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.     

星地融合网络相控阵天线应用研究进展

卫星通信网络与地面移动通信网络融合，可提供低时延、广覆盖的泛在接入服务。相控阵天线作为星地传输端到端信息获取的射频前端，具有剖面低、波束成形灵活、多维参数捷变等优点，但也面临降低成本及功耗、增加宽带传输能力、提高宽角扫描性能等方面的挑战。与现有相关综述关注相控阵天线设计流程及制造工艺不同，对相控阵天线在星地融合网络中的应用研究进行综述。首先，阐述相控阵天线的不同架构和特点。其次，总结应对挑战的若干关键技术，包括波束凝视、高精度波束指向、低成本、多波束等。最后，展望在分布式星群组网、高频段演进和通信感知融合等场景中的发展趋势和研究方向。     

极化复用技术在遥感卫星数据传输中的应用

极化分割频率复用技术（简称极化复用技术）是解决数据传输频带资源紧张的技术途径之一,能够拓展一倍频率资源。文章针对极化复用技术在遥感卫星数据传输中的应用进行分析,推导出了星地传输极化复用信号影响因子F的定量计算公式,利用国际电联（ITU）的星地链路计算模型,给出了雨衰和降雨去极化效应的定量影响分析,对我国遥感卫星应用极化复用技术提出了有益的工程建议。     

SCPS-TP协议用于LEO卫星网的性能分析与改进

SCPS-TP是空间通信传输协议,可用于卫星网络。为分析SCPS-TP在LEO卫星网中的性能和选择合适的拥塞避免机制,进行原理分析和仿真实验。在LEO卫星网中的典型时延和误比特率条件下,SCPS-TP协议采用Ve-gas机制比Van Jacobson机制能达到更好的性能。但LEO卫星网中存在的切换和路径改变情况会严重降低Vegas机制的性能。对此提出一种利用SCPS-NP包头信息感知路径变化和更新时延基准的改进方法,具有较好的可实现性。仿真结果表明,此举能明显提高SCPS-TP协议在LEO卫星网路径改变时的性能。     

小型通信卫星在未来全球信息高速公路网中的作用

中小型通信卫星在未来混合型网络结构中将扮演重要角色。这种混合网络将为各种信息业务提供随时随地可访问的多媒体通道。本文旨在考察即将问世的全球信息基础结构（简称信息高速公路，ＮＩＩ）的基本概念。卫星通信将是未来这些混合网络结构赖以存在的核心传输结构中的一个重要组成部分。现代技术的突飞猛进使得未来中小规模的卫星就拥有建立明天高速信息网所必需的高性能。本文着重探讨了小卫星在建立未来信息高速公路中所起的作用。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Satellite services for disaster management and security applications

Advantages of communications satellites are the inherent broadcast capability, high bandwidth, reliability and flexibility in network expansion. Small transportable terminals can be made operational very quickly. Recent developments in communications and computer technology allow to provide low-cost equipment, which is affordable even in developing countries. Communications satellites can also play an important role in case of emergencies or natural disasters. The combination of satellite communications and navigation can support new services for emergency teams.

At the Institute of Applied Systems Technology and the Institute of Communication Networks and Satellite Communications highly transportable terminals have been developed, both for star and mesh network topologies. A fully meshed VSAT system is used for symmetrical links. For other applications, which do not require high return link capacity an asymmetrical system is an efficient solution. It uses low-cost DVB technology for the forward link and satellite phones with data capability on the return link. Novel multicast protocols allow to use these asymmetrical links in an efficient way. The paper describes the different systems and their applications in disaster management and security applications. Emphasis is put on transfer of remote sensing images and voice over IP (VoIP) as well as videoconference services.     

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.     

星-地混合通信网络前向链路安全传输方案研究

针对星-地混合通信网络前向链路在部分非理想信道状态信息(CSI)及非理想CSI下卫星窃听链路的安全问题,提出一种将地面基站信号作为协同干扰的安全传输方案。优化目标为地面基站节点传输速率最大,确保卫星合法节点接收信号质量,同时利用地面基站发送信号阻塞卫星潜在窃听节点对卫星信号的侦听。通过半定松弛原理将其转化为可解的凸优化问题,分别设计分层迭代、高斯随机化和二分搜索算法对问题进行优化求解。仿真校验结果表明,所提方案能够降低网络对CSI误差的敏感性,提高网络的可靠性和保密性。     

Earth observation using low cost micro/minisatellites

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) at the University of Surrey (UK) has pioneered cost-effective satellite engineering techniques for smaller, faster, cheaper satellites to provide affordable access to space. SSTL has designed, built, launched and operated a series of twelve 50kg microsatellites in low Earth orbit which carry a wide range of satellite communications, space science, remote sensing and in-orbit technology demonstration payloads — for both civil and military applications. Each of these has been built and launched for around US$3M. This paper reviews SSTL's remote sensing capabilities and presents image results from the microsatellite cameras in low Earth in orbit. The latest microsatellites (TMSAT & FASat-Bravo) under construction at SSTL and due for launch in mid-1997 will provide 3-band multispectral imaging with 80-metre resolution; autonomous on-board image analysis, processing and compression prior to transmission direct to ground-based users employing small portable terminals.     

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.     

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.     

Pakistan's space programme

Space research in Pakistan is conducted by the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco). Suparco's programmes consist of the launching of sounding rockets and satellite applications, especially remote sensing and communications. Its long-term goals are to develop communications and remote sensing satellites and to launch lightweight scientific satellites in near-Earth orbits. To train its scientific staff at postgraduate level, Suparco is establishing an Aerospace Institute. The Commission is very active in international forums such as the UN COPUOS, Cospar, IAF and IUCN.     

NASA''s small spacecraft technology initiative “Clark” spacecraft

The Small Satellite Technology Initiative (SSTI) is a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) program to demonstrate smaller, high technology satellites constructed rapidly and less expensively. Under SSTI, NASA funded the development of “Clark,” a high technology demonstration satellite to provide 3-m resolution panchromatic and 15-m resolution multispectral images, as well as collect atmospheric constituent and cosmic x-ray data. The 690-Ib. satellite, to be launched in early 1997, will be in a 476 km, circular, sun-synchronous polar orbit. This paper describes the program objectives, the technical characteristics of the sensors and satellite, image processing, archiving and distribution. Data archiving and distribution will be performed by NASA Stennis Space Center and by the EROS Data Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA.     

Economics of satellite communications systems

This paper is partly a tutorial, telling systematically how one goes about calculating the total annual costs of a satellite communications system, and partly the expression of some original ideas on the choice of parameters so as to minimize these costs.The calculation of costs can be divided into two broad categories. The first is technical and is concerned with estimating what particular equipment will cost and what will be the annual expense to maintain and operate it. One starts in the estimation of any new system by listing the principal items of equipment, such as satellites, earth stations of various sizes and functions, telemetry and tracking equipment and terrestrial interfaces, and then estimating how much each item will cost. Methods are presented for generating such estimates, based on a knowledge of the gross parameters, such as antenna size, coverage area, transmitter power and information rate. These parameters determine the system performance and it is usually possible, knowing them, to estimate the costs of the equipment rather well. Some formulae based on regression analyses are presented. Methods are then given for estimating closely related expenses, such as maintenance and operation, and then an approximate method is developed for estimating terrestrial interconnection costs.It is pointed out that in specific cases when tariff and geographical information are available, it is usually better to work with specific data, but nonetheless it is often desirable, especially in global system estimating, to approximate these interconnect costs without recourse to individual tariffs. The procedure results in a set of costs for the purchase of equipment and its maintenance, and a schedule of payments. Some payments will be incurred during the manufacture of the satellite and before any systems operation, but many will not be incurred until the system is no longer in use, e.g. incentives. In any case, with the methods presented in the first section, one arrives at a schedule of costs and payments for all the items and the years in which they will be incurred. The second category of costing problems is one of financing or engineering economics. All the costs are first “present valued” to some reference period using rates of return appropriate to the particular situation.One finally arrives at sets of annual costs which can be used as the basis for setting lease costs or revenue requirements and tariffs. The correspondence between methods using discounted rates of return and capital recovery formulae on one hand and those using various depreciation schedules, such as is typical of regulated industries on the other hand, is discussed.The remainder of the paper is devoted to discussing the relationship between critical parameters, such as replacement schedules, design lifetime, satellite power and Earth station antenna size, and the overall costs.It is shown that optima for these parameters may exist and can be calculated. In particular, the optimization of satellite replacement schedules to minimize the present value of total investment over a very long period is presented, along with simplified versions of the theory suitable for system planning.The choice of EIRP is also discussed and a procedure for choosing the value that minimizes the costs is shown.     

面向微纳卫星应用的激光数传技术

针对遥感微纳卫星对地高速数传需求,开展面向微纳卫星的激光数传技术研究,突破微纳卫星激光通信终端星地快速捕获建链和协同高精度稳定跟踪、天基终端轻小型化、复合光电组件等关键技术。完成微纳卫星的天基激光终端和地面激光终端研制,并开展星地传输试验验证,实现 1 230 km、10/50/100 Mbps 的星地数据传输,验证了相关技术,为后续我国微纳卫星对地遥感应用提供了理想的星地数传手段。     

The potential of direct broadcast satellites for the USA

The extensive coverage of the USA by cable television has posed a major hurdle for successful use of direct broadcast satellites. However, the potential for DBS service is improving because of breakthroughs in development of digital video compression and the availability of high-power satellites, combined with ample allocations of radio spectrum and orbital slots to DBS service. The success of DBS applications will depend critically on (a) the cost of small-antenna home receiving terminals, (b) operating expenses, and (c) demand for new services, such as HDTV, that could be provided by DBS systems more quickly and cheaply than through terrestrial transmission.     

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。