Session
Technical Session VIII: Poster Session
Abstract
The early history of proposed small satellites in low earth orbit using store-and-forward digital technology for humanitarian relief and development work is reviewed. A description of the current status of the PACSAT project being developed jointly by SST Ltd and VITA is is provided. The need to decrease the turnaround period of time-dependent technical information to and from isolated regions of the world is described, as well as limitations to project success when the right information is not available at the right time. Major PACSAT applications areas in relief and development are presented, and a functional description of several tiers of PACSAT groundstations is given. Sociological and regulatory concerns are overviewed. The paper concludes that packet radio systems, in both terrestrial and space applications, have the potential to provide "the missing link" of reliable and inexpensive communication from isolated regions integrated into the existing international telecommunications infrastructure.
Packet Store-and-Forward Communications Satellites for Relief and Development
The early history of proposed small satellites in low earth orbit using store-and-forward digital technology for humanitarian relief and development work is reviewed. A description of the current status of the PACSAT project being developed jointly by SST Ltd and VITA is is provided. The need to decrease the turnaround period of time-dependent technical information to and from isolated regions of the world is described, as well as limitations to project success when the right information is not available at the right time. Major PACSAT applications areas in relief and development are presented, and a functional description of several tiers of PACSAT groundstations is given. Sociological and regulatory concerns are overviewed. The paper concludes that packet radio systems, in both terrestrial and space applications, have the potential to provide "the missing link" of reliable and inexpensive communication from isolated regions integrated into the existing international telecommunications infrastructure.
