Commercial Opportunities for Broadband Maritime Satellite Communications in the Era of HTS Satellites

Compared with the ever-changing development and changes of land communications,the development of maritime communications lags behind slightly,particularly on the offshore platform due to the complex and changeable environment,as well as the extremely difficult construction.However,the development of High Throughput Satellite(HTS)has changed the market pattern for traditional satellite communications,and its advanced technology concept ensures the rapid growth of maritime communications business.This article mainly analyzes the demand and current status of maritime satellite communications,discusses and expounds the commercial opportunities HTS satellites will bring to the era of maritime communications satellite.     

Developing the next phase in NASAs satellite communications program

NASAs early efforts in satellite communications development brought confidence in space technology use for improved telecommunications. New, worldwide satellite communications systems have resulted, and are now on a commercial, self-sustaining operational basis. Since 1973, NASA has conducted hundreds of user experiments and demonstrated newer technology using ATS-1, -3, -6 and CTS. Now, projections show that the commercial demand will continue to increase, soon exceeding the current technology's capacity.As a result, U.S. Space Policy affirmed in 1978 that NASA should embark again on a research and development program for satellite communications with specific, characterized goals. The resulting plan's elements include $\text{30}\text{20}\text{GHz}$ Ka-band technology, extending the current work in advanced multi-beam antennas; a narrowband system and technology study that could lead to mobile and transportable communications developments; and studies of future uses of technology in communications. The program plan and its evolution are described, followed by a report of current progress and future expectations.     

Disaster assessment and satellite communication: on the threshold of a new era

Disaster events have always been with us. Success or failure of a disaster response is often determined by timely access to communication and the exchange of reliable information. Especially, crucial is information acquired by on-site first responders responsible for initial disaster assessment. The rapid progress in satellite communication development is laying a foundation for a future where lack of communications will no longer be a limiting or paralyzing factor in disaster response. This paper discusses emerging satellite communications tools that can enhance on site assessment and change the way disaster management is viewed and carried out in the next century.     

Economic effect of satellite communications based on the Great East Japan Earthquake

On 11 March 2011, an undersea earthquake of magnitude 9.0, the largest ever recorded in Japan, occurred off the Oshika Peninsula on the Pacific coast of the Tohoku region. The hypocentral region extended for 500 km in the north–south direction from Iwate Prefecture to Ibaraki Prefecture, and for 200 km in east–west direction. The earthquake generated a tsunami with a height of more than 10 m and a run-up height of up to 40.0 m in certain places, which inflicted devastating damage on the coastal areas of the Tohoku and Kanto regions. In addition to the tsunami, the earthquake caused shaking, liquefaction, subsidence, and the collapse of dams, causing major damage to vast areas in the Tohoku and Kanto regions and disrupting various types of infrastructure, including communication. In light of this unprecedented damage, satellite communications were important from various perspectives while terrestrial communications systems were damaged, and an objective evaluation of the role played by satellite communications is relevant to its future installation, adoption and use as a standalone or backup system. Furthermore, satellite communications can help reduce the extent of damage, particularly damage to communications systems, inflicted by strong earthquakes in the future. Accordingly, we report a preliminary quantitative evaluation of the role of satellite communications in the Great East Japan Earthquake, of the role of satellite communications if it becomes widespread, and of its expected role in future large-scale earthquakes in terms of the economic effect converted into cost.     

China's space communications goals

As a large, developing country with poor communications networks, China is in a good position to benefit from satellite communications systems. This article describes the country's efforts since the late 1970s to develop satellite technology, particularly in the field of long-distance, broadcast education. Attention is also given to the role satellite communications can play in reaching remote, sparsely populated areas and in providing bilingual channels for ethnic minorities. The basis of the government's policy is a ‘Leasing for Transition’ programme arranged with Intelsat. But while emphasizing the value of cooperation and exchanges, the author also points to the headway made in indigenous technological development.     

无人机在干扰卫星通信系统中的应用

随着军事信息化程度越来越高,军事卫星通信已成为军事通信和战场通信的重要组成部分。卫星通信干扰和抗干扰技术已受到各国的重视。文章首先分析了干扰卫星通信系统的几种途径,然后分析了无人机在干扰卫星通信系统中的应用及优势。     

Fast-track development of space technology in China

China's space industry faces challenges from the rapid growth in domestic demand for satellite services, international competition from the other members of the space club and infiltration of its domestic markets by foreign space companies. To counter this the country is making space a priority in current plans to improve national economic and social development, paying particular attention to applications satellites. Policies aimed at accelerating development include increasing state support for space, improving management - especially of invested funds - creating a better infrastructure and aiming for serial production of satellite components. It is acknowledged that much can be learnt from other countries and China is keen to pursue cooperative endeavours, but it intends also to retain its independence.     

同步串行总线在通信卫星转发器中的应用

提出了一种适用于通信卫星转发器分系统测控数据传输的5线制同步串行总线,支持30个终端同时接入,改变了通信卫星平台传统的点对点式的遥测遥控信息传输方式,大大减少了通信舱内电缆数量;并在某通信卫星载荷舱上进行了应用,使卫星载荷舱质量减少几十千克,提升了卫星平台的有效载荷能力。文章设计的串行总线提供标准的接口电路,有利于有效载荷设备的扩容,可以推广至更多的有效载荷设备,构成其之间的测控信息网络。     

Space for celestial symphonies? Towards the establishment of international radio quiet zones

The growth of low- and medium-Earth orbit mobile satellite communications poses a threat to radio astronomers which could be mitigated by the establishment of international radio quiet zones (IRQZs), where communications traffic is managed (not eliminated) to allow radio astronomy to continue. Using the prototype of national such zones in the USA, this article explains how the system would work and discusses the international legal parameters that would bound it, drawing on current aerospace, outer space and high seas legislation. Precedents for an IRQZ—Exclusive Economic Zones, denuclearised zones and the Antarctic regime—are also examined.     

S@tMax—A space-based system enabling mobile IP applications in vehicles

As personal mobility increases, people spend more time in their vehicles. Furthermore, a large segment of today's workforce is part of a growing mobile service industry. This mobile society creates opportunities to increase productivity which do not yet exist. Today's commuting time could be better utilized and mobile business transactions could be more efficiently conducted, by integrating mobile IP wireless services in vehicles. By means of a direct to mobile user Internet access, and total IP services, integrated into automobiles, S@tMax services can empower the mobile business movement therefore improving productivity. This paper presents a commercial system architecture that will deliver an optimized solution for direct to mobile user Internet access, through an integration of a ground based network infrastructure, use of existing communications satellites and the development of a proprietary satellite system. As a result of a detailed systems engineering process, the architectures of the space, ground and infrastructures segments will be presented. Furthermore, the benefits of on-orbit servicing were examined in the S@tMax context. The approach proposed is considered as an important step towards enforcing main roadway IP coverage in the US, for near-continuous communications and services.     

The development of a Russian communication satellite of small class, operating in the geostationary and high-elliptical orbits

In 1994–1995 Lavochkin Association (Russia) together with the other enterprises in accordance with technical requirements of the Russian Space agency, developed a new Russian communication satellite of a small class that will operate in both the geostationary (GSO) and high-elliptical (HEO) orbits. This satellite may be injected into operational orbits using a SOYUZ-2 launch vehicle (LV) and a FREGAT upper stage (US) from Plesetsk and Baykonur space launch sites (SLS).The main reason for creating such a satellite was to decrease the cost of the support and development of the Russian communication geostationary satellites group.Russian satellites Horizont, Express, Ekran and Gals, which operate in GSO, are the basis of the space segment for communications, radio and TV broadcasting. All of these satellites are injected into GSO by the PROTON LV. PROTON is a launch vehicle of a heavy class. The use of a middle class LV instead of a heavy class will allow to reduce considerably the launch cost. The change of a heavy class LV to a LV of middle class determined one economic reason for this project. Besides, the opportunity to launch S/C into GSO from Russian Plesetsk SLS increases the independence of Russia in the domain of space communications, despite the presence of the contract with Kazachstan about the rent of Baykonur SLS. Finally, use of small satellites with a rather small number of transponders is more effective than the use of big satellites. It will allow also to increase a satellite group (by the launch of additional satellites) precisely in accordance to the development of the ground segment.     

卫星通信发展及与地面移动通信融合思考（英文）

With the further reduction in cost and the increase in bandwidth, as well as the increase in internet applications, satellite communications are gradually shifting from a complementary role to becoming a fully integrated component of terrestrial communications networks. This paper firstly introduces the development of satellite communications, mobile communications and the global space-terrestrial integrated network. We then propose the functional architecture and network architecture for the integration of satellite communications and terrestrial mobile communications based on 5 G core networks. Finally, in order to support the network of the future, four key technologies are presented, a space-terrestrial integrated air interface design, a multi-band space-terrestrial integrated transmission waveform design, space-terrestrial integrated switching and routing technology, along with spectrum sharing and interference coordination technology, all necessary for the development of space-terrestrial integrated networks.     

基于波束形成的卫星跳频系统干扰抑制研究

为了抑制干扰实现卫星的安全通信,首先分析了各种干扰方法对卫星跳频系统干扰的可行性,重点研究了一种新颖的干扰方法——部分驻留时间干扰对卫星跳频系统的干扰效果。在此基础上,提出了抑制部分驻留时间干扰的智能天线波束形成方法,建立了系统模型,并提出了转换矩阵的概念。仿真结果表明,该方法对部分驻留时间干扰具有较好的抑制作用,并且提高了波束指向精度及波束收敛速度。     

The development of a Russian communication satellite of small class, operating in the geostationary and high-elliptical orbits

In 1994-1995 Lavochkin Association (Russia) together with the other enterprises in accordance with technical requirements of the Russian Space agency, developed a new Russian communication satellite of a small class that will operate in both the geostationary (GSO) and high-elliptical (HEO) orbits. This satellite may be injected into operational orbits using a SOYUZ-2 launch vehicle (LV) and a FREGAT upper stage (US) from Plesetsk and Baykonur space launch sites (SLS).The main reason for creating such a satellite was to decrease the cost of the support and development of the Russian communication geostationary satellites group.Russian satellites Horizont, Express, Ekran and Gals, which operate in GSO, are the basis of the space segment for communications, radio and TV broadcasting. All of these satellites are injected into GSO by the PROTON LV. PROTON is a launch vehicle of a heavy class. The use of a middle class LV instead of a heavy class will allow to reduce considerably the launch cost. The change of a heavy class LV to a LV of middle class determined one economic reason for this project. Besides, the opportunity to launch S/C into GSO from Russian Plesetsk SLS increases the independence of Russia in the domain of space communications, despite the presence of the contract with Kazachstan about the rent of Baykonur SLS. Finally, use of small satellites with a rather small number of transponders is more effective than the use of big satellites. It will allow also to increase a satellite group (by the launch of additional satellites) precisely in accordance to the development of the ground segment.     

Multipath fading analysis of telemetry signals power fluctuations from Universitetsky microsatellite

The article deals with the results of the fading fluctuations analysis for telemetry signals in the 2 m and 70 cm bands from the first Moscow State University microsatellite better known as “Universitetsky”. Radio telemetry signals were received from the microsatellite for around 2 years, collecting and recording the power signal data of almost 7500 satellite overpasses. The received signals from about 2300 satellite overpasses had a very low signal to noise ratio (SNR) that caused high transmission losses. The rest of the signals had a SNR high enough to complete the transmission without losses. The main objective of this paper was to find the fading fluctuations caused both by diffusion and by the presence of Gaussian and non Gaussian noise in telemetry signal power data. The purpose was both to characterize the communication channel as well as to elaborate solutions both to improve the communication quality as well as to identify no homogeneous zones in the ionosphere environment. The signal power analysis was based in the observation of statistical characteristics from different power signal components, in particular the components influenced by diffusion and non Gaussian noise. The employed methodology follows the next steps: removing the power signal envelope; taking away the Gaussian noise; obtaining the statistical characteristics from non Gaussian noise, Gaussian noise and envelope; finally identifying the LOS and NLOS signal fading components. For this purpose, the wavelet technique was used to perform the signal decomposition. In particular, the discrete wavelet transform DWT was utilized to carry out the signal de-noising. Then, the results were statistically treated in order to obtain a diffusion index for Rician fading, which are associated with fading in atmosphere and ionosphere layers. In this way the communications channel among satellite and ground station was characterized and a BER parameter was obtained for every satellite overpass, which means an outstanding result when considering that just few papers describe such results for satellite systems. The obtained results are valid not only for satellite communications systems but also for wireless communications systems. These results are the basis for future communications system design, which in our case pursues to reduce the BER parameter in the satellite link. The referred system will employ adaptive error coding schemes as well as channel analyzer algorithms based in the theory exposed in this paper.     

The role of Venesat-1 satellite in promoting development in Venezuela and Latin America

Built in cooperation with China, at the end of 2008 the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela launched its first telecommunications satellite which operates in C, Ku and Ka bands. Using published and unpublished information, this report describes the potential role of the Venesat-1 satellite in promoting development in Venezuela and Latin America. The core of Venezuelan space policy has deep social roots and includes several applications in order to provide telecommunications services to people in all areas of the country. Potential roles of the Venezuelan Satellite in local and regional development include: strengthening environmental tele-education and telemedicine programs; improving disaster management through short-term development of broad networks to monitor environmental and meteorological features; coordination of emergency responses and humanitarian assistance using data and satellite communications; poverty reduction; and biodiversity conservation – communication networks could also be used to relay information about detected fires within protected areas faster, and to improve surveillance activities within them with in order to reduce illegal hunting, logging, habitat loss and fragmentation. Because the area covered by the satellite goes beyond Venezuela’s borders, its applications could have enormous relevance for human development at the regional level; they could be fundamental tools for bringing sustainable development into Latin America, by building capacity and increasing awareness among decision makers and lay people.     

Satellite-aided land mobile radio experiments,applications and problems

Radio communications between vehicles or individuals and base stations are essential to many public safety, law enforcement and commercial users in urban areas. Present day communications are limited to nearly line-of-sight distances from the vehicle or hand portable units to a base station or repeater. It is probable that many potential users in rural, remote and offshore areas would benefit if the communications were available everywhere on land and territorial waters. Geosynchronous satellites can serve as repeaters for mobile and personal radios, and they appear to be a cost effective means of providing the service.Voice bandwidth communication and automatic position monitoring of an automobile were tested using the VHF transponders of NASAs ATS-3 and ATS-1 satellites. Voice communications were reliable and position fixes were accurate to one fourth mile, with 0.3 mile precision of individual fixes.Demonstrations for potential users have included emergency medical voice and telemetry communications between ambulances and hospitals.While technical feasibility of satellite-aided mobile and personal communications has been demonstrated, and its potential value is appreciated by a small segment of the user community, many problems remain before an operational system could be implemented. Solutions to the problems require an experimental satellite with a multibeam antenna. The satellite or its associated ground terminals should incorporate computer controlled network switching to test demand assignment of channels. Prolonged experience by many users of the experimental satellite in their routine operations would aggregate user needs and define the capital investment that would be justified to implement a commercial operating system.     

基于卫星星历的TDOA/FDOA研究

文章研究利用卫星星历中的轨道参数以及地面辐射源的经纬度和高程,采用几何矢量法,建立了对各种轨道卫星具有通用性的卫星接收信号TDOA/FDOA估计模型,分析了从典型卫星通信系统Globalstar和Inmarsat中选取的2颗卫星在接收辐射源信号时TDOA/FDOA变化情况。仿真结果表明,文中所建模型具有较好的适用性,为无源定位中TDOA/FDOA的估计结果提供了一种验证方法。     

Communications satellite business ventures : Measuring the impact of technology programmes and related policies

Both commercial organizations and government agencies invest in spacecraft technology programmes aimed at increasing the performance of communications satellites. Government agencies also make policy decisions which may affect communications satellite business ventures. This article describes an economic evaluation and planning tool which has been developed to assess the impact of various policies on typical fixed satellite service business ventures. The methodology is based upon a stochastic financial simulation model (DOMSAT II) which allows for consideration of reliability and various market, performance and cost uncertainties. Results of the assessment of NASA on-orbit and space power technology programmes are presented, as are results of insurance v self insurance decisions and the choice of transportation system.     

W波段行波管及卫星通信系统应用前景

为了满足卫星系统对通信容量日益增长的需求,W波段已经成为空间通信应用中的前沿。对于高功率放大器,w波段行波管在输出功率和工作带宽方面具有优势,国内的W波段连续波和脉冲行波管在功率和带宽等主要技术指标上已经达到国际先进水平,希望进一步提高器件的实用化程度和可靠性,促进W波段卫星通信系统的研究,为我国下一步高频率宽带卫星通信系统达到国际先进水平提供自主可控的核心电子元器件产品。