A low earth orbiting spacecraft (LEO spacecraft) operable in a first earth orbit includes a main body, a data collection payload, and a first directional antenna, each of the data collection payload and the first directional antenna being coupled with the main body. During a first period of time, the main body is oriented such that the data collection payload views a region of interest on the earth. During a second period of time, the main body and the first directional antenna are oriented such that the first directional antenna is directed toward a first ground station. During a third period of time, the main body and the first directional antenna are oriented such that the first directional antenna is directed toward a second spacecraft operating in a second orbit.