How Satellite Swarms Keep Their Solar Panels and Antennas Pointed Correctly
A system for managing large satellite arrays in orbit that balances the need to point solar panels at the sun and antennas at the Earth while keeping the structure stable.
Original patent title: “System for tracking solar energy”
A system for managing large satellite arrays in orbit that balances the need to point solar panels at the sun and antennas at the Earth while keeping the structure stable. Granted to AST and Science LLC in 2023 with 33 claims and 1 forward citation.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way to control a large, connected group of satellites in space that act as a single, giant antenna. Because these satellites are linked, they must constantly adjust their position to keep their solar panels facing the sun for power and their antennas facing the Earth for communication. The system uses a central computer to calculate the perfect angle for the entire array. It then uses actuators—like spinning wheels or magnets—to move the array while ensuring that the forces acting on it, such as gravity pulling on different parts of the structure, are perfectly balanced so the array doesn't spin out of control.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover individual, standalone satellites that are not mechanically coupled into a phased array.
- Does not cover systems that rely solely on ground-based control without an onboard processing device for orientation.
- Does not cover antenna systems that do not simultaneously optimize for both solar exposure and Earth-facing orientation.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The system uses the momentum of the satellite's own internal spinning wheels to create a gyroscopic effect that cancels out the natural twisting force (gravity gradient torque) caused by the Earth's gravity acting on a large, non-uniform object in orbit.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Large-scale satellite internet constellations
Space-based phased array communication platforms
Modular satellite swarms in Low Earth Orbit
Why it matters
The bigger picture
As companies launch massive constellations of satellites to provide global internet, managing the physical stability of these large structures becomes a major engineering hurdle. This patent addresses the specific problem of 'torque equilibrium,' which prevents these large, flat arrays from tumbling due to the uneven pull of Earth's gravity, a critical requirement for maintaining high-speed data links.
Filed
February 12, 2021
Granted
April 11, 2023
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
AST SpaceMobile is the primary entity associated with this technology, as they are actively developing large-scale satellite arrays designed to provide direct-to-cell phone connectivity from space. Other major players in the LEO satellite internet space, such as SpaceX and Eutelsat OneWeb, face similar challenges in stabilizing large antenna structures.
Market impact
This technology enables the deployment of larger, more powerful satellite antennas that were previously too unstable to operate effectively in orbit. By solving the stabilization problem, it allows for higher-gain communications, which is essential for the industry's shift toward providing direct-to-smartphone satellite broadband.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way to control a large, connected group of satellites in space that act as a single, giant antenna. Because these satellites are linked, they must constantly adjust their position to keep their solar panels facing the sun for power and their antennas facing the Earth for communication. The system uses a central computer to calculate the perfect angle for the entire array. It then uses actuators—like spinning wheels or magnets—to move the array while ensuring that the forces acting on it, such as gravity pulling on different parts of the structure, are perfectly balanced so the array doesn't spin out of control.
The clever bit
The system uses the momentum of the satellite's own internal spinning wheels to create a gyroscopic effect that cancels out the natural twisting force (gravity gradient torque) caused by the Earth's gravity acting on a large, non-uniform object in orbit.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover individual, standalone satellites that are not mechanically coupled into a phased array.
- Does not cover systems that rely solely on ground-based control without an onboard processing device for orientation.
- Does not cover antenna systems that do not simultaneously optimize for both solar exposure and Earth-facing orientation.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$52K – $166K
Midpoint $104K · 14.7 yr remaining · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
33 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Sedwick, R. J., & Halperin, A. H. (2023). How Satellite Swarms Keep Their Solar Panels and Antennas Pointed Correctly (U.S. Patent No. 11,623,768). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11623768/super-heavy-booster
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Satellite Swarms Keep Their Solar Panels and Antennas Pointed Correctly cover?
A system for managing large satellite arrays in orbit that balances the need to point solar panels at the sun and antennas at the Earth while keeping the structure stable.
Who owns patent US 11623768?
AST and Science LLC owns this patent, granted in 2023.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on April 11, 2043, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 11623768 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
As companies launch massive constellations of satellites to provide global internet, managing the physical stability of these large structures becomes a major engineering hurdle. This patent addresses the specific problem of 'torque equilibrium,' which prevents these large, flat arrays from tumbling due to the uneven pull of Earth's gravity, a critical requirement for maintaining high-speed data links.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover individual, standalone satellites that are not mechanically coupled into a phased array.
Patent monitoring