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.     

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.     

Tracking and data relay satellite system: NASA's new spacecraft data acquisition system

The growth in NASA's ground network complexity and cost triggered a search for an alternative. Through a lease service contract, Western Union will provide to NASA 10 years of space communications services with a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS). A constellation of four operating satellites in geostationary orbit and a single ground terminal will provide complete tracking, telemetry and command service for all of NASA's Earth orbital satellites below an altitude of 12,000 km. The system is shared: two satellites will be dedicated to NASA service; a third will provide backup as a shared spare; the fourth satellite will be dedicated to Western Union's Advanced Westar commercial service. Western Union will operate the ground terminal and provide operational satellite control. NASA's Network Control Center will provide the focal point for scheduling user services and controlling the interface between TDRSS and the rest of the NASA communications network, project control centers and data processing facilities. TDRSS single access user spacecraft data systems should be designed for efficient time shared data relay support. Reimbursement policy and rate structure for non-NASA users are currently being developed.     

Cost-driven design of small satellite remote sensing systems*

Earth remote sensing (alongside communications) is one of the key application of Earth-orbiting satellites. Civilian satellites in the LANDSAT and SPOT series provide Earth images which have been used for a vast spectrum of applications in agriculture, meteorology, hydrology, urban planning and geology, to name but a few. In the defence sector, satellite remote sensing systems are a critical tool in strategic and tactical planning – for the countries which can afford them. To date, remote sensing satellites have fallen into one of these two categories: military missions driven by the requirement for very high resolution and orbital agility; and multipurpose civil satellites using general purpose sensors to serve a diverse community of end users. For military-style missions, the drive to high resolution sets the requirements for optics, attitude control and downlink data bandwidth. For civil missions, the requirement to satisfy multiple, diverse user applications forces compromises on spectral band and orbit selection. Although there are exceptions, many small satellite remote sensing missions carry on in this tradition, concentrating on ultra high resolution products for multiple user communities. This results in satellites costing on the order of US $100 M, not optimised for any particular application. This paper explores an alternative path to satellite remote sensing, aiming simultaneously to reduce cost and to optimise imaging products for specific applications. By decreasing the cost of the remote sensing satellite system to a critical point, it becomes appropriate to optimise the sensor's spectral and temporal characteristics to fit the requirements of a small, specialised user base. The critical engineering trade-off faced in a cost driven mission is how to reduce mission cost while still delivering a useful product to the selected user. At the Surrey Space Centre, we have pursued an engineering path using two dimensional CCD array sensors, commercial off-the-shelf lenses and gravity-gradient stabilised microsatellites. In spite of the inherent limitations of such systems, recent successes with the Thai Microsatellite Company's Thai-Phutt satellite show that a system costing in the region of US $3 million, can approach the spectral and spatial characteristics of LANDSAT. Surrey's UoSAT-12 minisatellite (to be launched April, 1999) will further develop this cost-driven approach to provide 10 m panchromatic resolution and 30 m multi-spectral resolution. This paper describes the Thai-Phutt and UoSAT-12 imaging systems, explaining the engineering methods and trade-offs. Although Surrey is presently the only centre presently pursuing such implementations, our paper shows that they deserve wider consideration.     

Comparative economics of very high capacity communications satellites

Technology advances expected by the late 1980 or early 1990 time period will allow the construction of powerful and complex communications satellites with large multibeam antennas and very many transponders, and their operation and maintenance in geostationary orbit. The high sensitivity and effective radiated power of such satellites will enable the Earth stations using them to shrink dramatically in size and cost, thus becoming readily available to very large numbers of users as well as making possible new kinds and levels of communications services simply not possible with smaller satellites. This paper briefly describes three such new designs, concerning electronic mail transmission, educational TV distribution, and mass personal communications; it compares the users' service costs with those of terrestrial networks designed for the same performance.     

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.     

我国天基综合信息网构想

阐述了天基综合信息网的定义、组成和特征;介绍了美国和欧洲天基综合信息网的研究情况;提出了我国天基综合信息网的体系架构,其中包含通信卫星、导航卫星、遥感卫星、载人飞船等航天器和临近空间各种飞行器,以及地面系统。分析了该网络的特点和可用的网络协议结构;探讨了该网络的组网结构、网络协议、服务质量(QoS)路由、网络管理、网络安全防护、激光通信和星载处理交换等多项关键技术。依据国情,提出了我国天基综合信息网构想。此构想采用双层(地球静止轨道和低地球轨道)通信卫星星座和导航卫星星座,实现全球全时覆盖空间层航天器、临近空间层飞行器和地面层各种用户终端,通过星间链路、星地链路和地面线路组成一个空天地一体化的全球信息网络。在国外不设地球站的情况下,该网络可实现:国内测控站测控我国全球运行的卫星;国内遥感站实时接收我国全球遥感卫星发送的信息;国内关口站管理我国授权的全球用户站之间的互通信息。最后,提出了开展我国天基综合信息网的可行性研究建议。     

Satellite broadcast usage and life test of high power S-band Traveling Wave Tube Amplifiers

Broadcasting radio programs from satellites to mobile users has been operating for many years in the United States, Canada and South Korea. The service, generally called Satellite Radio, is provided at S-band radio frequencies. Satellite Radio users require near perfect service availability. Since most users are mobile (automobiles and handheld reception), the antennas of their receivers have little gain necessitating very high effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) from the satellite to provide the required availability particularly under fading conditions. Despite using a satellite directive transmitting antenna, the achievement of this high EIRP requires a satellite transmitter radio frequency power output of over 7 kW. This is typically achieved by paralleling 32 Traveling Wave Tube Amplifiers (TWTAs). The configuration, usage and technical aspects of such satellite transmitters are described. These satellite transmitters are critical to Satellite Radio service both for performance and for operating lifetime, typically over 15 years. Because of this importance, detailed lifetime laboratory testing is being done on the TWTAs as reported herein.     

PFI in the sky, or pie in the sky? — Privatising military space

The UK has made use of dedicated, national military satellites for communications since November 1969. The replacement of the current system, Skynet 4, which will reach the end of its design lifetime early in the next century, is currently under consideration. Possible options which have been mooted to date include a new generation of a national satellite system (Skynet 5), or one of several international collaborative projects. However, these appear to have been superseded by a new possibility — a privately, commercially funded national system under the government's Private Finance Initiative (PFI). This paper examines the historical reliance of the UK on military satellite communications, the options for the next generation of such systems, and, drawing on the UK example, raises a number of questions concerning the potential significance of reliance on commercial enterprise to provide a key element of defence capability.     

基于移动式网络的LEO卫星星座通信网络研究

为飞机等交通工具内的用户提供基于卫星的不间断IP连接，并在卫星星座网络内实现IP路由选择功能，是未来LEO卫星星座通信网络需要解决的关键问题。提出了基于移动式网络技术的LEO卫星星座通信网络体系结构，实现了卫星星座通信网络中的IP路由选择功能，并降低了对地面网路的依赖，实现了对用户段网络随时随地的连接支持。在对卫星星座通信网络中的星地切换模式进行分析的基础上，提出了一种基于虚拟移动路由器的快速星地切换和认证方法。通过NS2仿真试验，给出了新型LEO卫星星座通信网络的传输延迟特性以及快速切换方法的仿真试验结果。仿真试验表明，提出的网络结构是满足未来卫星星座发展需求的，星地间的切换是低时延的。     

链路状态感知的低轨卫星网络路由机制

低轨卫星的空间组网能够突破地形限制,实现全天候、高带宽、低时延、广覆盖的数据通信,弥补地面通信系统的不足,使通信服务全球化成为可能。但是,卫星节点的快速移动和能量受限使得空间链路面临高动态、不可靠、间歇性等问题。同时接入用户的分布不均容易导致卫星网络出现重载节点和局部拥塞的情况,这对空间组网和数据传输提出了新的挑战。传统的静态卫星组网模式可靠性差,可伸缩性低,难以适应空间动态组网的需求。针对低轨卫星网络拓扑变化快的特点,提出链路状态感知的路由机制,在降低卫星能耗的同时减轻网络的局部拥塞,使用树莓派搭建半实物仿真平台,并在该平台上进行实验,验证了该机制的有效性。     

Location-aware channel estimation for capacity gains on multibeam satellite links

Bandwidth is an expensive and scarce resource, thus its efficient exploitation is of paramount importance. Recent communication satellites feature sophisticated spatial access strategies through spot beams providing this way a total throughput in the range of 100 Gbit/s. Next generations of communication satellites, as postulated in the Satellite Communications Network of Experts (SatNEx) III, a project funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) for advanced research in satellite communications, require technological developments to achieve the Tbit/s region. Multibeam architectures formed by a central gateway, a multibeam satellite, and an aggressive frequency reuse strategy can meet such ambitious design goals. Interference problems are tackled by appropriate countermeasures such as (joint) precoding and beamforming on the forward link as well as multi-user detection on the return link; these methods require accurate and timely knowledge of the channel state, which in turn necessitates suitable algorithms for channel estimation. This paper addresses performance issues related to channel state estimation on the symbol-synchronous forward link and the frame-synchronous return link. It highlights for both directions the potential performance gain by assuming a priori knowledge of the user position, in this context referred to as location-aware channel estimation.     

A parametric study of space transfer/upper propulsion stages

For Space Transportation System (i.e. Space Shuttle) launched satellites destined for a Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO), there is a need for cost-effective, versatile propulsion systems to provide the perigee burn, i.e. to boost the satellite from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). Surveys of commercial spacecraft activities and future GEO satellite requirements indicate that a spacecraft propulsion system that will provide the perigee burn for a broad range of future commercial satellites would have an excellent market potential.Parametric studies to investigate and define attractive perigee-burn upper propulsion systems (i.e. an Upper Propulsion Stage, or a UPS) are presented. The feasibility and payload capacilities that could be provided by a UPS assembled from essentially off-the-shelf components and subsystems, and the benefits that could be achieved by using major subsystems specifically tailored for the application are presented. The results indicate that attractive UPS configurations can be defined using either off-the-shelf or optimized major subsystems.     

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.     

基于2×2 MIMO的星地双圆极化通信系统验证

卫星通信因通信距离远、覆盖面积大、机动灵活等优势,广泛应用在抗震救灾、广播电视与移动通信中。然而,卫星通信因长距离通信和环境对信号的阻塞等问题,导致通信质量下降。为提高卫星通信质量,可以增加地面站发射功率或者采用分集技术。由于电磁波具备极化特性,左旋圆极化电磁波与右旋圆极化电磁波相互正交,利用其正交特性可实现长距离通信中传输路径相互独立,可以应用于星地MIMO通信中。主要研究双圆极化分集2×2 MIMO相关内容,对开阔环境和城市环境的信道参数进行研究,建立了窄带卫星双圆极化卫星2×2 MIMO信道模型,设计了一套具备在地面模拟双圆极化卫星和个人移动终端收发系统,并在该系统上验证双圆极化分集2×2 MIMO,相比于SISO获得的信噪比改善。     

美国调整军事航天器的发展策略

美国对军事航天器的依赖性不断增强,也面临着航天器越来越长的研制周期和越来越高的研制成本,因此,改变军事航天器的发展策略成为当务之急。美国为提升战场实战能力正在进行发展思路的战略性调整,主要包括:拓展搭载军事有效载荷的途径;推进将大型卫星有效载荷拆分成小卫星的模式;开发分布式军事太空系统结构;对运载资源挖潜;优化商业模式实现业务拓展。对已有卫星的后续系统,进行规模改造与能力提升途径的调整,主要包括:对于军事通信卫星,扩大宽带或"超高频"(SHF)系统,突出窄带或"特高频"(UHF)系统及"先进极高频"(AEHF)系统;分步升级GPS的地面部分,将GPS-3提升为国家关键基础设施;确保导弹预警卫星系统重点。在开发新系统时,美国注重提高效能和降低成本,发展有效的支持能力和低成本小卫星系统,提高低成本机动发射和快速进入太空的能力,并以轨道资源利用为目的开拓新途径。     

商业航天背景下卫星星座运营思考（英文）

With the advances of small satellite technology in commercial space sector, using small satellite networks to form a satellite constellation and conduct commercial operational services has entered into a vigorous phase of development. As small satellite technology develops, problems in the operations of small satellite constellations are also gradually emerging. These include ground measurement and operational control systems for small satellite constellations, the commercial operational mode, support and the guarantee of laws and regulations related to small satellites. This report discusses the development of commercial space small satellite operation industrialization, explores the small satellite operational modes and technological innovation, proposes the commercial space industry chain to build the industry ecology. At the same time, it looks forward to the integration of space and terrestrial communication. It also calls on relevant organizations of China to speed up the process of space legislation, formulate the relevant policies to encourage the operations of small satellites in commercial space sector, and push China's commercial space to a new level.     

Telecommunications and the economic impact of communications satellites

This article provides several illustrations of the growing economic importance and scope of communications satellite service and discusses how rapid development of new telecommunications systems, particularly those that include communications satellite systems, serve as a major stimulant of economic growth. There is evidence that communications satellites are capable of making important economic contributions to developed and developing countries alike. The rapid proliferation of separate communications satellites, although stimulating economic growth, is giving rise to concerns about intersystem connectivity and saturation of the available radio frequencies in geosynchronous orbit. The growth of the communications satellite industry to an activity level of perhaps $10,000 million per annum by the mid-to-late-1980s could assist in the development of multipurpose space platforms that could minimize the problems created by satellite proliferation.     

Super View-1-China's First Commercial Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation with a High Resolution of 0.5 m

Super View-1 satellite constellation(Super View-1 for short) is the first commercial remote sensing constellation with a resolution down to 0.5 m. It's an important part of the national spatial information infrastructure construction. It will play an important role for the global users providing remote sensing data, application solutions and remote sensing value-added services with its high-resolution and 24-hour observation capability. At present, 4 satellites of the constellation have been successfully launched and networked on orbit. The services cover surveying and mapping, land resource surveying, urban planning, agriculture, forestry, water conservancy, geological mining, environmental monitoring, defense, disaster reduction along with other traditional industries. There are also great potential applications in Mobile Internet, LBS, Smart city, insurance and other emerging professions. The successful operation of Super View-1 breaks the overseas monopoly for commercial high-resolution remote sensing satellite imagery in the China market. It's one of the major achievements in China space science and technology by actively exploring the development of commercial remote sensing markets, which is of strategic significance to the development of China remote sensing satellite business.     

全球导航星座星间链路技术发展建议

美国全球定位系统（GPS）的Block IIR和Block IIF系列导航卫星安装了UHF频段的星间链路收发设备,未来的GPS Ⅲ系列导航卫星将用Ka频段星间链路替代UHF频段星间链路,提高星间数据通信容量,增强抗干扰能力;俄罗斯全球导航卫星系统（GLONASS）的新一代GLONASS-K系列导航卫星开始安装S频段星间链路收发设备;欧洲的伽利略（Galileo）卫星导航系统也在规划全球导航星座的星间链路体系;我国北斗（Compass）卫星导航系统正处在由区域覆盖向全球覆盖的过渡阶段,全球星座的星间链路正处在多种系统体制的抉择中。文章在对国外各种星间链路研究的基础上,从导航星座星间链路需求和特点出发,提出建议：1）建设高频段星间链路;2）加强星间天线与卫星总体的联合设计;3）星间网络协议要具有灵活性;4）尽可能保持每颗卫星的星间链路设备状态一致。文章考虑了现有国内技术储备和国外未来技术发展方向,提出的观点可以作为我国全球卫星导航系统对星间链路选择的参考,对我国Compass系统建设技术先进的星间链路有一定的指导意义。