{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-10543939","patent":{"patent_number":"US-10543939","title":"Apparatus and methods for creating artificial near-earth orbits","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2018-07-11T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2020-01-28T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["G08G"],"num_claims":13,"abstract":"An orbiting satellite can be maintained in a virtual orbit, having an orbital period equal to the natural orbit of a satellite at a different altitude, by equipping the satellite with at least one radial thruster. Radial thrusters on the anti-nadir-facing side of the satellite allow for virtual orbits higher than the natural altitude, while radial thrusters on the nadir-facing side of the satellite allow for virtual orbits lower than the natural altitude. This allows a satellite to evade threats, such as orbital debris and/or hostile spacecraft, without losing its relative position within a satellite constellation or experiencing the diminished services often attendant such maneuvers. Similar techniques can also be used for surveillance of orbiting satellites."},"analysis":{"summary":null,"layman_explanation":null,"technical_analysis":null,"business_analysis":null,"faqs":null,"topics":[],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Apparatus and methods for creating artificial near-earth orbits","description":"An orbiting satellite can be maintained in a virtual orbit, having an orbital period equal to the natural orbit of a satellite at a different altitude, by equipping the satellite with at least one rad","keywords":[]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-10543939","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-10543939","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Apparatus and methods for creating artificial near-earth orbits\" (US-10543939). https://patentable.app/patents/US-10543939","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-10543939","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-10543939","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-05-31T06:51:52.567Z"}