Advanced architectures and the required technologies for next-generation communications satellite systems

Abstract

To be competitive with other modes of information-transport systems, the next-generation communications satellites will use new technologies including multiple-beam antennas, and onboard processing and switching. This paper discusses these technologies and illustrates their use by providing a description of three satellite systems currently under development. The paper is organized in three sections: Section 1 describes advanced architectures for future satellite systems and the required technologies to enable these systems; Section 2 gives examples of such systems by briefly describing the American ACTS, the Japanese ETS-VI, and the Italian ITALSAT; and finally Section 3 provides some simplified design equations that relate some of the key top-level parameters involved in the design of such systems.