SPACE COMMUNICATIONS
SYSTEMS
OVERVIEW
• OBJECTIVES
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BASIC PRINCIPLES
MILITARY SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
COMMERCIAL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
WARFIGHTER APPLICATIONS
THE WAY AHEAD
OBJECTIVES
• UNDERSTAND BASIC CONCEPTS, PRINCIPLES AND
ADVANTAGES OF SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
• UNDERSTAND SYSTEM CAPABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS
FOR DOD, CIVIL, AND COMMERCIAL SATELLITE
COMMUNICATIONS
• UNDERSTAND POTENTIAL SUPPORT APPLICATIONS FOR
MILITARY OPERATIONS
OVERVIEW
• OBJECTIVES
• BASIC PRINCIPLES
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MILITARY SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
COMMERCIAL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
WARFIGHTER APPLICATIONS
THE WAY AHEAD
BASIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
SPACE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
APPLICATIONS
• COMPONENTS
• USER/TRANSMITTER SEGMENT
• TRANSMISSION MEDIUM
• USER/RECEIVER SEGMENT
• RELAY OR TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION
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TEXT
VOICE
VIDEO
DATA
BASIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
SPACE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
POINT A
POINT B
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
LINKS
SIMPLEX
(one way only)
POINT B
POINT A
HALF DUPLEX
(one way or the other)
POINT B
POINT A
FULL DUPLEX
(both ways simultaneously)
POINT A
POINT B
GEO-SYNCHRONOUS
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MOST COMMON ORBIT: LOW INCLINATION
ALTITUDE: APPROXIMATELY 23,0000 NM
LIFE SPAN: MEASURED IN YEARS
MAJOR EFFECT ON LIFE SPAN: CONSUMABLES AND
SYSTEM DEGRADATION
• PERIOD: USUALLY 24 HOURS
GEO-SYNCHRONOUS ORBIT
THREE SATELLITES IN NEAR-EQUATORIAL ORBITS CAN
PROVIDE CONTINUOUS GLOBAL COVERAGE...
...EXCEPT FOR THE POLES
GEO-SYNCHRONOUS SATCOM
HIGHLY INCLINED, ELLIPTICAL
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MOST COMMON ORBIT: NEAR POLAR
ALTITUDE: 200 TO 10000 NM
LIFE SPAN: 1 YEAR OR LONGER
MAJOR EFFECT OF LIFE SPAN: CONSUMABLES
PERIOD: 90 MIN TO 11 HRS
HIGHLY INCLINED, ELLIPTICAL ORBIT
HIGHLY INCLINED, ELLIPTICAL
ORBITS COVER THE POLES,
BUT...
...DO NOT PROVIDE CONTINUOUS
GLOBAL COVERAGE
HIGHLY ELLIPTICAL
ORBITS
NEAR-EARTH
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MOST COMMON ORBIT: NEAR POLAR
ALTITUDE: 100 - 200 NM
LIFETIME: LESS THAN 1 YEAR
MAJOR EFFECT ON LIFESPAN: ATMOSPHERIC DRAG
PERIOD: 90 MIN
NEAR-EARTH ORBIT
NEAR-EARTH SATCOM SYSTEMS USE
MANY SMALL, CHEAP SATELLITES TO
PROVIDE WIDE AREA COVERAGE
NEAR-EARTH ORBITS
SATCOM VS TERRESTRIAL COMM
GENERAL ADVANTAGES
• LINE OF SIGHT NOT REQUIRED BETWEEN USERS
• COMMUNICATION COST & QUALITY LESS SENSITIVE TO
DISTANCE AND TERRAIN EFFECTS
• MOBILE COMM LINKS BEYOND LINE OF SIGHT
• DIRECT COMMUNICATIONS TO REMOTE AREAS, NO
NEED FOR INTERMEDIATE GROUND RELAYS
• WIDE AREA OR FOCUSED BROADCAST OPTIONS
• LARGE CAPACITY FOR MESSAGE TRAFFIC
• MINIMUM RESTRAINT ON USERS
COMSAT ADVANTAGES
TERRESTRIAL COMMUNICATIONS
SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
SATCOM VS TERRESTRIAL COMM
MILITARY RELATED ADVANTAGES
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SMALLER TERMINALS THAN WHOLE TERRESTRIAL SYSTEM
LOW PROBABILITY OF INTERCEPT OR DETECTION
HIGHER DEGREE OF RELIABILITY AND SURVIVABILITY
REDUCED LOGISTICAL BURDENS
REDUCED SITING PROBLEMS
RAPID NETWORK DEPLOYMENT, RECONFIGURATION
EASILY EXPANDED
FLEXIBLE CONNECTIVITY
COLLOCATED WITH UNIT FOR DEFENSE
SATCOM VS TERRESTRIAL COMM
LIMITATIONS
• HIGH COST FOR SATELLITES, SPACELIFT, TERMINALS,
AND COMMAND & CONTROL RESOURCES
• FREQUENCY SPECTRUM
• ORBITAL POSITION AVAILABILITY
• VULNERABILITY TO ASAT WEAPONS & JAMMING
OVERVIEW
• OBJECTIVES
• BASIC PRINCIPLES
• MILITARY SATELLITE
COMMUNICATIONS
• COMMERCIAL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
• WARFIGHTER APPLICATIONS
• THE WAY AHEAD
PROVIDE TIMELY ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND
DISSEMINATION OF DECISIONS TO GLOBALLY
DEPLOYED MILITARY FORCES
DSCS
UFO
FLTSATCOM
MILSTAR
AFSATCOM
MILSATCOM REQUIREMENTS
HARD-CORE
SECURE, SURVIVABLE
COMMAND AND CONTROL
FOR HIGH PRIORITY USERS
SOFTCORE
HIGH CAPACITY, SURVIVABLE
COMMUNICATIONS FOR DOD
GENERAL PURPOSE
LOWER PRIORITY
COMMUNICATIONS WITH
MINIMUM SURVIVABILITY
REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL PURPOSE
COMMUNICATIONS
• USERS
• MOBILE TERMINALS
• TACTICAL BROADCAST
• SATCOM SYSTEMS
• FLEET SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
• UHF F/O
• COMMERCIAL
MILSATCOM REQUIREMENTS
HARD-CORE
SECURE, SURVIVABLE
COMMAND AND CONTROL
FOR HIGH PRIORITY USERS
SOFTCORE
HIGH CAPACITY, SURVIVABLE
COMMUNICATIONS FOR DOD
GENERAL PURPOSE
LOW PRIORITY
COMMUNICATIONS WITH
MINIMUM SURVIVABILITY
REQUIREMENTS
SOFTCORE
COMMUNICATIONS
• USERS
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AUTODIN/AUTOSEVOCOM
DEFENSE DATA NETWORK (DDN)
DEFENSE SWITCHED NETWORK (DSN)
DIPLOMATIC TELECOMM SERVICE (DTS)
GROUND MOBILE FORCES (GMF)
• SATCOM SYSTEMS
• DEFENSE SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
SYSTEM (DSCS)
MILSATCOM REQUIREMENTS
HARD-CORE
SECURE, SURVIVABLE
COMMAND AND CONTROL
FOR HIGH PRIORITY USERS
SOFTCORE
HIGH CAPACITY, SURVIVABLE
COMMUNICATIONS FOR DOD
GENERAL PURPOSE
LOW PRIORITY
COMMUNICATIONS WITH
MINIMUM SURVIVABILITY
REQUIREMENTS
HARD-CORE
COMMUNICATIONS
• USERS
• NATIONAL COMMAND AUTHORITY/CINC NETWORKS
• EMERGENCY ACTIONS MESSAGE DISSEMINATION TO
STRATEGIC FORCES
• TAKE CHARGE AND MOVE OUT (TACAMO)
• AIRBORNE WARNING AND CONTROL SYSTEM (AWACS)
• SATCOM SYSTEMS
• MILSTAR
• AF SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
(AFSATCOM)
UHF SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS
• ADVANTAGES
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GREATER CHANNEL CAPACITY
SMALL, ECONOMICAL, HIGHLY MOBILE
MATURE TECHNOLOGY ==> RELIABLE
EXCELLENT QUALITY
300-3000 MHz
• DISADVANTAGES
• VULNERABLE TO NUCLEAR BLACKOUT
• SUSCEPTIBLE TO JAMMING AND INTERCEPT
• CROWED SPECTRUM
UHF SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS
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LARGE AREA
COVERAGE
MOBILE TERMINALS
MINIMAL PROTECTION
LDR, SOME MDR
FLEET SATELLITE MISSION
GLOBAL, UNPROTECTED TACTICAL
COMMUNICATIONS FOR NAVAL AIRCRAFT,
SURFACE SHIPS, SUBMARINES AND SHORE
STATIONS
FLEET SATELLITE
FLEET SATELLITE
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
• CAPABILITIES
• 23 CHANNELS (FLEET BROADCAST, FLEET RELAY AIR
FORCE NARROWBAND AND DOD WIDEBAND)
• TERMINALS ARE MANPACKS, AIRBORNE, SHIP/SHORE AND
SIOP MISSION TERMINALS
• EHF TEST PACKAGE ON LAST TWO FLIGHTS
• NO POLAR COVERAGE
• CONSTELLATION SPECIFICS
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4 OPERATIONAL SATELLITES
5 YEAR DESIGNED LIFE
LAUNCHED 1978 TO 1989
1 SATELLITE PER SECTOR
FLEET SATELLITE
UHF F/O MISSION
GLOBAL, UNPROTECTED TACTICAL COMMUNICATIONS
FOR NAVAL AIRCRAFT, SURFACE SHIPS, SUBMARINES
AND SHORE STATIONS
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REPLACES FLTSAT/LEASED SATELLITE CONSTELLATION
GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR NAVAL FORCES
EAM AND SIOP DISSEMINATION (AFSATCOM)
PRESIDENTIAL COMMAND NETWORK
UHF FOLLOW-ON SATELLITE
UHF F/O
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
• CAPABILITIES
• 39 CHANNELS (SOME POSSESS ANTI-JAM CAPABILITY)
• TERMINALS ARE MANPACKS, AIRBORNE, SHIP/SHORE AND
SIOP MISSION TERMINALS
• EHF TEST PACKAGE ON FLIGHTS 4-10
• NO POLAR COVERAGE
• CONSTELLATION SPECIFICS
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6 SATELLITES ( 1 ACTIVE, 1 TACO)
14 YEAR DESIGNED LIFE
COMPLETE DEPLOYMENT BY 1998 (10 SATELLITES)
PAYLOAD CONFIGURATION BY NAVAL SPACE COMMAND
SATELLITE CONTROL BY AF SPACE COMMAND
UHF FOLLOW-ON SATELLITE
FLTSAT & UHF F/O USERS
UHF CH 23
DOD WIDEBAND USERS
• EAM DISSEMINATION
UHF
CH 1-10
UHF
CH 11-22
AFSCN
• TT&C
USAF NARROWBAND
• NUCLEAR FORCE COMMAND
• & CONTROL
USN LAND, SEA, AIR FORCES
• DATA DISTRIBUTION
• I&W
• FLEET BROADCAST
• TACTICAL INTEL
• OTHER WARFARE USES
SHF SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS
• ADVANTAGES
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GREATER CHANNEL CAPACITY
WIDESPREAD CONNECTVITY
ROUTING DIVERSITY
LESS VULNERABLE TO NUCLEAR BLACKOUT AND
SCINTILLATION
• DISADVANTAGES
• LIMITED FREQUENCY ALLOCATION
• LIMITED ANTI-JAMMING CAPABILITY
• GROUND EQUIPMENT IS LARGE AND COSTLY
SHF SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS
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REGIONAL COVERAGE
TRANSPORTABLE/FIXED
TERMINALS
LIMITED AJ PROTECTION
MDR, SOME HDR
DSCS MISSION
• SECURE, SURVIVABLE COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE
GLOBAL C2 SYSTEM (GCCS); MANAGED BY THE DEFENSE
INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY (DISA)
• ADDITIONAL AFSATCOM SUPPORT VIA THE DSCS III
SINGLE CHANNEL TRANSPONDER (SCT)
DSCS SATELLITES
DSCS II
DSCS III
DSCS II SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
• SYSTEM CAPABILITIES
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TWO EARTH COVERAGE, TWO NARROW BEAM ANTENNAS
1200 SIMULTANEOUS TELEPHONE USERS
LIMITED MOBILITY
NO POLAR COVERAGE
• CONSTELLATION SPECIFICS
• 3 ACTIVE SATELLITES
• 10 YEAR DESIGN LIFE
• LAUNCHED 1971-1982
DSCS II SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
DSCS III SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
• CAPABILITIES
• EARTH COVERAGE, SPOT, MULTIBEAM ANTENNAS
• 10,000 SIMULTANEOUS TELEPHONE USERS
• CONSTELLATION SPECIFICS
• 6 OPERATIONAL SATELLITES--3 RESERVES IN GEOSTATIONARY ORBIT
• 10 YEAR DESIGN LIFE
• LAUNCHED 1982 TO PRESENT 5 DSCS OPERATIONS
CENTERS WORLDWIDE, OPERATED BY USARSPACE
• SATELLITE HEALTH SUPPORTS BY AFSPC
DSCS III SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
DSCS EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS
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NUCLEAR SURVIVABILITY
ROBUST COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM
ANTIJAM AT HIGH DATA RATES
SIOP AND CINC EAM/FDM MSGS
DSCS EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS
GCCS
EARLY WARNING
PAYLOAD CONTROL
NAOC
ARMY SPACE
COMMAND
TT&C
AF SPACE
COMMAND
GROUND MOBILE
FORCES
EHF SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS
• ADVANTAGES
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EXTENSIVE BANDWIDTHS
JAM RESISTANT
NON-CROWDED SPECTRUM
SMALL EQUIPMENT, SATELLITE APPLICATIONS
LEAST VULNERABLE TO NUCLEAR BLACKOUT
• DISADVANTAGES
• TECHNOLOGY RISK -- BRAND NEW
• SUSCEPTIBLE TO RAIN AND ATMOSPHERIC ATTENUATION
• CAPABILITIES UN-EXPLOITED
EHF SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS
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PRIMARILY SPOT
COVERAGE
MOBILE TERMINALS
AJ, AS, LPI PROTECTION
LDR, MDR, HDR
MILSTAR MISSION
PROVIDE SURVIVABLE, ENDURING, MINIMUM
ESSENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR COMMAND &
CONTROL OF THE WARFIGHTING FORCES OF THE
UNITED STATES
MILSTAR SYSTEM
DESCRIPTION
• CAPABILITIES
• SECURE AND ENDURING COMMUNICATIONS
• MIX OF ORBITS -- POLAR ADJUNCTS AND INTERLINKING
• USER DATA STORED ON SATELLITE TO IMPROVE SYSTEM
FLEXIBILITY AND SURVIVABILITY
• ARMY, NAVY AND AIR FORCE TERMINALS INTEROPERABLE
• ENCYPTED VOICE, DATA, TELETYPE OR FACSIMILE COMM
• CONSTELLATION SPECIFICS
• 2 MILSTAR ON ORBIT
• INITIAL LAUNCH IN 1992
MILSTAR USERS
• CINCS ARE APPORTIONED CAPACITY, AND CINCS
DIRECT IMPLEMENTATION FOR THEIR USERS
• AIR FORCE (COMING)
• PRIMARILY FOR COMMAND POST USE
• SOME TERMINALS BACKWARD COMPATIBLE WITH
AFSATCOM
• NAVY (AVAILABLE)
• SHORE, SHIP, & SUBMARINE USE
• FEWER OPTIONS THAN AF TERMINAL
• ARMY (COMING)
• SCAMP MANPACK; SOF/VIP APPLICATIONS
• SMART-T (HMMWV MOUNTED)
AFSATCOM MISSION
• SECURE, RELIABLE, SURVIVABLE, TWO-WAY
GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE
COMMAND ELEMENT AND ALL SEGMENTS OF THE
FORCES THROUGH ALL LEVELS OF CONFLICT
• AFSATCOM
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EAM DISSEMINATION
JCS-CINC INTERNETTING
FORCE DIRECTION & REPORTING
NON-SIOP FORCES
AFSATCOM
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
• CAPABILITIES
• WORLDWIDE CAPABILITY
• DOWNLINK VULNERABILITY
• DEPENDENT ON HOST SATELLITE
• CONFIGURATION
• TRANSPONDERS ON FLTSAT, UFO, AND
DSCS SATELLITES
• MANAGED BY HQ AFSPC/SC
AFSATCOM
USERS
NAVAL FORCES
B-52 AFSATCOM TERMINAL
COMMAND AND CONTROL AIRCRAFT
AFSATCOM
USERS
NMCS
MISSILE LAUNCH
CONTROL FACILITY
CINC
COMMAND CENTERS
BOMBERS AND
AIRBORNE CMD POST
OVERVIEW
• OBJECTIVES
• BASIC PRINCIPLES
• MILITARY SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
• COMMERCIAL SATELLITE
COMMUNICATIONS
• WARFIGHTER APPLICATIONS
• THE WAY AHEAD
COMMERCIAL SATELLITE
AUGMENTATION
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AUGMENTATION OF DOD SYSTEMS
HIGH THROUGHPUT COMMUNICATIONS
NO SURVIVABILITY CAPABILITY
FIXED AND SEMI-FIXED TERMINALS
INMARSAT
• DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FULL
DUPLEX COMMUNICATIONS TO
SHIPS FOR TELEPHONE,
TELETYPE, FACSIMILE AND DATA.
• DOD LEASE OF CHANNELS
CALLED “GAPFILLER”.
• PORTABLE TERMINALS LEASED
TO SUPPORT DESERT STORM.
INMARSAT SATELLITE
INTELSAT
• INTERNATIONAL
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SATELLITE ORGANIZATION
• 125 MEMBER NATIONS
• HALF OF ALL INTERNATIONAL
TELEPHONE CALLS
• NEARLY ALL TRANSOCEANIC
TELEVISION
• NINETEEN COMSATS DEPLOYED
• SIX GROUND STATIONS
WORLDWIDE
LEASAT
• COMMERCIAL SYSTEM TO
AUGMENT THE FLEET
SATELLITE
CONSTELLATION
• FOUR SATELLITES, LAST
DEPLOYED IN 1990
• OPERATED BY HUGHES
COMMUNICATION FOR
THE US NAVY
LEASAT
OVERVIEW
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OBJECTIVES
BASIC PRINCIPLES
MILITARY SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
COMMERCIAL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
• WARFIGHTER APPLICATIONS
• THE WAY AHEAD
DOD WARFIGHTERS
• HIGHLY MOBILE USERS
• AIR/FLEET OPERATIONS
• DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY (DEA)
• WHITEHOUSE COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY
• NUCLEAR CAPABLE FORCES
• NATIONAL COMMAND AUTHORITITES
• INTEGRATED TACTICAL WARNING ASSESSMENT
• EAM DISSEMINATORS
• COVERT/SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES
MILSATCOM REQUIREMENTS
PERSPECTIVE
INTEL
27%
OTHER
35%
JOINT
STAFF/CINC
6%
ARMY
10%
MARINES
1%
AIR FORCE
18%
NAVY
3%
OVERVIEW
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OBJECTIVES
BASIC PRINCIPLES
MILITARY SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
COMMERCIAL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
WARFIGHTER APPLICATIONS
• THE WAY AHEAD
INFORMATION TO THE WARFIGHTER
• NEAR-REAL TIME WEATHER INFORMATION
• UPDATED THREAT INTELLIGENCE
• IMAGERY AND INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION