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At least 19 records

ACTS mobile SATCOM experiments

Over the last decade, the demand for reliable mobile satellite communications (satcom) for voice, data, and video applications has increased dramatically. As consumer demand grows, the current spectrum allocation at L-band could become saturated. For this reason, NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory are developing the Advanced Communications Technology Satellites (ACTS) mobile terminal (AMT) and are evaluating the feasibility of K/Ka-band (20/30 GHz) mobile satcom to meet these growing needs. U.S. industry and government, acting as co-partners, will evaluate K/Ka-band mobile satcom and develop new technologies by conducting a series of applications-oriented experiments. The ACTS and the AMT testbed will be used to conduct these mobile satcom experiments. The goals of the ACTS Mobile Experiments Program and the individual experiment configurations and objectives are further presented.

Abbe, Brian S.

NASA Propagation Program Status and Propagation Needs of Satcom Industry

This paper discusses the objective of the NASA Propagation Program, the approaches used to meet the objective, the composition of the program as a partnership, a summary of the feedback obtained from Satcom industry representatives at NAPEX XX, plans to meet the Satcom industry's short-term needs, and a statement as to the long-term propagation needs of the Satcom industry.

commercial

RCA Satcom: In-orbit experience

The system characteristics of the Satcom batteries and Satcom power system are briefly discussed. Performance of the nickel cadmium 22 cell batteries onboard in parallel with independent redundant charges providing the charge rates is reported. Performance onboard reconditioning with individual cell bypasses with 1 ohm resistors is discussed for the F-1 and F-2 spacecraft.

Debaylo, P. W.

Press Kit: Project RCA (Satcom 1R)

To replace the RCA SATCOM 1 satellite which provided Earth communications for seven years, NASA is to launch RCA SATCOM 1R using a Delta 3924 launch vehicle. The satellite is to be placed at 139 degrees W longitude, 35,900 kilometers (23,000) miles above the equator. On the seventh apogee, the kick motor will be fired to produce a near synchronous orbit. Satellite life, with continuous full power, is designed to be 10 years. Features of the satellite and launch operations are described.

Source record

SATCOM antenna siting study on P-3C aircraft, volume 1

The NEC-BSC (Basic Scattering Code) was used to study the performance of a SATCOM antenna on a P-3C aircraft. After plate cylinder fields are added to version 3.1 of the NEC-BSC, it is shown that the NEC-BSC can be used to accurately predict the performance of a SATCOM antenna system on a P-3C aircraft. The study illustrates that the NEC-BSC gives good results when compared with scale model measurements provided by Boeing and Lockheed.

Bensman, D. A.

Flight test of ARINC 741 configuration low gain SATCOM system on Boeing 747-400 aircraft

The Boeing company conducted a flight test of a SATCOM system similar to the ARINC 741 configuration on a production model 747-400. A flight plan was specifically designed to test the system over a wide variety of satellite elevations and aircraft attitudes as well as over land and sea. Interface bit errors, signal quality and aircraft position and navigational inputs were all recorded as a function of time. Special aircraft maneuvers were performed to demonstrate the potential for shadowing by aircraft structures. Both a compass rose test and the flight test indicated that shadowing from the tail is insignificant for the 747-400. However, satellite elevation angles below the aircraft horizon during banking maneuvers were shown to have a significant deleterious effect on SATCOM communications.

Murphy, Timothy A.

NASA’s Progress Toward Commercial Space Communications—SATCOM Demonstrations and Wideband Multilingual Terminal Development

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program is continuing to forge a path toward programmatic and operational transformation enabling commercialization of communications and navigation services to the greatest extent possible for near Earth users. National Space Policy is driving government agencies to incorporate commercial offerings and services to the maximum extent possible. As such, NASA has no plans to build or deploy Tracking and Data Relay Satellites, but will seek to fill NASA mission space-relay capability needs using commercial satellite communications (SATCOM) providers and services. The goal is to support an approach that is both flexible to commercial service constructs and provides continuity of support with current assets as long as required. Progress toward commercialization is advancing in two key areas: (1) awards have been made for demonstrations of SATCOM services, and (2) development of wideband and multilingual user terminals has advanced to the flight demonstration phase. The Communications Services Project (CSP) at Glenn Research Center (GRC), has awarded Funded Space Act Agreements (FSAA) to six industry vendors. Inmarsat Government Inc., Kuiper Government Solutions (KGS) LLC, SES Government Solutions, Space Exploration Technologies, Telesat U.S. Services LLC, and Viasat Incorporated received a combined $278.5 million to complete technology development and in-space demonstrations over the next several years. The end-to-end service capabilities being targeted are based on existing NASA mission operational needs. Accordingly, each company has proposed a technical approach to lower costs, increase flexibility, and improve performance for a broad range of missions. In the current market, industry vendors operate at a range of different frequencies and use variable, sometime proprietary, coding and modulations schemes. As NASA strives for a network comprised of services provided by multiple distinct suppliers, interoperability is a fitting solution to unify the network. Wideband and multi-lingual user terminals are being developed to bridge differences in industry services. Building on ground demonstrations completed in 2021, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab (APL) will be flight testing a multi-lingual wideband terminal (payload) and demonstrating connectivity to both government and commercial relay services. This paper provides a discussion of the progress toward NASA’s commercial space communications goals and consideration of key challenges and next steps.

space communications

NASA's Progress Toward Commercial Space Communications — SATCOM Demonstrations and Wideband Multilingual Terminal Development

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program is continuing to forge a path toward programmatic and operational transformation enabling commercialization of communications and navigation services to the greatest extent possible for near Earth users. U.S. National Space Policy is driving government agencies to incorporate commercial offerings and services to the maximum extent possible. As such, NASA has no plans to build or deploy additional Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS), but will seek to fill NASA mission space-relay capability needs using commercial satellite communications (SATCOM) providers and services. The goal is to support an approach that is both flexible to commercial service constructs and provides continuity of support with current assets as long as required. Progress toward commercial services is advancing in two key areas: (1) awards have been made for demonstrations of SATCOM services, and (2) development of wideband and multilingual user terminals has advanced to the flight demonstration phase. The Communications Services Project (CSP) at Glenn Research Center (GRC), has awarded Funded Space Act Agreements (FSAA) to six industry vendors. Inmarsat Government Inc., Kuiper Government Solutions (KGS) LLC, SES Government Solutions, Space Exploration Technologies, Telesat U.S. Services LLC, and Viasat Incorporated will receive a combined $278.5 million to complete technology development and in-space demonstrations over the next several years. The end-to-end service capabilities being targeted are based on existing NASA mission operational needs. Accordingly, each company has proposed a technical approach to lower costs, increase flexibility, and improve performance for a broad range of missions. In the current market, industry vendors operate at a range of different frequencies and use variable, sometimes proprietary, coding and modulations schemes. As NASA strives for a network comprised of services provided by multiple distinct suppliers, interoperability is a fitting solution to unify the network. Wideband and multi-lingual user terminals are being developed to bridge differences in industry services. Building on ground demonstrations completed in 2021, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab (APL) will be flight testing a multi-lingual wideband terminal (payload) and demonstrating connectivity to both government and commercial relay services. This paper provides a discussion of the progress toward NASA’s commercial space communications goals and consideration of key challenges and next steps.

commercialization

Experiment Concepts in The Trans-Pacific HDR Satcom Experiment - Phase 2

This paper describes experiment concepts for the Phase-2 of the Trans-Pacific HDR Satcom Experiment (Astronomy). Broadband Satellites serve as a key link in establising a worldwide network of networks, while imposing upon us the particular charcteristics of propagation delay, bandwidth, and error rates which differ from those of terrestrial networks.

Trans-Pacific

ACTS Mobile SATCOM Experiments

This paper describes the ACTS Mobile Experiments Program, and the development of several mobile SATCOM technologies.

satellite

NASA to launch second SATCOM in RCA series

The RCA-SATCOM-11 satellite, scheduled to be launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla. on March 25, 1976, using a Delta launch vehicle, was discussed. The following subjects were described: satellite itself, launch vehicle, launch operations, key personnel.

Source record

RCA Satcom 3-Axis spacecraft experience at geosynchronous altitude

The RCA Satcom space segment presently consists of two three-axis stabilized communication satellites which have been in orbit at geosynchronous altitudes for 11 and 8 months respectively. Both satellites have experienced two eclipse seasons since the beginning of operations. Neither spacecraft has exhibited any anomalous behavior that can be attributed to the effects of spacecraft charging. A brief discussion of the history, spacecraft characteristics and design techniques is presented.

Napoli, J.

Reconditioning on SATCOM

A brief history of the SATCOM satellites is given. Cell design and battery operating characteristics are outlined and discussed. Graphs are presented comparing reconditioning parameters such as voltage, temperature, time and discharge.

Napoli, J.

Concepts for 20/30 GHz satcom systems for direct-to-user applications

A baseline technique is described for implementing a direct-to-user (DTU) satcom communications system at 20/30 GHz transmission frequency. The purpose of this application is to utilize the high capacity frequency spectrum at K(A) band for communications among thousands of small terminals located at or close to a customer's facility. The baseline DTU system utilizes a TDMA method of communications with QPSK modulation. Twenty-five coverage beams from a geosynchronous orbit spacecraft provide full coverage of CONUS. Low cost terminals are limited to less than 4.5 meters diameter. The impact of rain attenuation on communications availability is examined. Other techniques including satellite switched antenna beams are outlined and critical K(A)-band technology developments are identified.

Jorasch, R.

Small signal amplifiers and converters for millimeter wave Satcom systems

This paper describes the current state of the art and the various design tradeoffs encompassing the variety of small signal active circuit 'building blocks' deployed in millimeter wave Satcom receivers and transmitters. Included in this catagory are such low noise receiver components as parametric and FET amplifiers and low loss mixer downconverters as well as low level transmitter driver components such as resistive and varactor upconverters. Current and projected state of the art performance data will be presented along with specific examples of operating hardware.

Okean, H. C.

RCA SATCOM in-orbit experience: An update

The SATCOM in-orbit battery performance was evaluated. The capacitance and constant current charge rates for each of the three batteries were monitored. A typical eclipse discharge profile was generated and attendant reconditioning recharge conditions were considered. Battery temperatures, pressures, and average battery voltages are presented in tabular form. In-orbit data from monitoring the end of discharge voltage during eclipses, a key performance parameter, are also given.

Stewart, D.