Adaptive multibeam antennas for spacelab. Phase A: Feasibility study

The feasibility was studied of using adaptive multibeam multi-frequency antennas on the spacelab, and to define the experiment configuration and program plan needed for a demonstration to prove the concept. Three applications missions were selected, and requirements were defined for an L band communications experiment, an L band radiometer experiment, and a Ku band communications experiment. Reflector, passive lens, and phased array antenna systems were considered, and the Adaptive Multibeam Phased Array (AMPA) was chosen. Array configuration and beamforming network tradeoffs resulted in a single 3m x 3m L band array with 576 elements for high radiometer beam efficiency. Separate 0.4m x 0.4 m arrays are used to transmit and receive at Ku band with either 576 elements or thinned apertures. Each array has two independently steerable 5 deg beams, which are adaptively controlled

On-Orbit Validation of a Framework for Spacecraft-Initiated Communication Service Requests with NASA's SCaN Testbed

We design, analyze, and experimentally validate a framework for demand-based allocation of high-performance space communication service in which the user spacecraft itself initiates a request for service. Leveraging machine-to-machine communications, the automated process has potential to improve the responsiveness and efficiency of space network operations. We propose an augmented ground station architecture in which a hemispherical-pattern antenna allows for reception of service requests sent from any user spacecraft within view. A suite of ground-based automation software acts upon these direct-to-Earth requests and allocates access to high-performance service through a ground station or relay satellite in response to immediate user demand. A software-defined radio transceiver, optimized for reception of weak signals from the helical antenna, is presented. Design and testing of signal processing equipment and a software framework to handle service requests is discussed. Preliminary results from on-orbit demonstrations with a testbed onboard the International Space Station are presented to verify feasibility of the concept

A survey of digital television broadcast transmission techniques

This paper is a survey of the transmission techniques used in digital television (TV) standards worldwide. With the increase in the demand for High-Definition (HD) TV, video-on-demand and mobile TV services, there was a real need for more bandwidth-efficient, flawless and crisp video quality, which motivated the migration from analogue to digital broadcasting. In this paper we present a brief history of the development of TV and then we survey the transmission technology used in different digital terrestrial, satellite, cable and mobile TV standards in different parts of the world. First, we present the Digital Video Broadcasting standards developed in Europe for terrestrial (DVB-T/T2), for satellite (DVB-S/S2), for cable (DVB-C) and for hand-held transmission (DVB-H). We then describe the Advanced Television System Committee standards developed in the USA both for terrestrial (ATSC) and for hand-held transmission (ATSC-M/H). We continue by describing the Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting standards developed in Japan for Terrestrial (ISDB-T) and Satellite (ISDB-S) transmission and then present the International System for Digital Television (ISDTV), which was developed in Brazil by adopteding the ISDB-T physical layer architecture. Following the ISDTV, we describe the Digital Terrestrial television Multimedia Broadcast (DTMB) standard developed in China. Finally, as a design example, we highlight the physical layer implementation of the DVB-T2 standar

Future benefits and applications of intelligent on-board processing to VSAT services

The trends and roles of VSAT services in the year 2010 time frame are examined based on an overall network and service model for that period. An estimate of the VSAT traffic is then made and the service and general network requirements are identified. In order to accommodate these traffic needs, four satellite VSAT architectures based on the use of fixed or scanning multibeam antennas in conjunction with IF switching or onboard regeneration and baseband processing are suggested. The performance of each of these architectures is assessed and the key enabling technologies are identified

Advanced deep space communication systems study Final report

Deep space communication system requirements for period 1970 to 198

Advanced adaptive compensation system for free-space optical communications

Massive amounts of information are created daily in commercial fields like earth observation, that must be downloaded to earth ground stations in the short time of a satellite pass. Today, much of the collected information must be dropped due to lack of bandwidth, and laser downlinks can offer tenths of gigabits throughput solving this bottleneck limitation. In a down-link scenario, the performance of laser satellite communications is limited due to atmospheric turbulence, which causes fluctuations in the intensity and the phase of the received signal leading to an increase in bit error probability. In principle, a single-aperture phase-compensated receiver, based on adaptive optics, can overcome atmospheric limitations by adaptive tracking and correction of atmospherically induced aberrations. However, under strong-turbulence situations, the effectiveness of traditional adaptive optics systems is severely compromised. In such scenarios, sensor-less techniques offer robustness, hardware simplicity, and easiness of implementation and integration at a reduced cost, but the state-of-the-art approaches still require too many iterations to perform the correction, exceeding the temporal coherence of the field and thus falling behind the field evolution. This thesis proposes a new iterative AO technique for strong turbulence compensation that reduces the correction time, bridging the limitation of similar systems in lasercom applications. It is based on the standard sensor-less system design, but it additionally uses a short-exposure focal intensity image to accelerate the correction. The technique combines basic principles of Fourier optics, image processing, and quadratic signal optimization to correct the wave-front. This novel approach directly updates the phases of the most intense focal-plane speckles, maximizing the power coupled into a single-mode fiber convexly. Numerical analyses show that this method has a robust and excellent performance under very strong turbulence. Laboratory results confirm that a focal speckle pattern can be used to accelerate the iterative compensation. This technique delivers nearly twofold bandwidth reduction compared with standard methods, and sufficient signal gain and stability to allow high throughput data transmission with nearly error-free performance in emulated satellite downlink scenarios. A property highlight is the in-advance knowledge of the required number of iterations, allowing on-demand management of the loop bandwidth in different turbulent regimes. Besides remaining conceptually and technically simple, it opens a new insight to iterative solutions that may lead to the development of new methods. With further refinement, this technique can surely contribute to making possible the use of iterative solutions in laser communicationsSatélites de observación de la tierra diariamente generan gigantescas cantidades de datos que deben ser enviados a estaciones terrenas. La mayoría de la información recolectada debe desecharse debido al reducido tiempo visible de un satélite en movimiento y el limitado ancho de banda de transmisión. Enlaces ópticos pueden solucionar esta limitación ofreciendo multi-gigabit de ancho de banda. Sin embargo, el desempeño de un downlink laser está limitado por la turbulencia atmosférica, la cual induce variaciones en la intensidad y la fase de la señal recibida incrementando la probabilidad de error en los datos recibidos. En principio, un receptor basado en una apertura simple utilizando óptica adaptativa puede corregir las aberraciones de fase inducidas por la atmósfera, mejorando el canal de transmisión. Sin embargo, la eficiencia de los sistemas de óptica adaptativa tradicionales se ve seriamente reducida en situaciones de turbulencia fuerte. En tales escenarios, técnicas iterativas ofrecen mayor robustez, simplicidad de diseño e implementación, así como también facilidad de integración a un costo reducido. Desafortunadamente, dicha tecnología aún requiere demasiadas iteraciones para corregir la fase distorsionada, excediendo el tiempo de coherencia del frente de onda. Esta tesis propone una nueva técnica iterativa de óptica adaptativa capaz de reducir el tiempo de convergencia en escenarios de turbulencia fuerte. La técnica utiliza el diseño tradicional de los sistemas de corrección iterativos, agregando el uso de una imagen focal de intensidad para acelerar el proceso de corrección del campo distorsionado. En dicha técnica se combinan principios básicos de óptica de Fourier, procesamiento de imagen, y optimización cuadrática de la señal para corregir el frente de onda. De esta forma, la fase de los puntos focales de mayor intensidad (speckles) puede modificarse directamente y con ello maximizar de forma convexa la potencia acoplada en fibra. Los análisis numéricos demuestran robustez y un excelente desempeño en escenarios de turbulencia fuerte. Los resultados de laboratorio confirman que el moteado de intensidad puede utilizarse para acelerar la corrección iterativa. Esta técnica utiliza la mitad del ancho de banda requerido con la técnica tradicional, al mismo tiempo que ofrece suficiente ganancia y estabilidad de la señal para lograr enlaces ópticos con muy baja probabilidad de error. Al mismo tiempo, la técnica propuesta permite conocer con anticipación el número total de iteraciones y posibilita la administración bajo demanda del ancho de banda requerido en diferentes escenarios de turbulencia. Esta tesis ofrece una mirada diferente a los métodos iterativos, posibilitando el desarrollo de nuevos conceptos y contribuyendo al uso de soluciones iterativas en comunicaciones laser por espacio libre.Postprint (published version

End-to-end Precoding Validation over a Live GEO Satellite Forward Link

In this paper we demonstrate end-to-end precoded multi-user multiple-input single-output (MU-MISO) communications over a live GEO satellite link. Precoded communications enable full frequency reuse (FFR) schemes in satellite communications (SATCOM) to achieve broader service availability and higher spectrum efficiency than with the conventional four-color (4CR) and two-color (2CR) reuse approaches. In this scope, we develop an over-the-air test-bed for end-to-end precoding validations. We use an actual multi-beam satellite to transmit and receive precoded signals using the DVB-S2X standard based gateway and user terminals. The developed system is capable of end-to-end real-time communications over the satellite link including channel measurements and precompensation. It is shown, that by successfully canceling inter-user interference in the actual satellite FFR link precoding brings gains in terms of enhanced SINR and increased system goodput.Comment: Submitted to IEEE Access Journa

Proceedings of the Second International Mobile Satellite Conference (IMSC 1990)

Presented here are the proceedings of the Second International Mobile Satellite Conference (IMSC), held June 17-20, 1990 in Ottawa, Canada. Topics covered include future mobile satellite communications concepts, aeronautical applications, modulation and coding, propagation and experimental systems, mobile terminal equipment, network architecture and control, regulatory and policy considerations, vehicle antennas, and speech compression