GÉRARD MARAL, PhD, developed the Telecom-Paris Site of Toulouse and its Satellite Communications Systems Educational and Research Programme.

MICHEL BOUSQUET, ISAE-SUPAERO (Retired) has lectured on satellite communications in numerous universities and continuing education courses world-wide. He was involved in several EU and ESA research programmes. Standing on the committees of AIAA and IEEE conferences, he is the recipient of the AIAA Communications Award for 2019.

ZHILI SUN, PhD, is Professor at the University of Surrey and Postgraduate Research Director. He has researched satellite communication networks for more than 26 years and worked in many major European framework research projects.

Acknowledgement xv

Acronyms xvii

Notations xxiii

1 Introduction 1

1.1 Birth of Satellite Communications 1

1.2 Development of Satellite Communications 1

1.3 Configuration of a Satellite Communications System 3

1.4 Types of Orbit 11

1.5 Radio Regulations 16

1.6 Technology Trends 21

1.7 Services 23

1.8 The Way Forward 25

2 Orbits and Related Issues 29

2.1 Keplerian Orbits 29

2.2 Useful Orbits for Satellite Communication 53

2.3 Perturbations of Orbits 80

2.4 Conclusion 110

3 Baseband Digital Signals, Packet Networks, and Quality of Service (QOS) 113

3.1 Baseband Signals 114

3.2 Performance Objectives 123

3.3 Availability Objectives 124

3.4 Delay 126

3.5 IP Packet Transfer QOS and Network Performance 128

3.6 Conclusion 133

4 Digital Communications Techniques 135

4.1 Baseband Formatting 137

4.2 Digital Modulation 138

4.3 Channel Coding 153

4.4 Channel Coding and the Power-Bandwidth Trade-Off 157

4.5 Coded Modulation 162

4.6 End-To-End Error Control 169

4.7 Digital Video Broadcasting via Satellite (DVB-S) 170

4.8 Second Generation DVB-S (DVB-S2) 175

4.9 New Features of DVB-S2X 183

4.10 Conclusion 184

5 Uplink, Downlink, and Overall Link Performance; Intersatellite Links 189

5.1 Configuration of a Link 190

5.2 Antenna Parameters 190

5.3 Radiated Power 196

5.4 Received Signal Power 197

5.5 Noise Power Spectral Density at the Receiver Input 203

5.6 INDIVIDUAL LINK PERFORMANCE 213

5.7 Influence of the Atmosphere 219

5.8 Mitigation of Atmospheric Impairments 238

5.9 Overall Link Performance with Transparent Satellite 241

5.10 Overall Link Performance with Regenerative Satellite 252

5.11 Link Performance with Multibeam Antenna Coverage vs. Monobeam Coverage 257

5.12 Intersatellite Link Performance 265

6 Multiple Access 275

6.1 Layered Data Transmission 275

6.2 Traffic Parameters 276

6.3 TRAFFIC ROUTING 280

6.4 ACCESS TECHNIQUES 281

6.5 FREQUENCY DIVISION MULTIPLE ACCESS (FDMA) 284

6.6 TIME DIVISION MULTIPLE ACCESS (TDMA) 290

6.7 CODE DIVISION MULTIPLE ACCESS (CDMA) 303

6.8 FIXED AND ON-DEMAND ASSIGNMENT 314

6.9 RANDOM ACCESS 317

6.10 CONCLUSION 322

7 Satellite Networks 325

7.1 Network Reference Models and Protocols 325

7.2 Reference Architecture for Satellite Networks 329

7.3 Basic Characteristics of Satellite Networks 330

7.4 Satellite On-Board Connectivity 334

7.5 Connectivity Through Intersatellite Links (ISLs) 347

7.6 Satellite Broadcast Networks 353

7.7 Broadband Satellite Networks 356

7.8 Transmission Control Protocol 387

7.9 IPV6 OVER SATELLITE NETWORKS 393

7.10 CONCLUSION 396

8 Earth Stations 401

8.1 Station Organisation 401

8.2 Radio-Frequency Characteristics 402

8.3 The Antenna Subsystem 415

8.4 The Radio-Frequency Subsystem 450

8.5 Communication Subsystems 459

8.6 The Network Interface Subsystem 466

8.7 Monitoring and Control; Auxiliary Equipment 474

8.8 Conclusion 476

9 The Communication Payload 479

9.1 Mission and Characteristics of the Payload 479

9.2 Transparent Repeater 482

9.3 Regenerative Repeater 509

9.4 Multibeam Antenna Payload 511

9.5 Introduction to Flexible Payloads 520

9.6 Solid State Equipment Technology 522

9.7 Antenna Coverage 523

9.8 Antenna Characteristics 543

9.9 Conclusion 569

10 The Platform 573

10.1 Subsystems 575

10.2 Attitude Control 576

10.3 The Propulsion Subsystem 595

10.4 The Electric Power Supply 610

10.5 Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (TTC) and On-Board Data Handling (OBDH) 629

10.6 Thermal Control and Structure 648

10.7 Developments and Trends 655

11 Satellite Installation and Launch Vehicles 659

11.1 Installation in Orbit 659

11.2 Launch Vehicles 685

12 The Space Environment 721

12.1 Vacuum 721

12.2 The Mechanical Environment 722

12.3 Radiation 726

12.4 Flux of High-Energy Particles 730

12.5 The Environment During Installation 734

13 Reliability and Availability of Satellite Communications Systems 737

13.1 Introduction to Reliability 737

13.2 Satellite System Availability 741

13.3 Subsystem Reliability 743

13.4 Component Reliability 749

References 754

Index 755