Session
Technical Session IV: Commercial Communications And Remote Sensing
Abstract
Commercial LEO satellite communications are now a reality. Functional systems are currently providing global voice and data services to a variety of customers, while several systems are still being developed and/or conceived. The early systems employed dedicated test spacecraft to minimize technical risk to the operational system. Several of these test satellites suffered failures that reduced their effectiveness. As current systems evolve and new systems are developed, there will be a continuing need to conduct research and development activities. While some of these activities are focused on developing specific hardware, much of the development is focused on assessing the performance of the Earth-Space radio link and associated software (modulation, compression, etc.) The Orbiting Radio Communications Asset (ORCA) provides a platform capable of serving the test and development needs of many users. ORCA provides continuous coverage of the radio spectrum up to 2.5 GHz, covering the primary Earth-to-Space communication frequencies for data as well as voice systems utilizing LEO constellations. The spacecraft can be configured to support various tests, including noise assessment and modulation testing. Users can obtain access to the satellite in a variety of ways and can schedule experiments to meet their needs. The current status of the spacecraft is presented, along with a description of the capabilities of the radio payload. Examples of possible uses are also highlighted.
ORCA: A Multi-User Platform for Developing Commercial Communications
Commercial LEO satellite communications are now a reality. Functional systems are currently providing global voice and data services to a variety of customers, while several systems are still being developed and/or conceived. The early systems employed dedicated test spacecraft to minimize technical risk to the operational system. Several of these test satellites suffered failures that reduced their effectiveness. As current systems evolve and new systems are developed, there will be a continuing need to conduct research and development activities. While some of these activities are focused on developing specific hardware, much of the development is focused on assessing the performance of the Earth-Space radio link and associated software (modulation, compression, etc.) The Orbiting Radio Communications Asset (ORCA) provides a platform capable of serving the test and development needs of many users. ORCA provides continuous coverage of the radio spectrum up to 2.5 GHz, covering the primary Earth-to-Space communication frequencies for data as well as voice systems utilizing LEO constellations. The spacecraft can be configured to support various tests, including noise assessment and modulation testing. Users can obtain access to the satellite in a variety of ways and can schedule experiments to meet their needs. The current status of the spacecraft is presented, along with a description of the capabilities of the radio payload. Examples of possible uses are also highlighted.
