The Design and Implementation of Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) for COMS Ka Band Transponder Testing

Abstract

Communication, Ocean, and Meteorological Satellite (COMS) is a hybrid satellite which will be launched on the middle of 2009. In the meantime, many of Korean research institutes and industries are participated in COMS program. The communication payload in COMS is made by ETRI with Korean industries. The on-board RF switch matrix for multi-beam connection and spot beam antenna technologies are adapted in the communication payload. After assemble and integration payloads to the spacecraft, payload performances will be validated by the special testing system called Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE). The EGSE for communication payload can monitor and control transponder configuration and performs RF performance testing of the transponder. In this paper COMS Ka band multi-beam communication payload are described, and EGSE configurations and test methods are also described.