US Patent 8693947 Extensible high bandwidth global space communication network

Various embodiments provide a satellite communication system including a first transceiver and a second transceiver geographically fixed on the earth, and a first satellite configured to communicate with the first transceiver through a first link. The system further includes a second satellite configured to communicate with the second transceiver through a second link and communicate with the first satellite through a laser communication crosslink. The first satellite and the second satellite are at a low earth orbit or medium earth orbit below the geostationary earth orbit of approximately 36000 km.