Patent ID: 8136765

Claim:
A method of launching a satellite into an operational orbit from a transfer orbit obtained by means of a space launcher, the satellite comprising a satellite propulsion system, compatible with launchers available on market which are not capable of direct launching into operational orbit, the method comprising: a) connecting the satellite to a separate propulsion device being controlled by the satellite and mounting the satellite and the separate propulsion device onto the space launcher and launching the satellite, separate propulsion device and space launcher into the transfer orbit, b) conveying the satellite and separate propulsion device, by means of the propulsion device, from the transfer orbit into an intermediate orbit, the intermediate orbit being close to the operational orbit but sufficiently far away from the operational orbit to avoid any interference with the operational orbit, c) separating the satellite from the separate propulsion device, which remains in the intermediate orbit as a graveyard orbit for the propulsion device, and d) allowing the satellite to reach the operational orbit from the intermediate orbit by means of the satellite propulsion system.