Patent ID: 8639181

Claim:
A system for communications between a lunar or planetary surface of a celestial body and the Earth, comprising: a first communications satellite adapted to be positioned in a predetermined orbit around the celestial body other than the Earth; a first antenna mounted on the first communications satellite, the first antenna including a predetermined beam shape for communications between the first communications satellite and an asset on the lunar or planetary surface other than the Earth, wherein the first antenna generates a substantially conically-shaped beam, wherein the first antenna is duplexed to transmit and receive signals from the asset on the lunar or planetary surface; a second antenna mounted on the first communications satellite, the second antenna including a selected beam shape for communications between the first communications satellite and the Earth, wherein the second antenna comprises a toroidal antenna that generates a substantially toroidally-shaped beam, wherein the second antenna is duplexed to transmit and receive signals from the Earth; wherein the first communications satellite is spin stabilized about a spin axis, the substantially conically-shaped beam including a vertex on the spin axis and extending symmetrically about the spin axis, and the substantially toroidally-shaped beam extending perpendicular to the spin axis; and a communications system for relaying communications between the first and second antennas, the system providing two-way data communications between the asset on the lunar or planetary surface and the Earth.