Ellipso

Ellipso was a proposed satellite communications system based on two coordinated constellations in highly elliptical orbits, known as Concordia and Borealis. Ellipso combined features of geostationary and Molniya-type satellite systems to reduce overall satellite count while extending coverage to high-latitude regions. The system was designed to provide continuous regional coverage with a relatively small number of satellites by exploiting the long dwell time of satellites near apogee.

The Concordia constellation was planned to comprise seven satellites and was intended to serve regions containing the bulk of the world’s population, between approximately 50°S and 50°N latitude. The Borealis constellation was planned to comprise ten satellites in more highly inclined elliptical orbits, providing coverage of high-latitude regions in the northern hemisphere.

The Ellipso system was proposed in the 1990s but was never deployed.