Satellite Communications Systems: Systems, Techniques and Technology (Hardcover, 5, Revised)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT xv

ACRONYMS xvii

NOTATION xxv

1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Birth of satellite communications 1

1.2 Development of satellite communications 1

1.3 Configuration of a satellite communications system 3

1.4 Types of orbit 9

1.5 Radio regulations 12

1.6 Technology trends 14

1.7 Services 15

1.8 The way forward 17

2 ORBITS AND RELATED ISSUES 19

2.1 Keplerian orbits 19

2.2 Useful orbits for satellite communication 43

2.3 Perturbations of orbits 68

2.4 Conclusion 97

3 BASEBAND SIGNALS AND QUALITY OF SERVICE 99

3.1 Baseband signals 99

3.2 Performance objectives 108

3.3 Availability objectives 109

3.4 Delay 111

3.5 Conclusion 112

4 DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS TECHNIQUES 115

4.1 Baseband formatting 115

4.2 Digital modulation 118

4.3 Channel coding 131

4.4 Channel coding and the power–bandwidth trade-off 135

4.5 Coded modulation 140

4.6 End-to-end error control 146

4.7 Digital video broadcasting via satellite (DVB-S) 148

4.8 Second generation DVB-S 152

4.9 Conclusion 157

5 UPLINK, DOWNLINK AND OVERALL LINK PERFORMANCE; INTERSATELLITE LINKS 163

5.1 Configuration of a link 163

5.2 Antenna parameters 164

5.3 Radiated power 170

5.4 Received signal power 171

5.5 Noise power spectral density at the receiver input 176

5.6 Individual link performance 186

5.7 Influence of the atmosphere 193

5.8 Mitigation of atmospheric impairments 210

5.9 Overall link performance with transparent satellite 213

5.10 Overall link performance with regenerative satellite 225

5.11 Link performance with multibeam antenna coverage vs monobeam coverage 230

5.12 Intersatellite link performance 237

6 MULTIPLE ACCESS 247

6.1 Layered data transmission 247

6.2 Traffic parameters 248

6.3 Traffic routing 249

6.4 Access techniques 251

6.5 Frequency division multiple access (FDMA) 253

6.6 Time division multiple access (TDMA) 260

6.7 Code division multiple access (CDMA) 272

6.8 Fixed and on-demand assignment 283

6.9 Random access 285

6.10 Conclusion 290

7 SATELLITE NETWORKS 293

7.1 Network reference models and protocols 293

7.2 Reference architecture for satellite networks 296

7.3 Basic characteristics of satellite networks 298

7.4 Satellite on-board connectivity 302

7.5 Connectivity through intersatellite links (ISL) 314

7.6 Satellite broadcast networks 319

7.7 Broadband satellite networks 322

7.8 Transmission control protocol 351

7.9 IPv6 over satellite networks 356

7.10 Conclusion 359

8 EARTH STATIONS 363

8.1 Station organisation 363

8.2 Radio-frequency characteristics 364

8.3 The antenna subsystem 376

8.4 The radio-frequency subsystem 408

8.5 Communication subsystems 417

8.6 The network interface subsystem 425

8.7 Monitoring and control; auxiliary equipment 432

8.8 Conclusion 433

9 THE COMMUNICATION PAYLOAD 435

9.1 Mission and characteristics of the payload 435

9.2 Transparent repeater 437

9.3 Regenerative repeater 465

9.4 Multibeam antenna payload 467

9.5 Introduction to flexible payloads 475

9.6 Solid state equipment technology 477

9.7 Antenna coverage 479

9.8 Antenna characteristics 498

9.9 Conclusion 524

10 THE PLATFORM 527

10.1 Subsystems 528

10.2 Attitude control 529

10.3 The propulsion subsystem 547

10.4 The electric power supply 562

10.5 Telemetry, tracking and command (TTC) and on-board data handling (OBDH) 580

10.6 Thermal control and structure 596

10.7 Developments and trends 604

11 SATELLITE INSTALLATION AND LAUNCH VEHICLES 607

11.1 Installation in orbit 607

11.2 Launch vehicles 631

12 THE SPACE ENVIRONMENT 663

12.1 Vacuum 663

12.2 The mechanical environment 664

12.3 Radiation 668

12.4 Flux of high energy particles 672

12.5 The environment during installation 675

13 RELIABILITY OF SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS 679

13.1 Introduction of reliability 679

13.2 Satellite system availability 683

13.3 Subsystem reliability 685

13.4 Component reliability 691

INDEX 697