ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 12 -- United States Patent no. 12,296,987, issued on May 13.
"Methods and systems for deploying satellite constellations" was invented by Robert Hawkins (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) and Peterson Browning (Los Angeles).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A satellite system may have a constellation of communications satellites in orbits such as highly inclined eccentric geosynchronous orbits and low earth orbits. To place satellites in inclined eccentric geosynchronous orbits, a series of launch vehicles may be launched. Each launch vehicle may be used to place a set of satellites, such as a set of three satellites, into a common orbital plane with distinct longitude of ascending nod...