An automated communication system for communicatively connecting a caller with
a communications device to an space craft. The system includes a port for accepting
a call and a call management program that uses a spacecraft identifier to automatically
effect the communication to the space craft via a ground earth station and a satellite.
The satellite retransmits the communication to a dedicated spacecraft receiver
in the space craft. The system provides Internet-based call monitoring and billing
capabilities. The system reduces cost and overall connection time by using the
Internet to verify the spacecraft's flying status through the ground station databases
before initiating a call.