406-MHz geostationary SAR experiment
The ability of a 406-MHz satellite to detect and locate aeronautical, maritime, and terrestrial distress incidents is investigated. The geostationary satellite, uplink and downlink budgets, and processors utilized in the experiment are described. The experiment involves: (1) benchmark testing, (2) verification of spacecraft repeater performance, (3) system evaluation, and (4) environmental testing. The Canadian processor data reveal that the processor threshold is 28 dB Hz, the degradation at 27 dB Hz is significant, the median distress message throughput time is 6 minutes, and the microcomputer can handle 10 distress incidents per hour.
Dumont, P.↗