Patent ID: 7068975

Claim:
A satellite-based communication system, comprising: a first satellite in an orbital slot, the first satellite having an associated receive antenna, wherein the first satellite is configured to receive signals in a first range of frequencies; a second satellite in the orbital slot, the second satellite having an associated receive antenna, wherein the second satellite is separated from the first satellite by at least a first separation angle, wherein the second satellite is configured to receive signals in the first range of frequencies; a first earth uplink antenna, located at a first earth location, capable of transmitting a first uplink beam at the receive antenna of the first satellite; and a second earth uplink antenna, collocated at the first earth location, capable of transmitting a second uplink beam at the receive antenna of the second satellite; wherein the first uplink beam includes first signals at the first range of frequencies, and wherein the second uplink beam includes second signals at the first range of frequencies; wherein the first uplink beam is substantially attenuated beyond the first separation angle in the direction of the second satellite, and wherein the second uplink beam is substantially attenuated beyond the first separation angle in the direction of the first satellite.