communication utilizing a satellite containing a plurality of pathways, comprising: specifying a first weight set and a first beam hop frame definition for a first beam hopping frame, the first beam hopping frame comprising a plurality of timeslots, the specified first weight set comprising a first plurality of receive weight vectors and a first plurality of transmit weight vectors for generating uplink beam signals and downlink beam signals in timeslots of the first beam hopping frame, the specified first beam hop frame definition defining a first plurality of sequential dwell times, each timeslot associated with a dwell time; specifying a second weight set and a second beam hop frame definition for a second beam hopping frame, the specified second weight set comprising a second plurality of receive weight vectors and a second plurality of transmit weight vectors for generating uplink beam signals and downlink beam signals in timeslots of the second beam hopping frame, the specified second beam hop frame definition defining a second plurality of sequential dwell times; pre-computing and uploading to the satellite for storage a plurality of weight sets, including the first weight set and the second weight set, and a plurality of beam hop frame definitions, including the first beam hop frame definition and the second beam hop frame definition; operating the satellite to generate the uplink beam signals and downlink beam signals for pathways in accordance with the specified first weight set and the specified first beam hop frame definition; and switching from operation of the satellite in accordance with the specified first weight set and the specified first beam hop frame definition to operation of the satellite to generate the uplink beam signals and downlink beam signals for pathways in accordance with the specified second weight set and the specified second beam hop frame definition, characterised in that the specified first weight set and the specified first beam hop frame definition support first targets of coverage area and capacity allocation based on a first time-based traffic estimate, and the specified second weight set and the specified second beam hop frame definition support second targets of coverage area and capacity allocation based on a second time-based traffic estimate. specifying a first weight set and a first beam hop frame definition for a first beam hopping frame, the first beam hopping frame comprising a plurality of timeslots, the specified first weight set comprising a first plurality of receive weight vectors and a first plurality of transmit weight vectors for generating uplink beam signals and downlink beam signals in timeslots of the first beam hopping frame, the specified first beam hop frame definition defining a first plurality of sequential dwell times, each timeslot associated with a dwell time; specifying a second weight set and a second beam hop frame definition for a second beam hopping frame, the specified second weight set comprising a second plurality of receive weight vectors and a second plurality of transmit weight vectors for generating uplink beam signals and downlink beam signals in timeslots of the second beam hopping frame, the specified second beam hop frame definition defining a second plurality of sequential dwell times; pre-computing and uploading to the satellite for storage a plurality of weight sets, including the first weight set and the second weight set, and a plurality of beam hop frame definitions, including the first beam hop frame definition and the second beam hop frame definition; operating the satellite to generate the uplink beam signals and downlink beam signals for pathways in accordance with the specified first weight set and the specified first beam hop frame definition; and switching from operation of the satellite in accordance with the specified first weight set and the specified first beam hop frame definition to operation of the satellite to generate the uplink beam signals and downlink beam signals for pathways in accordance with the specified second weight set and the specified second beam hop frame definition, characterised in that the specified first weight set and the specified first beam hop frame definition support first targets of coverage area and capacity allocation based on a first time-based traffic estimate, and the specified second weight set and the specified second beam hop frame definition support second targets of coverage area and capacity allocation based on a second time-based traffic estimate.