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SatMagazine Worldwide Satellite Magazine July / August 2008 Thousands of Antennas, Thousands of Placeswww.avltech.com Patented Roto-Lok Cable Drive only from Mobile Satellite ServicesGEOSS To The Rescue Expert insight from Chris Forrester, NSRs Claude Rous seau, WTAs Robert Bell Times Are A Changin For MSS Operators Universal Service--Who Pays For It? Boeings President of SSI In The Spotlight In-Depth Look At GOES ICO MSS Trials Set To Start Part Three Satellite Imagery... San Diego Venue Big Hit Relay Examined ...and more
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SatMagazine July/August 2008 2 CONTENTSVol. 6 No. 4 July/August 2008 SATMAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2008 LETTERS TO THE EDITORHomage to Excellenceby Stephen MalloryFor me, two of the most important standards to live by are honor and integrity.IN MY VIEWThe Importance of GEOSSby Elliot G. PulhamHeres a major global space effort that doesnt receive adequate recognition from the pressGEOSS.EXECUTI V E SPOT L IGHTStephen T. ONeillPresident Boeing Satellite Systems IntlMick GardinaDirector of Vertical Solutions iDirect TechnologiesINSIGHTNHK + Ultra-HDby Chris ForresterNHKs laboratory is nothing if not futuristic!The Times... They Are A Changin... FAST!by Claude RousseauWhen Bob Dylan sang the lyrics that comprise this articles title...Universal ServiceWho Pays For IT?by Robert BellYou probably know about the surcharges that appear on your phone bill...MSS. Status Check For First Respondersby Andrea MalterFirst responders around the United States are already dealing with the beginnings of a busy and difficult season of managing natural disasters.FEATURED SATE LL ITEAsiaSat-2In 2008, AsiaSat celebrates their 20th anniversary... FEATURESGOES Image Navigation + Registrationby Bruce GibbsGOES, operated by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), continuously track evolution of weather over almost a hemisphere. MSS Goes Live In The S-Band, Or, Meet Me In St. Louisby David ZufallThe MSS industry is on the cusp of delivering ground breaking mobility services to meet Americans love for mobility and connectivity.The Re-Birth Of Block Dby Jim CorryIn January of 2008, the Federal Com munications Commission (FCC) con ducted an auction of 62 MHz...Heres Looking At EverythingPart IIIby Hartley & Pattie LesserThanks for returning for Part III of the satellite imagery article.The History of Satellites Part 4by Donald Martin, Paul Anderson & Lucy BartamianThe Relay program [1 + 2] was undertaken by NASA to perform active satellite communicationsCASE STUDYTelesat Integration of Telstar Fleet Operationsby Tom Protzman + Dough MathiasNine months were allocated to transfer operations for all ten satellites from Lorals Hawley, Pennsylvania, facilityFOCUSby Pattie Lesser Online VSAT Courseby Peter Xilliox 05 07 17 47 32 75 24 52 30 44 68 21 10 79 83 66 71
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SatMagazine July/August 20083 EDITORIAL + PRODUCTIONSilvano Payne Publisher Hartley Lesser Editorial Director P.J. Waldt Associate EditorTHIS ISSUES AUTHORSPaul Anderson Linda Bartamian Robert Bell Jim Corry Chris Forrester Bruce Gibbs Pattie Lesser Andrea Malateir Stephen Mallory Donald Martin Doug Mathias Tom Protzman Elliot G. Pulham Claude Rousseau Peter Xilliox David ZufallSALESJill Durfee Advertising Director jill@satnews.co mDESIGN + DEVELOPMENTSimon Payne Creative ManagerSATMAGAZINEJuly/August 2008 Published monthly by Satnews Publishers 800 Siesta Way, Sonoma, CA 95476 USA Phone (707) 939-9306 Fax (707) 939-923 5 E-mail: hartley @satnews.com Website: www.satmagazine.com 2008 Satnews Publishers EDITORS NOTES Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) are a crucial component of the satcom industry. The main difference between MSS and a cell system ismobility! MSS has proven its efficacy for providing communication services across the globe, especially in servicing those areas that have poor or few communication options, including developing countries and the vast oceans of Earth. With MSS, there are several positive aspects. Some include: very high bit rates channels dynamically assigned to users who are located in various areas of the world the cost of doing business ( i.e., the transmission itself) is independent of distance a station thats handling the data transmission can, itself, receive its own transmission, which is a definite plus when transmission control is needed There are other considerations as well as various plusses and minuses for MSS providers when using either a geosynchronous or low Earth orbit satellite. To obtain a clearer view of the MSS market, I asked one of the leading MSS providers to comment on this segment of the satcom industry. Iridium Satellites Don Thoma, the companys Executive Vice President, took up the cause. He noted the MSS market growing this year and added in those areas where he believes the growth will be experienced. Iridium Satellite continues to achieve double-digit growth across all vertical markets for MSS. At the end of the first quarter of 2008, Iridiums subscriber base had grown to more than a quarter-million. Thats a 37 percent increase over the same period last year. Regionally, traffic in the U.S. and Canada was up almost 100 percent, largely driven by churn from faltering competitors. The Asia-Pacific region was also a very strong market, with traffic up 61 percent. Don then delved into the short-burst arena by stating, In the maritime market, the number of active subscribers grew 17 percent, with airtime for voice and circuit-switched data up 28 percent, and short-burst data (SBD) traffic up 122 percent.
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SatMagazine July/August 2008 4 The dramatic increase in SBD usage is being driven by growing demand for vessel tracking and monitoring, and unmanned oceanographic/ weather sensors. We continue to capture a growing market share, especially in prepaid crew calling services for ships at sea. We are poised to make further market share gains with the introduction of our new Iridium OpenPort enhanced-bandwidth service, which will provide a cost-effective alternative to Fleet 77 and Fleet Broadband services. More than six major international Service Providers have already signed agreements to distribute Iridium OpenPort products and services, and preorders for Iridium OpenPort ship terminals have far exceeded projections. Does the same hold true for the aeronautical market? We have seen similar rapid growth over the past 12 months, with subscribers up 51 percent. Airtime usage for voice and circuitswitched data was up 46 percent over last year, while short-burst data (SBD) traffic rose 77 percent. Iridiums growth encompasses all sec tors of the market, including fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, to meet the rising demand for reliable, secure voice and data communications with global gap-free coverage over regions not served by other MSS providers. While we foresee continuing growth in our traditional core market of business jets and helicopter fleets, we are projecting a major upsurge in the commercial aviation sector. This is buoyed by the ICAO approval earlier this year for Iridium to provide AMS(R)S (Aeronautical Mobile Satellite (Route) Services) for commer cial aircraft on transoceanic routes. Iridium is the only MSS provider with complete gap-free coverage over the important polar routes. The M2M mobile data sector is Iridiums fastest growing market, driven by emerging mar kets for asset tracking and remote monitoring. Our total number of SBD subscribers grew 169 percent over first quarter 2007. I inquired as to what issues Iridium will have to confront, and how will such issues be addressed. Don replied, We are laying the foun dation now for our next-generation satellite constellation with our Iridium NEXT program. Ear lier this year, we announced agreements with three companies Lockheed Martine, Space Systems Loral and Theles Alenia Space to develop design concepts, review critical engineering trades, and evaluate performance and capabilities required for NEXT, along with costs to manufacture and launch the system. We will downselect two finalists this summer and award a contract to the prime contractor in mid-2009. We are on schedule to commence satellite launches in We expect to offset a significant portion of the estimated $2.6 billion cost for NEXT deployment by adding secondary payloads onto the satellites, for applications such as weather observations. Thanks, Don, for your opinions.This issue of SatMagazine includes a variety of material we hope you will find intriguing and interesting, ranging from our continued look at satellite imagery with truly expert content from those in the know... to a continuation of the history of satellites, a case study and more. Enjoy! Hartley Lesser Editorial DirectorEDITORS NOTES
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SatMagazine July/August 20085 LETTERS TO THE EDITORDear Editor, For me, two of the most important standards to live by are honor and integrity. This has also served me well in business practices. However, as we all know, it is not uncom mon to encounter and endure less savory entities during our journeys. I learned long ago to cultivate the honorable, not to compromise ones principles, and to stand by those who share those lofty endeavors, personally and professionally. I took a serious risk twenty years ago when I walked away from my lifelong dream as a foreign correspondent to concentrate on my personal family responsibilities. At that time, while based in Tokyo, I hocked the farm to buy a used Ku uplink truck, hired six people to start a television news service based in the California Capitol, and began to build a transportable uplinking business that has taken our teams around the world. Over the years, we met and worked with some absolutely wonderful people and some less so. When we found respectable companies and people to work with, we nurtured and protected those relationships. This was an important key to our continued success. We have clients and vendors weve been working with for more than two decadesand some we will never do business with again. One of the most outstanding people I met during this cycle of my life was semi-retired. He was tinkering around with some ideas to keep his keen mind working and was getting some sales, however, nothing on a grand scale. His knowledge of the satellite industry was phenomenal. He was well educated, being one of the elite graduates of one of this nations finest universities, Georgia Tech. He completed post graduate studies at Stanford. He also earned accolades for his time at Lockheed-Martin, Scientific Atlanta, and he co-founded SatCom Technologies.. Several years ago, when I couldnt locate any traditional antenna manufactures to build for my company a 1.8-meter clamshell antenna to fit on a small Ford Econoline van, I was told that he could handle the task. We were already sold on his Roto-Lok cable drive antenna positioner, and all we had to do was convince him to take a risk. To this day, were still using that AVL antenna. Jim Oliver took the classic entrepreneurial leap, kick-started a new phase of his life, and developed some great products with his company, AVL Technologies.His antennas are sold around the world in great numbers. His success is remarkable and well earned. Hes an easygoing, humble, soft-spoken techno wizard that truly knows his business. What sets Jim above so many others isnt just his vast knowledgeits his and his staffs dedication to reliability, quality, innovation, and sterling customer service. This is the salient stuff of dreams. HOMAGE TO EXCELLENCE
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SatMagazine July/August 2008 6Not only do uplinkers like me buy his products, but there are also others who subcontract AVL to build parts for their products. Thats a testament to ones success, which Jim has thoroughly earned. But, you might be surprised to learn that a major manufacturer, one that has paid AVL to incorporate its patented Roto-Lok cable drives into some of their antenna systems, has apparently been influenced by the dark side of the force. That company is now copying and selling that technology in their systems. Some might call this patent infringement. Others might say Jims pocket is being picked. No matter how you cut it, this is a shabby way to treat a business partner. During a trade show earlier this year, I heard the dirty whispers about the pirating of AVLs technology. Many were examining the reproductions of Jims handiwork. Many others and I asked Jim about it and he said he was talking to them and was looking for a patent savvy attorney. My approach then, and now, is take no prisoners. Go for the throat. Despite Jims efforts, it would seem the big bad wolf is trying to use its bazillions to out lawyer and intimidate him by engaging him in a war of attrition. This situation is as despicable as it is disgraceful. There is no question that what is going on is shameless. We want nothing to do with such perfidy. Jim Oliver and his team have performed admirably and now they have been bushwhacked. The offenders were not wearing masks or carrying guns. They could certainly incorporate such elements into their new logo, along with the Jolly Rogers skull and cross bones flying over their corporate headquarters. Hang in there, Jim. Dont give up the good fight. Were with you! Sincerely, Steve Mallory President PACSAT Sacramento, California LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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IN MY VIEW SatMagazine July/August 20087 TH E IMPOR T ANCE OF GEOSSby Elliot G. PulhamPresident and Chief Executive Officer Space FoundationThe grim statistics become more precise daily. The massive (7.9 on the Richter scale) earthquake that staggered the Sichuan province on May 12th has affected millions of Chinese. The numbers are staggering, with more than 60,000 dead, more than 26,000 still missing, with 353,290 known injured, and as many as five million left homeless. In Myanmar, where Cyclone Nargis struck a month ago, 130,000 are dead or missing, and two million are homeless.These twin tragedies underscore the critical importance of a major global space effort that doesnt receive adequate recognition from the pressthe Global Earth Observation System of Sys tems ( GEOSS). This emerging public infrastructure, system of systems, is interconnecting a diverse and growing array of instruments and systems for monitoring and forecasting changes in the global environment. Satellites that will be linked into the diverse GEOSS sensor mix gave forecasters the first data on the formation of Nar gis, and aided in tracking the killer cyclone. Additional satellites gave the world its first images that assisted in the assess ment of the devastation in Myanmar and Sichuan.These satellites are in equatorial and polar orbits and provide a wide variety of Earth observation imagery and data. In addition, before anyone starts gloating about how nice it is that our satellites allow us to see whats going on in places like China and Myanmar, make a note that China itself is part of GEOSS. Earthimaging satellites built and operated by the Chinese, in collaboration with Brazil, will be part of GEOSS, with two currently in orbit and two more scheduled to
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IN MY VIEW SatMagazine July/August 20088 launch in the next three years. As these satellites pass overhead, they provide, free of charge, constant realtime imagery to any GEOSS member country that can downlink from them. Countries who currently are without a domestic downlink will soon be able to download the imagery, free, over the Internet through a GEOSS data processing center in Germany.As Germanys contribution suggests, theres a lot more to GEOSS than satellites, which includes many countries. While the U.S. is taking a primary role (some 15 federal agencies, with NOAA in the lead, are involved), the G in GEOSS really does stand for Global. At the first global Earth observation summit in 2003, GEOSS was launched. The intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations ( GEO) was tasked to develop the GEOSS framework. Working as a voluntary alliance, each nation, or organization, contributes whatever is within its means.GEO, which now includes more than 70 nations, the European Commission, and 40 international organizations, has framed a 10-year implementation plan for GEOSS, with aims are far more visionary than providing a look at the tragedies in progress. Linking together existing and planned observation sys tems around the world, GEOSS will provide decision makers access to data and information and will facili tate more predictive capabilities. GEOSS is working to address nine areas of critical importance to humanity that include: Improvement in weather forecasting Reduction in loss of life and property from disasters Understand, assess, predict, mitigate, and adapt to climate change Support sustainable agriculture and forestry, and combat land degradationUnderstand environmental impacts on human health Develop capacity for ecological forecasting Protect and monitor water resources Monitor and manage energy resources Improve biodiversity conservation According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency GEOSS holds the potential to shape a future in which we can:Forecast next winters weather months in advance Predict where and when malaria, West Nile virus, SARS, and other diseases are likely to strike Reduce U.S. energy costs by approximately $1 billion annually More effectively monitor forest fires, and predict the effect of air quality on sensitive populations in real time Provide farmers with immediate forecasts essential to maximizing crop yields Predict the patterns of the North American monsoons (I didnt even know there was such a thing as a North American monsoon, but they occur in Arizona a state that derives twothirds of its water from the phenomena) GEOSS is not just a space system, although the more than 50 environmental satellites in a wide variety of orbits do provide millions of data sets for GEOSS. There are also commercial satellites that provide some of the communication backbone for GEOSS, and GPS satellites provide the precision timing signals that enable the terrestrial GEOSS computer networks and Internet nodes to talk to each other. Add to this thousands of land-based environmental stations, and thousands of moored and free-floating ocean buoys plugged in (many by satellite, of course), all provide millions of additional data sets to GEOSS.The challenge now is to enable all the parts and pieces to talk to each other. The exercise includes having to synthesize the babble of all these systems, which were independently and individually conceived, developed, built, owned, and operated, into a seamless system-of-systems. Through the GEO, progress on GEOSS is being made daily.When GEOSS reaches its full fruition, the planetary good of this space-essential system will be overwhelming. In the U.S. alone, about $1.7 billion in weather-related aviation delays can be avoided. For every degree (Fahr enheit) we can more accurately forecast weather, we can save a billion dollars in annual energy costs; and with accurate long-lead weather forecasts, operating efficiency can be improved for weather-sensitive industries that account for one-third of the nations GDP, or about $3 trillion. Now, extend those benefits to every country on the planet.
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IN MY VIEW SatMagazine July/August 20089 Imagine having weeks, rather than hours, to prepare for the next Cyclone Nargis or the ability to forecast the next killer earthquake before it hits. We must not lose sight of the tremendous geopolitical significance of GEOSS. Thanks to this remarkable effort, countless human beings from all around the planet, from every kind of background, culture, race, religion, national origin, socio-economic, and political system, are working together for the common good. It is precisely this type of collaborative, global effort that can help bring people together to promote understand ing, acceptance, and eventually friendship and peace. It should not go unnoticed that, despite all the recent tension between China and the U.S., we are collaborating on GEOSS; nor should it go unnoticed that among the first flights of international aid to reach the Sichuan province were U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo jets, tasked by Pacific Air Forces, in a fledgling U.S.-China military-to-military operation.The view from here is that there is currently no more important effort in international space collaboration than GEOSS. GEOSS serves as a potential model for future international space ventures, and as a shining beacon that reveals what we accomplish in space really can improve life for every living being on the home planet.
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SatMagazine July/August 200810INSIGHT by Chris ForresterFor this issue, Chris journeys to Japan to receive an update on new technologyUltra HDTVwhich some suggest is the absolute Holy Grail for the satellite TV industry. A few hundred metres from Japans public broadcaster NHKs (Nippon Hoso Kyokai ) giant R&D facility is Ultraman park, and an impressive statue to Ultraman, a 1960s TV futuristic superhero series thats remembered fondly by Japanese adults of a certain age. Indeed, the show was produced in a local studio and in the district called UltraTown by residents.NHKs laboratory is nothing if not futuristic, with its 240 highly qualified researchers, of which 78 hold doctorates, and all focussed on tomorrows TV.Japanese public broadcaster NHK will start experimental test transmissions of its spectacular Ultra-HD system (7680 x 4320 pixel) in 2011-2. Japan switches off its analogue terrestrial transmissions on July 24, 2011, and NHK will retain some of the frequencies permitting expansion into next-generation HDTV.Dr.. Kenkichi Tanioka, director general of NHKs science and technical research laboratories, was outlining NHKs timetable at a major presentation recently in Tokyo. He stated he anticipated further testing and development taking until 2016, with implementation to follow. The biggest problem is bandwidth, he said, but praised the co-operation agreement now in place between the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation), NAB (National Association of Broadcasters), RAI (Radiotelevisione Italiana)and the EBU (European Broadcasting Union), which he described as a mutual approach to the evolving technology. He admitted that precisely predicting the future for Ultra-HD was especially difficult, but we already make possible the impossible, he stated. He sums up NHKs philosophy as being a, duty to innovate, while stressing that technology and the efforts of his teams is of no use at all if it remains in the Lab. We want applications that viewers can eventually enjoy. And there are plenty of signs that NHKs work does trickle down to pub lic relevance. Theres the ready-todeploy News Flash early warning sys tem, which automatically sends alerts to radios, TV sets, mobiles, and even alarm clocks, of an impending shake, or Tsunami, to the nations always on the edge population. Theres its clever One Seg (for one segment) TV-to-mobile system, and approximately 60 other highly active projects including 0.3-inch pixel advanced plasma display with its wonderful resolution possibilities. But the Jewel in the Crown, the Holy Grail, and their ultimate prize is undoubtedly its work on Ultra HDTV. Unlike in the past when broadcasters from the USA, Europe, and Japan fought each other over rival TV transmission systems (the USAs Grand Alliance, EBUs DVB (Digital Video Broadcast) and Japans analogue Muse, and then Hi-Vision digital system, are all different), there seems to be a wish from all parties to avoid costly and overlapping efforts in the search for next-generation HDTV. NHK + UL T RA-HD
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SatMagazine July/August 200811INSIGHT The progress made on this technology over the past 24 months is nothing short of remarkable. During this time period, theyve mounted exhibitions at IBC (Inter national Broadcasting Convention) and NAB, and (liter ally), bit-by-bit, improved compression ratios (helped by the BBCs codec DIRAC system named after British physicist Paul Dirac), made significant improvements to their 33-million pixel camera lens, complete with its high-speed, wideband processing circuits.Theyre now ready for further size reduction and integration. Theyve developed prototype transmission circuits that significantly reduce the challenges for actual broadcast. Both the BBC and NHK are making steady progress on the compression algorithms, which have already brought the bit-rate down from a massive 28Gb/s to a far more reasonable 120Mb/s. All that remains is to get the signal up to a satellite. NHK is contemplating a new breed of satellite (Kizuna meaning Wind) that uses the 21Ghz Ka-band. One clever thought is to design and build the new satellites with phased array antenna technology that concentrates the strongest beams to those regions of Japan, which traditionally suffer from heavy rainfall.NHK is also experimenting with 16APSK (Amplitude and Phase-shift keying) and 32APSK transmission schemes, in an attempt to compact this particular quart through a pint pot! NHK is also reviewing what they call ultra multi-level OFDM technology (1024QAM), and again with the intention of expanding transmission capacity. None of this work is likely to result in over-night success, but it is a sign of the commitment of NHK towards engineering excellence.
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SatMagazine July/August 200812INSIGHT Dr. Tanioka explained that live test transmissions will take place in London this coming September, with the signals transmitted to the giant IBC broadcasting technology convention in Amsterdam. NHK is working with the BBC to choose the best location to site the 33 million pixels Ultra-HD camera. One possible location is Londons South Bank near City Hall and Tower Bridge, with a back drop of the City of Londons financial district. Visitors to IBC this September will be able to see the fruits of this labour. The Ultra-HD images are as stunning as ever; the 22.2 channel sound is as immersive as can be imagined. A few years ago, the prospects of 22.2 channels of audio February 1, 1953 1st TV signals transmitted 1959 Marriage of Crown Prince boosts set sales 1960 1st colour transmissions 1964 Tokyo Olympics 1982 1st Muse analogue HDTV 1989 Regular satellite broadcasting begins 1994 Digital HDTV starts 2000 Digital terrestrial transmissions 2008 Ultra HDTV signals to IBC 2011 Analogue switch-off in JapanNHKS PA ST, PRE S EN T, AN D FUTU RE
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SatMagazine July/August 200813INSIGHT might have caused a heart attack for wiring looms and a boom in speaker sales. NHKs engineers contemplate towers of speakers, delivering bottom layer, mid-layer, and bottom layer audio. Eutelsat is bringing in the Ultra HDTV satellite images to Amsterdam on a pair of its satellite transponders.Cable & Wireless will handle the cable feeds. NHKcaptured content from Japan will be linked with live signals from a camera in central London (lets hope it isnt raining). Altogether, the IBC demonstrations promise to be spectacular. As mentioned, the BBC is already working closely on the project with its DIRAC advanced compression sys tem. Dr.. John Zubrzycki, the BBCs principal research engineer at Kingswood Warren, speaking in Tokyo, said they were very pleased with the way DIRACs development was progressing in software form, but the moment was approaching when it would be time for silicon hardware to be employed. DIRAC is achieving close to 1/200th compression, and a vital link in getting the massively fat 24 Gb/s signals down to a manageable 120Mb/s. Peter Wilson, technical advisor to the BBCs Research & Innovation division, who is also present in Tokyo, said the BBC DIRAC team had several directions to follow. We are already standardising the technologies within SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers), and our original intent was to focus on professional applications, that is for extremely high-fidelity images within the broadcasting environment, for postproduction and for transmission links and possibly storage. We also have a hardware partner called New Media Technologies with products in the market. But the other side of the coin was our wish to see DIRAC used for transmission, including streaming. Here the emphasis is on bandwidth saving for transmission, but if we can achieve both, that is bandwidth saving, but also high quality end results, then we have a very appealing technology.
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SatMagazine July/August 200814INSIGHT Cable & Wireless will pipe these London signals to Amsterdam. Other pre-recorded material will be played out in Turin and beamed by a Eutelsat satellite to the Convention Centre. One of the challenges is that currently theres only one camera, and the systems hard disc Dr.ive can only manage 18 minutes of recorded material. Kohji Mitani, a senior research engineer working on Ultra-HDTV, said the next stage is to start adding content for the broadcasters archive. Co-operation is essential, not just between us engineers, but between engineer ing and production. Engineers do not usually make good producers and cameramen, nor cameramen good development engineers. We need creative co-operation.Mr. Mitani and his colleague Yudi Nojiri, both big fans of IBC, confirm that huge progress been made this past year with the 33 million pixel camera. We can now manage 10 times the sensitivity, said Nojiri. Last year capturing twilight was hard, now it is possible. There are still obstacles to be overcome, not the least in terms of studio use, and a Dr.ive towards a single CCU chip (the camera currently uses 3 CCUs). Then theres the display end of the chain. Visitors to NHKs Open Lab exhibition could see an extremely highend, 8K high-contrast projector passing light over a 33 million pixel panel. The engineers claim this delivers the whitest white yet available from a projector, and the blackest black, and shades in-between in a very wide dynamic range. NHK anticipates projection to be one of the end-uses for Ultra-HD (such as throwing images onto a full wall of the living room or den, with a kids corner sitting alongside the main screen area, as well as perhaps showing data in an opposite corner), they also recognise that display panels will also be needed. There are already 2K display models creeping onto the market, but there are improvements needed before they can achieve 4K (7680 x 4320 pixels) super-fine resolution in terms of PDP (Plasma Display Panel) or LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). And the other Holy Grail is to combine 0.3mm pixel pitch while at the same time reducing power demands to below that of a small power station! NHK demonstrated such a unit, with a claimed power saving of 30 percent over similar sized unitsand they are working on a 100 inch model with all the brilliance and luminosity needed for daylight viewing. The prospects of Europe seeing full time transmis sions of Ultra-HD in the next 20 years must still be treated with caution. But it is also a fact that huge progress has been made in this past year, Most experts recognise that the consumer electronics industry will be looking for the next big thing probably in less than 10 years from now. Dr.. Taniokas simple duty is to innovate seems to be working well. He said that it was sometimes difficult to predict accurately when a specific application would kick in, and none was more difficult to forecast that the likely introduction of Ultra HDTV. But we already make the impossible possible, he said, hinting that the much-quoted 20+ year prediction might be speedily compressed.
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SatMagazine July/August 200815INSIGHT Towards next generation displays by Chris ForresterThere are huge strides being made in display efficiency, and progress beyond 1080p 120 Hz (and even 240 Hz) models, and even breathtaking 8K units, are happening much faster than anticipated. South Koreas Samsung in May unveiled their massive 82 inch (4k x 2k) prototype LCD panel, and claimed, with some justification, to be the largest commercial LCD TV in the world. In fact, the unit measures 3840 x 2160 pixels in size, which is part of the problem. To fully appreciate this monster you will need to be viewing at a safe distance, or else definition is lost. Which is where NHK of Japan comes in. NHK funds, what is without doubt, the most advanced portfolio of R&D engineers in broadcasting. They have 240 very talented engineers (of which 78 hold doctorates) working on next-generation TV, which has been dubbed Ultra HDTV, and the technical shape and potential future for displays. One area that hasnt changed is NHKs commitment to programming and technological excellence. The programming highlights are numerous, while it is worth remembering that NHK has been transmitting high-defini tion since 1989. That initial HD system was its analogue MUSE version. Not bad for an organisation that didnt transmit its first TV signals until 1953. NHK went with digital HDTV (HiVision) in 1994, while the USA, and especially Europe, were still arguing about how to achieve the technology. NHKs logic assumes that 33 million pixel TV cameras will happen, and that MPEG4 digital compression will be superseded, and that display technology (either projection or Plasma/LCD) will also evolve to handle Ultra-HD. Indeed, the assumption is very much that the initial mar ket for this technology will not be for TV, but exhibition, museum and retail exploitation. All the while the likes of Samsung, Sony, JVC, Toshiba and many others are also researching numerous varia tions on these themesDr. Kenkichi Tanioka, NHKs director general of its Science & Technical Research Laboratory, who is driving these elements forward calls it,making For more information about NHK, please select on the logo above About the author London-based Chris Forrester is a well-known entertainment and broadcasting journalist. He reports on all aspects of the TV industry with special emphasis on content, the business of film, television and emerging technologies. This includes interactive multi-media and the growing importance of web-streamed and digitized content over all delivery platforms including cable, satellite and digital terrestrial TV as well as cellular and 3G mobile. Chris has been investi gating, researching and reporting on the so-called broadband explosion for 25 years.
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SatMagazine July/August 200816INSIGHT it,making the impossible, possible. NHKs (and Samsung and others) can all handle true HD 8 megapixel displays of 3840 x 2160 with ease. The next step is to boost this resolution to 7860 x 4320. Indeed, NHK has achieved it in the research lab by bundling together four conventional 8k displays, each of 56 inches. But, as John Wayne might say in a slow drawl, Theres not enough glass in the world to scale this up to 100 inches across yet. Or achieve the super-fine resolution they are aiming for. Currently most display screens are next-generation sets of the X-VGA standard (through WXGA, SXGA, WXGA+, and more) but NHKs concept, as well as the new SMPTE standard (2036-1-2007) takes this a major step forward. NHK has developed ultra-fine 0.3mm pixel plasma display panels, vital to help create the longed-for 100 inch screens to make the most of Ultra-HD images and in these energy-saving days, bringing the concept in with a 30 percent power reduction on todays plasma models. NHKs PDP use Strontium Calcium Oxide (SrCaO) elec trode protection film to achieve ultra high-resolution while at the same time without losing degradation, and a 30percent power-saving compared to todays Magnesium Oxide displays. Theres also a widespread expectation that IMAX-style projection technology will be needed in the home, and again NHKs engineers have done the groundwork for a highly dynamic 33m pixel projector with a very wide range that clearly shows the colour black. Moreover, NHK sees us holding on to the normal 0.75 times sitting position. This means that viewers sit or observe the display at three-quarters of the screen height. So a 60 inch screen height would have viewers sitting just 40 inches away from the screen. Hence the drive towards 0.3mm pixel sizes, for an invisible, ultra-fine screen image. Dr. Tanioka calls this work moving from Next to You, the You element being us, the professional user, programme maker, and, ultimately the consumer. Capturing Ultra HD images at studio production rates of up to 250 Mb/s is another huge challenge, and NHKs technicians have developed a flexible high-speed, thin, rotating optical disc, with a very low error rate, that helps achieve this with stored media. The disc floats on a bed of air, and is so light and flexible that it bends and collapses under its own weight, hence the bed of air that creates a sort of sandwich between the spinning disc and the stabilisation board. It almost has to be seen to be believed, but the impor tant thing is that it works, and is capable of recording at a massive 250 Mbps. Currently, the best NHK can do is to capture 18 minutes of stored media but theyre working on more. Key to the overall concept of Ultra HDTV is 22.2channel surround sound. Theres probably been more tangible progress in this area than any of the developments. Now, instead of having 20 dedicated speakers scattered around the room (plus the sub-woofers) they have consolidated the units in six tall boy speaker systems, with each set of speakers capable of handling bottom layer, middle and top layer audio, and delivering a truly immer sive sound system.Naturally enough, they are also working on 3D, although this technology is undoubtedly a little further off. They have developed Braille displays using optical touch panels that can display forms, figures and graphs onto a GUI display (being developed with the University of Tokyo). They are also working hard on flexible displays. We all know the work being done by Sony and others on OLED (Organic LightEmitting Diode) units, but NHK is working hard on lightweight flexible displays in what they describe as Organic TFT technology, designated QQVGA O-TFT. It has 5 inch working prototypes that unroll from a pen-sized holder. NHK is planning to start testing Ultra HDTV in 2011-2012, and foresees the technology as becoming mainstream by 2020. Its an exciting future.
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SatMagazine July/August 200817INSIGHT by Claude Rousseau Senior Analyst NSR (Northern Sky Research)When Bob Dylan sang the lyrics that comprise this articles title back in 1964, he proph esized a future where the slow one now, will later be fast, a maxim in a different context today that could apply to the MSS industry. There are plans by almost all MSS operators to go faster and have more content delivered over their satellites at broadband speeds. Inmarsat, the elder of MSS operators, last year launched their maritime Fleet and aeronautical Swift Broadband solutions, following quickly on the heels of a successful land-mobile BGAN release a year earlier. Inmarsat had, up to then, captured a sizeable market share with narrowband products using slower data speeds and was hoping to gain on its new product and turn its customers on to broadband. At the end of 2007, BGAN counted for almost 20 per cent of Inmarsats land-mobile broadband in-service units and a stunning 30 percent of revenues in the same category, after a slow and somewhat careful start from a cautious customer base. Traditional Inmarsat users seem to have adopted BGAN, and Inmarsat is adding approximately 800 new BGAN users every month, thus making BGAN the showcase for the company and giving added confidence that satellite broadband demand is here to stay. Crossing the hundreds of Kbps barrier in download speeds has proven a smart move for Inmarsat, and many competitors are following suit. Thuraya had the most direct competition to Inmarsat already when BGAN was launched, with its notebook-size DSL unit capable of transmission speeds of up to 144 Kbps early in 2005; however, Thurayas offering met with less stellar results than BGAN due to its more restrict ed market coverage, a factor that will change this year as it now covers a good portion of Asia. TH E TI ME S, TH EY ARE A CH ANG I NFA ST!
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SatMagazine July/August 200818INSIGHT Like many products built for mobility and using satellite as the primary link, the variety of the end-user population is increasing, too, with certain markets more likely to take-up products at higher bandwidth speeds. Among the core target markets are homeland security, humanitarian aid and first responders, government agencies, the military, satellite news gather ing (SNG), oil and gas exploration, forestry and utility companies, many of which are targets of other competitors, namely the fixed satellite services operators.These competitors operate Cand Ku-band transponders on GEO satellites and play a more prominent role in land-mobile, air, and ocean-going platforms than before. With increasing revenues from managed services and transponder leases, they offer a seamless service at much higher download speeds than L-band can enable. The price model (fixed monthly fee) and their natural broadband capabilities have helped them pick up steam and step on the traditional MSS operators turf. For all players, the overarching vision to increase numbers of units deployed is to provide users with a global mobile network, where one can roam from its base to any point on the planet, while moving. But the main difficulty with mobile satellite services for a traditional broadcast fixed satellite business is mobility. Contrary to fixed users, the MSS market is more oriented for, and pushed by, on-demand services due to earlier capacity constraints and pay-per-use models. Why, then, pay for something you do not use constantly? The FSS players know well that higher speeds are required for large data file transfers, video, and Internet browsing and such is the way to go in mobile mar kets. They have entered the fray with a business model based on a monthly fee for all the data you can eat, at a set download speed, as opposed to a per-minute pricing structure. The FSS-based mobile services also offer lower airtime prices to offset much larger equipment price (compared to L-band systems), which can be three to four times more in the maritime sector.
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SatMagazine July/August 200819INSIGHT Last year saw FSS operator SES Global announce a maritime service targeted at cruise ships and mer chant marine vessels, which has been the heart of Inmarsats revenue base in the sea-going vessel segment for years. And with more cruise ship owners wanting to broaden onboard communications services with GSM coverage and Internet cafs for passengers,Intelsat Ltd. announced in June 2007 a C-band Network Broadband Global Maritime service that offers an integrated Automatic Beam Switching capability and a monitoring system product such that ships can manage remote sites from a single monitoring location. Then, this year, Intelsat received a contract from Panasonic to dedicate transponders for the aeronautical market to add Internet connectivity and other high bandwidth communications applications to in-flight entertainment aircraft systems. The same dynamic occurred in the land-mobile segment where SES and Intelsat were both called up by Ku-band phasedarray antenna maker Ray Sat Antenna Systems. The manufacturer obtained the go-ahead from the FCC to deploy up to 400 commercial-grade communications-on-the-move systems with speeds up to 14 Mbps after it landed a contract with Fox News to cover the start of the U.S. Presidential election with live mobile news reporting. There too, this deal makes headway for FSS operators into Inmarsats SNG customer base, which had trumpeted BGANs award for its use by CNN. It is not just a question of speed but also cost of the service in the end that is one of the main differentiators. Since the pressure is on to lower airtime (even for BGAN less than two years after its launch), Inmarsat is not remaining idle and waiting for more customers
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SatMagazine July/August 200820INSIGHT to lower prices. One of the main BGAN distributors (Vizada ) announced that it was doing just that and reduced prices in Latin America in late May 2008. Time is also of the essence and, for many users, hurrying up to a location in 24 hours, getting past customs quickly, and setting up a communications link at more than 128 Kbps with one unit in the following minutes after arrival is critical. And there, the edge goes to smaller, lower power and weight units in L-band. The future of the MSS market holds the promise of a dynamic environment which will see more products compete to provide users a full mobility experience, enhanced from the usual voice and data services. Al ready in preparation with Internet and video to the handheld, the plans of operators for the next ten years are taking stock of the various thrusts in media, data, voice and video convergence. Some astounding jumps could take place in the coming years when narrowband operators literally skyrock et to broadband, with perhaps the most impressive one being Iridium which is currently offering 2.4 Kbps data but plans to enable speeds on its NEXT constellation of up to 2 Mbps. Either for business purposes in land-based solutions, or for entertainment on passengers aircraft, or crews in merchant marine ships, the times for broadband satellite solutions are a changin faster than before. About the AuthorMr. Rousseau has more than 15 years of experience in the space sector in various roles, including business and program management, consulting, research, administration and communications. Mr. Rousseau started his career in Ottawa, Canada as Special Assistant for space and science in the Office of the Minister of Industry, Science and Technology of Canada. He then joined the Canadian Space Agency in 1992 in Montreal, Canada where he was Assistant to the President, then successively Analyst for Industrial and Regional Development, Administrator for the RADARSAT program and Manager for Strategic Planning in the Long Term Space Plan Task Force.
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SatMagazine July/August 200821INSIGHT by Robert Bell Executive DirectorWorld Teleport AssociationIf you live in the USA, you probably know about the surcharges that appear on your personal or business phone bill for the Universal Service Fund. This fund subsidizes phone services in rural and oth er locations where it is difficult to offer a profitable service at an affordable price. But did you know that your company should be reporting to the FCC about compliance, and may be obligated to collect fees and pay them to the Fund? When Congress passed the Communications Act of 1934, the premise was to provide access to efficient, affordable communications services for all U.S. citizens. Funding for said universal service was originally offered through an inter nal cross-subsidy imbedded in AT&Ts rela tive pricing structure for local and long distance services. Higher long distance charges basi cally subsidized lower local telephone rates including service to low-income households and highcost areas. The breakup of the Bell System in the early 1980s, however, meant this approach was no longer sustainable.Plan B FundingAn alternative funding arrangement was initially accomplished through an access charge by which long distance carriers would compensate local exchange carriers for interconnection with their networks. With the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the scope of the universal service commitment was significantly expanded. Service providers were now required to provide support services for rural health care providers as well as eligible schools and libraries, and low-income households and high-cost areas. The range of companies falling within the scope of these mandates now included all telecommunications carriers UN I VER S AL SERV I CE WH O PAY S FOR IT?
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SatMagazine July/August 200822INSIGHT and providers of telecommunications services. This expanded legislative mandate ultimately gave way to the Universal Service Fund ( USF ). Todays USF took shape in 1999 after the FCC consolidated responsibility for overseeing the various universal service support mechanisms. Under the USF guidelines, all telecommunications companies that provide service between states must pay a percentage currently set at over 10 percent of their interstate end-user revenues to the USF. Companies providing a mix of domestic and international services must also contribute. The USF, however, is not the only universal service mandate in town. The Telecommunications Relay Services Fund ( TRS Fund ), the Local Num ber Portability Administration ( LNPA), and the administration of the North American Numbering Plan ( NANP) are also part of the mix. The TRS Fund, which actually predates the USF, is an outgrowth of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, which directed the FCC to ensure that telecommunications relay services are available to hearingimpaired and speech-impaired individuals throughout the U.S. The other two entities trace their origins to the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and were established to ensure the impartial administration of telecommunications numbering.Where The Satellite Industry Fits InIt may come as a surprise to learn that satellite communications is one of the services with obligations to the USF and TRS. But determining the extent to which satellite service providers are required to contribute is not easy. Part of the problem lies in the definition of satellite service provider as it applies to the funding mandates. In 1997, the FCC made it clear that the satellite industry had a clear obligation to contribute, stating: satellite providers that provide interstate telecommunications services or interstate telecommunications to others, for a fee, must contribute to universal service. PanAmSat was one of several organizations that challenged the broad statement. The FCC allowed that leasing of bare transponder capacity to others did not constitute the provision of telecommunications servic es because it did not involve the transmission of infor mation. In other words, entities that simply engage in the leasing of transponder capacity (i.e., satellite operators) are not subject to the USF contribution rules while those companies that are involved in the transmission of signals to satellites (i.e., ground segment operators engaged in uplinking activities) are, indeed, obligated to contribute. It is simple in principle, but the complexity of todays satellite services industry makes it complex in practice. Satellite carriers now operate ground segment, and provide end-to-end services in addition to leasing bandwidth. Integration companies are also carrying voice minutes and Internet links via satellite. It takes a green eyeshade to work out which revenues are subject to the obligations and which are exempt. Compliance Is The Name Of The GameIt also takes paperwork. The satellite industry has a lot of experience with regulatory compliance, and it will come as no surprise that the funding mandates involve the filing of various reports with the FCC disclosing specified financial information. The good news is that in 1999, the FCC substantially simplified the filing process weaving all four funding mandates into a single form known as the Telecommu nications Reporting Worksheet FCC Form 499. There are two versions of this form though: one which gets filed annually on April 1, and the other which gets filed on a quarterly basis.
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SatMagazine July/August 200823INSIGHT 2008 Teleport Awards For ExcellenceSince 1995, WTA has presented annual awards to companies and individuals who have dramatically demonstrated excellence in the field of teleport operations, development and technology. The recipients of the 2008 Teleport Awards are... Independent Teleport Operator of the YearCapRock Communications (United States). An impressive record of sustained growth, expansion into new geographic markets and introduction of new services secured the win for CapRock.Corporate Teleport Operator of the Year Entertainment Sports Programming Network (ESPN) Broadcast Center (United States). The companys Bristol teleport covers the equivalent of about eight American football fields containing over 30 antennas and moved over 50,000 feeds for use by the network. Teleport Executive of the Year Kenneth Miller, President and Chief Operating Officer, Globecomm Systems (United States). Mr. Miller was recognized for leading his company to record profitability and working with his management team to transform Globecomm into a provider of complex network solutions for a range of vertical markets. Teleport Technology of the Year Group QoS and Global NMS from iDirect Technologies (United States). The combined capabilities of Group QoS and Global NMS allow teleport operators, enterprise customers and the military to achieve an unprecedented balance of flexibility and control in satellite-based communications worldwide. Nova Award SES AMERICOM (United States). The newly created award was given to SES AMERICOM for the development and successful rollout of its IP-PRIME service. With very few exceptions, the obligation to file Form 499 applies to any company that is an intrastate, interstate or international provider of telecommunications in the United States. Exceptions include governments, broadcasters, schools and libraries, system integrators that derive less than five percent of their system integration revenues from resale of telecommunications, and entities that provide services only to themselves. Everyone else must file both the yearly and quarterly reports.There are, however, two additional exemptions to note: if the amount of the companys annual contribution to the USF would be less than $10,000; and if the company does not provide any domestic U.S. services. Such companies would still file the annual form but would be exempt from filing quarterly forms, and contributing to the USF. The vast reach of the funding mandates affects a significant number of the U.S. satellite services providers, and, particularly teleport operators. The obligation to contribute should be taken seriously. More details on the Universal Service Fund can be found in the WTA-published White Paper Universal Service: Satellite Service Companies and the FCC, written by Maury J. Mechanick, Counsel, White & Case LLP for the World Teleport Association The White Paper is available on the web site at the WTAs website or by contacting WTA at wta@worldteleport.or g About the author Robert Bell is the Executive Director of the World Teleport Association. Robert has authored articles in numerous industry publications and has appeared in segments of ABC World News and The Discovery Channel. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at industry conferences including SATELLITE, NAB and SATCON. He is also the author of WTAs Teleport Benchmarks and Sizing the Teleport Market research studies; and of B2B Without the BS, a guide to sales and marketing in the business-tobusiness sector available from Amazon.com.
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SatMagazine July/August 200824 Stephen T. ONeill PresidentBoeing Satellite Systems International, Inc.As our editorial staff mulled over recent and upcoming developments within the satellite imagery environs, the GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites) warranted a close look. GOES-O and -P are on track to launch later this year and in 2009, and until they join their companion satellite on orbit, certain specifications of this sys tem cannot yet be brought to open publication. Cer tainly the successful GOES-N is worthy of attention and such brought to mind Boeing Satellite Systems International, Inc.. Fortunately for SatMagazine and our readers, the President of Boeing Satellite Sys tems International, Inc. Stephen T. ONeill, was available for an interview.Mr. ONeill is responsible for the general management of commer cial and civil communications satellites, as well as program oversight for such programs as DIRECTV, Mobile Satellite Ventures ( MSV), ProtoStar II, SPACEWAY, TDRS, and Thuraya. He has 30+ years of experience in the aerospace industry, principally in satellite and launch vehicle programs. This experience included engineering, manufacturing, program, supplier and business management, as well as business development. ONeill served in the U.S.A.F. and piloted B-52 and T-38 aircraft. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy with a B.S. in Engineering and a MBA from the University of Northern Colorado.SatMagazineMr. ONeill, Boeing is a huge company and sometimes there is public confusion over who does what to which division. What is your role as President of Boeing Satellite Sys tems International,Inc.?Stephen ONeillI oversee the design, integration, and testing of communications satellites and payloads for commercial telecommunications, scientific, and environmental applications. Since 1961, Boeing has developed and produced advanced space and communications systems for military, commercial, and scientific uses. These systems supply communications and meteorological observation technology for domestic and international customers and meet many of the military and civil space system requirements of the U.S. government.
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SatMagazine July/August 200825 The worlds first geosynchronous communications satellite, Syncom, was built by Boeing and launched in 1963. Today, nearly half of the commercial satellites in geosynchronous orbit were built by Boeing at the Satellite Development Center in El Segundo, California, the worlds largest satellite manufacturing factory. Boeings spacecraft routinely relay digital communications, telephone calls, videoconferences, television news reports, facsimiles, television programming, mobile communications, navigation and location services, Internet connectivity, and direct-to-home entertainment. SatMagazineWe are in the second month of the hurricane season and it is quite fitting we focus on weather satellites in addition to our commercial satellite systems coverage. What has been Boeings role in building weather satellites?Stephen ONeillStarting with the launch of the first Applications Technology Satellite in December 1966, Boeing has 42 years of experience in building weather satellites. In fact, more than half of all GOES satellites ever built have been manufactured by Boeing. Boeing has also built space-based weather instruments with the ability to provide timely and accurate meteorological information about ocean systems, storms, and the effects of tropical and polar weather patterns on the rest of the world.Weve come a long way in the past four decadesfrom a satellite that provided the capability to photograph earth with a spin scan cloud camera, boasting new color television transmission, and a demonstration of multiple access capability with several ground stations, simultaneouslyto the GOES-N series, the next generation of Earth Observation Satellites.
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SatMagazine July/August 200826 Our latest weather satellites for NASA and NOAA are the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites: GOES-N, GOES-O and GOES-P. These satellites are collectively known as the GOES-N series. The GOES-N series consists of three, state-of-the-art imaging spacecraft and the supporting ground command and control elements. Designed and manufactured at Boeings Satellite Development Center, the GOES-N series spacecraft are based on the three-axis Boeing 601 model satellite.The GOES-N satellite, known today as GOES-13, was launched on May 24, 2006. GOES-13 was handed over to the customer after six months of rigorous testing that was administered by NOAAs Satellite Operations Control Center in Suitland, Maryland. GOES-O is scheduled to launch later this year. GOES-P is scheduled to launch in 2009.SatMagazineWhat are the GOES-N, GOES-O and GOES-P satellites designed to do?Stephen ONeillThe GOES-N series satellites will provide more accurate prediction and tracking of severe storms and oth er weather phenomena. This will result in earlier and more precise warnings to the public. Supporting NOAA and NASA scientists through the collection and analysis of real-time environmental data, as well as assist ing the U.S. Coast Guard and their search of the open seas, GOES-N is the most advanced, multi-mission weather and earth observation satellite ever built.SatMagazineMr. ONeill, what are some of the improvements of the new GOES-N series weather satellites over previous GOES spacecraft?Stephen ONeillThe spacecraft will improve image accuracy by a factor of four through the use of a geosynchronous star sensor attitude determination and control system named the Star Tracker. The GOES-N series incorporates an advanced, stellar inertial attitude determination and control system. This system reduces the recovery time after station keeping propulsion maneuvers to less than 10 minutes. Previous GOES I-M satellites generally require hours to complete such maneuvers. The result is the greater availability of the satellites.Using the stable GOES-N series instrument platform and advanced stellar inertial attitude control system, the GOES-N series bus was designed to improve the performance twoto three-times with the same instruments as those resident on GOES I-M. This translates into much better prediction accuracy on storm location and motion. Additionally, The GOES-N series spacecraft feature a more advanced onboard processor that will provide more autonomous operation and automatic fault detection and correction. This translates into greater satellite availability and a reduced burden on ground operators.SatMagazineWhat are the end benefits of the technology provided by the GOES-N series?
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SatMagazine July/August 200827 Stephen ONeillThere are many. To boil it down, atmospheric phenom ena can be better tracked, ensuring real-time cover age of short-lived dynamic events, such as severe local storms and tropical hurricanes and cyclones. These are two meteorological event types that directly affect public safety, property, and, ultimately, economic health and development.SatMagazineWhat do you feel is the importance of GOES?Stephen ONeillGOES is one of those unique programs that touch the lives of every person. When you watch the nightly news or read the daily newspaper, the weather predictions are based largely upon imagery provided by the GOES satellites. People depend on accurate weather infor mation and the depth of leadership and knowledge at NASA and NOAA will ensure the information the public receives continues to increase in terms of accuracy.Boeing recognizes the importance and critical importance of the GOES mission. Timely and accurate weather forecasting provided by the GOES system benefits people everywhere. Hundreds of lives are saved annually as a result of the Search and Rescue system enabled by the GOES satellites. Boeing is proud of our contributions to this system over the years, which date back to the launch of ATS-1 in 1966 and continue today.SatMagazineBy all accounts, the GOES-13 satellite is performing well. To what do you attribute to the success of GOES-13?
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SatMagazine July/August 200828 Stephen ONeillMission assurance is at the heart of how Boeing builds satellitesand GOES-N, which became GOES-13, when it entered operationsis a superb example of Boeing, NASA, and NOAA working together to execute with surgical precision.NASA and NOAA brought the best of the industry to bear on developing the most sophisticated meteorological satellite ever built we are committed to the continuing success of the mission. Our relationship with NASA and NOAA spans more than four decades. This is a relationship we value and hold in the highest regard.SatMagazineFinally, Mr. ONeill, whats on the horizon for Boeings work with weather satellites?Stephen ONeill First, we want to make sure the next two satellites in the GOES-N series (GOES-O and GOES-P) are placed into orbit safely and perform just as well as GOES-N. In March, Boeing submitted a proposal to NASA for the production of the two next generation Geostation ary Operational Environmental Satellites, known as the GOES-R series, for NOAA. We believe we can leverage the success, momentum, and experiences of the Boeing-built GOES-13 and its two sister satellites, GOES-O and GOES-P, to provide NASA and NOAA with a low-risk solution for GOES-R.SatMagazineThank you for your thoughts, Mr. ONeill. I hope that we can learn more about GOES-O, -P as they approach firm launch dates, and well stay tuned to learn the outcome of the GOES-R competition.
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SatMagazine July/August 200830 Mick Gardina Director of Vertical SolutionsiDirect TechnologiesMick focuses on solutions in the Broadcast Media and Cellular Backhaul marketplaces. We recently spoke with Mick regarding iDirects announcement regarding their intelligent platform having been tested and certified to be fully interoperable with Erics sons Abis over IP GSM satellite backhaul solution. An extremely valuable accomplishment!SatMagazineWhy is GSM backhaul over satellite such an important issue today?Mick GardinaThis is a technology that has the potential to dramatically improve quality of life for an enormous number of people. More than two billion people worldwide almost a third of the population live in areas without cellular connectivity. These are predominantly rural regions where it has been cost prohibitive for cellular operators to extend service.Unfortunately, many of these regions are in developing countries that could benefit greatly from cellular communications. GSM backhaul over satellite has proven to be an effective technology for extending precious cellular connectivity into these hard to reach areas. SatMagazineWhy isnt satellite more widely adopted for GSM backhaul?Mick GardinaCost issues have prohibited GSM backhaul over satellite from being deployed on a greater scale. Traditional satellite links, such as Single Channel Per Carrier (SCPC) or other dedicated links, are inefficient and therefore expensive for backhauling cellular traffic. They force oper ators to set peak-time bandwidth requirements for every base station, at all times, in order to handle periods of activity when cellular use is high. User experience can be compromised in this environment. Often, the inefficiencies of SCPC satellite links force end-users to limit their calling patterns to certain hours.SatMagazineHow can network operators overcome SCPC inefficiencies?Mick GardinaOne solution is for cellular operators to pool backhaul traffic onto a common network, replacing the previous standard SCPC links with a shared IP Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network. TDMA allows operators to allocate bandwidth according to the real-time, not busy-hour, requirements of each individual Base Tower System (BTS). The result is dramatically reduced bandwidth usage and lower costs.SatMagazineHow does TDMA manage the demands of real-time voice applications?Mick GardinaIn the past, TDMA has not supported voice applications adequately. This was problematic on a cellular network because, when voice calls are delayed, customers tend to hang up and try again. When this happens throughout a network the results can be disas trous. iDirects advanced Group QoS (Quality of Ser vice) algorithms allow network operators to avoid these pitfalls by allocating bandwidth instantaneously, and ensuring that the integrity of the connection is maintained while reducing overall bandwidth requirements.SatMagazineYouve recently announced that your technology is fully interoperable with Ericssons Abis over IP solution. Can you elaborate on the Ericsson solution?Mick GardinaEricssons Abis over IP solution integrates IP routing capabilities into its cellular networking equipment. This delivers built-in IP traffic optimization, increasing transmission speed, which is a critical requirement for voice networks. The solution represents the first time a cellular networking equipment provider has integrated IP routing capabilities into its own hardware, signaling
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SatMagazine July/August 200831 a growing demand for GSM satellite backhaul. In addition, the Ericsson solution will deliver further bandwidth savings when the company introduces local switching later this year. This will allow calls on a local group of BTS to be directly connected via the BTS rather than over the satellite.SatMagazineWhat are the combined benefits of the joint solution?Mick GardinaThe combination of Ericssons Abis over IP solution and iDirects satellite platform dramatically reduces backhaul transmission costs, clearing the way for providers to extend cellular networks across the globe. SatMagazineIn which regions do you anticipate the most demand for GSM backhaul over satellite? Mick GardinaThere is enormous potential for GSM backhaul over satellite in Africa and South America, where economies are developing more rapidly than communications infrastructure.Were also seeing tremendous demand in Asia especially Southeast Asia as well as in parts of the Middle East where we recently signed Nawras, our first joint customer with Ericsson. Nawras is a major cellular operator based in Oman. The company will be extending its GSM ser vice to the countrys entire population and plans to leverage the satellite network to provide broadband connectivity to commercial enterprises and government organizations.
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SatMagazine July/August 200832FEATURE by Bruce Gibbs Integral Systems, Inc.The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES), operated by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), continuously track evolution of weather over almost a hemisphere. GOES primary functions are to support weather forecasting, severe storm tracking, and meteorological research.The earliest GOES satellites, numbered 1 to 7, were 100 RPM spin-stabilized satellites where Earth imaging was accomplished using north-to-south detector step scanning on each spin. GOES-1, launched in 1975, flew Visible Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer (VISSR) and Space Environment Monitor (SEM) instruments. The VISSR provided cloud imagery and data for determining cloud and surface temperatures, and wind fields. The next series of GOES satellites, designated GOES I-M1 and numbered 8 to 12, were first launched in 1994; GOES 10, 11 and 12 are still operational. These GOES are Earth-pointing, three-axis stabilized spacecraft supporting two 2-axis scanning instruments: the 5-channel visible/Infrared (IR) Imager with 1, 4 and 8 km resolution, and the 19-channel Sounder with 8 km resolution and 10 km sampling. The Imager and Sounder scan in an east-west (EW) direction with north-south (NS) steps at the end of east-west swaths.Other GOES I-M instruments include the Solar X-ray Imager (SXI) and SEM with magnetometer. Use of a three-axis stabilized spacecraft and 2-axis scanning instruments enable the sensors to stare at the Earth. GOES sensors image clouds, monitor Earth surface temperature and water vapor, and sound the atmosphere vertical thermal and vapor profiles. These capabilities allow tracking of dynamic atmospheric phenomena, particularly severe local storms and tropical cyclones. GOES 13, the first in the NOP-series, was built by The Boeing Company and launched in May 2006; Integral Systems built most of the ground system. GOES NOP spacecraft2,3 retain the GOES I-M heritage instruments but the spacecraft differ in many respects. Figure 1 shows the GOES 13 spacecraft configuration, antennas and instruments. GOES 13 differs operationally from GOES 8-12 in that imaging operations continue during eclipse periods, the spacecraft periodically yaw-flips to provide better instrument cooling, and daily momentum dumping maneuvers are used to offset solar torque generated by the single solar array. GOES 13 pointing performance is greatly improved with respect to GOES 8-12 primarily because star trackers, rather than a scanning Earth sensor, are used as the attitude reference. Other improvements include closed-loop (versus open-loop) instrument compensation for spacecraft dynamic motion, and mounting of all instruments on an optical bench. GOES-R4,5,6, the first in the next generation of GOES spacecraft, is currently in the proposal and procurement stage and is scheduled to be launched in 2015. GOES-R instruments will include the Advanced BaseGOES IMAGE NAV I GA TI ON AN D REG IST RA TI ON Figure 1 GOES-13
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SatMagazine July/August 200833FEATURE line Imager (ABI), Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM), Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI), EUVS and XRS Irradiance Sensors (EXIS), Space Environment In-Situ Suite (SEISS) and Magnetometer. The primary imaging instrument, the 16 channel ABI, has 0.5 km visible channel resolution and IR channel resolutions varying from 1 to 2 km. As explained later, GOES-R will oper ate quite differently than GOES I-P, and these differences will provide much greater pointing accuracy, greater scan flexibility and greatly reduced operator burden. Table 1 compares selected 3visible channel INR requirements for the three GOES generations. Image Navigation and Registration (INR)For weather modeling purposes it is important that the Earth location of each GOES image picture element (pixel) be accurately known and that corresponding pixels from images separated in time view the same point on Earth. The later capability is important when accurately tracking severe weather or when generating movie loops.Image navigation locates pixels relative to a fixed reference such as Earth latitude and longitude. Image registration maintains the spatial relationship between pixels within images and between images. GOES adjusts the instrument pointing so that image pixels appear to have been obtained from an ideal geosynchronous spacecraft located at a fixed point in space8, such as on the equator at 75 W longitude for GOESEast or 135 for GOES-West.Figure 2 (next page) shows the EW scan pattern for such an ideal system. The term ideal spacecraft implies that instrument optical axis is perfectly aligned with the ideal orbital coordinates (defined by nadir and the equator), and instrument scan mirror control is perfect. The eccentricity, inclination and longitude drift of real spacecraft orbit will obviously deviate from the ideal zero values. Furthermore, instrument attitude will deviate from ideal due to high frequency spacecraft attitude control errors, low frequency spacecraft and instrument thermal distortion, and fixed-pattern and dynamic instrument servo errors.The INR system should correct for or minimize these various error sources to obtain images that closely approximate the ideal image. The process by which this is accomplished is conceptually simple, but implementation is complicated. This article explains how the GOES I-M, NOP and R series spacecraft support INR, and shows why the later series provide much better performance.GOES navigation determines the location on the Earth of each image pixel. To accomplish this, the orienta-Table 1 GOES Visible Channel INR Requirements. All requirements are 3(99.7-percentile) and apply to both East-West (EW) and North-South (NS) directions with relaxations under special circumstances. At nadir, 1 km on the Earth surface is about 28 rad in optical angle.
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SatMagazine July/August 200834FEATURE tion of the instrument optical axis with respect to the spacecraft, the orientation of the spacecraft attitude with respect to the Earth, and the position of the spacecraft with respect to the Earth must be known. Then the vector representing the optical ray of each individual detector at a given time can be rotated first to the spacecraft coordinate frame, then to the Earth fixed frame, and finally the intersection of the detector ray with the Earth surface can be computed given the location of the spacecraft. This is inherently a 3-dimensional (3-D) problem, but it is difficult to understand the concepts when working in 3-D. Figure 3 (next page) shows the relationship for a sim plified 2-D case where it is assumed that the spacecraft is exactly on the equator and north-south attitude errors are zero. The real spacecraft is located at position C, and the ideal spacecraft is located at B. The true nadir direction at point C is defined by line C-A, but because spacecraft and instrument attitude control is imperfect, instrument nadir deviates slightly from true nadir. As instrument scan angles are defined with respect to the instrument attitude reference, the optical ray from C to ground location D has a measured scan angle of Hence ground intercept point D can be computed given three quantities: angle the angle by which the instrument reference deviates from the nadir normal, and the coordinates of point C. Notice that the ideal scan angle for point D is which is not equal to Figure 2 EW Scan Line-of-Sight (LOS) Trace for an Ideal Spacecraft
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SatMagazine July/August 200835FEATURE Unfortunately, the attitude and orbit variables involved in the navigation process are time-varying, and none of them are known perfectly. The time variation occurs because (1) instrument thermal deformations affecting optical pointing vary during the day as the sun angle changes, (2) the spacecraft attitude must rotate with Earth rotation to maintain constant attitude with respect to the Earth, (3) the attitude control sys tem cannot completely null the effects of disturbance torques, and (4) the spacecraft orbital position cannot always be maintained exactly at the desired geosynchronous reference position. Hence image navigation requires accurate knowledge of all these effects as a function of time. The method by which these effects are modeled will be explained later. Image Registration is the second part of the problem. In the GOES system, the Earth image data broadcast to users called GOES VARiables or GVAR9 in the I-P system is normally registered to a fixed grid so that each pixel in a given frame always views the same point on the Earth (within the accuracy of the system).The mechanism by which image registration is accomplished is quite different for GOES I-P versus GOES-R. The user wants the image to appear as if it was obtained from an ideal spacecraft located on the equator at the reference longitude. Hence the user expects that a given fixed-grid earth point will appear in the image at an angle measured from nadir of the ideal spacecraft to the pixel earth location, i.e., angle in Figure 3. Given a desired pixel location represented by angle the Earth intercept point D can be computed using simple geometry. Then the actual instrument scan angle required to view that Earth point, can be computed if the true orbit and attitude parameters are known.In the GOES I-P systems registration of the image pixels to the fixed-grid is accomplished in real-time during instrument scanning. That is, optical pointing of the instrument detectors is adjusted during each EW swath so that the detector output samples coincide with the ideal fixed-grid pixel locations on the Earth. Since the Imager uses an array of 8 visible detectors arranged in a NS stack and a total of 14 IR detectors arranged around the visible detectors, it is not possible to separately adjust pointing of each detector. Rather, the desired fixed-grid Earth location that corresponds to the Figure 3 Two-dimensional (EW only) True and Ideal Scan Angles
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SatMagazine July/August 200836FEATURE array center (optical axis) is calculated at each sample time. Then the true instrument scan angles to the ar ray center point on the Earth is computed taking into account the spacecraft orbit location, spacecraft pointing errors, and internal instrument pointing errors. The difference between true NS and EW scan angles and the ideal fixed-grid NS and EW scan angles for the ar ray center is called the Image Motion Compensation (IMC) signal10. In Figure 3, the IMC correction is angle -. Notice that the IMC correction is a function of the scan angle, and since the scan angles change with time, IMC is time-varying. The IMC signal is computed by the spacecraft during the EW scan and added (with appropriate scaling) to the instrument mirror gimbal commands so that the sampled detector outputs will view the desired fixed-grid Earth pixel locations. The instrument gimbals are commanded to scan exactly EW, but with the IMC signal added, the true scan angle time profile curves both in NS and EW directions. This is shown in Figure 4 for a sample EW scan swath using realistic orbit and attitude deviations. Notice that when the instrument scans off the Earth at the beginning and end of EW swaths, it is not possible to compute the IMC correction. Hence, the IMC signal is set to zero when scanning off the Earth; to prevent servo discontinuities, the IMC signal is tapered to zero when near the Earth edge. The Imager and Sounder can be individually configured to operate with the IMC signal applied as described above, or with it disabled. The instrument is said to function in the fixed-gridding mode when IMC is turned on, and in the dynamic-gridding mode when IMC turned off. In dynamic gridding mode, GOES users must compute the Earth location of detector samples using O&A data distributed as part of GVAR. The maximum IMC orbit correction is about 1500 rad when the spacecraft is located at the edge of the allocated .5 latitude or longitude station-keeping box. The maximum spacecraft attitude pointing error is about 300 rad for GOES I-M spacecraft using an Earth sensor as attitude reference, and less than 20 rad for the stellar-inertial refer ence GOES NOP spacecraft. Instrument pointing bias errors can be several thou sand rad, but these are handled separately from the IMC correction. The maximum daily deviation in instrument pointing attitude error for the Imager or Sounder is about 600 rad. Hence the maximum total GOES I-M IMC correction is about 2400 rad, which is 22 times larger than the daytime navigation requirement! This emphasizes the importance of IMC in achieving the desired INR performance. While real-time onboard IMC correction has been used very successfully on GOES since 1994, the process has undesirable practical and operational limitations. In order for the spacecraft to compute the IMC signal, it must accurately know the true orbit, spacecraft attitude and instrument attitude at all times. The GOES I-P spacecraft have no capability to independently determine orbit and instrument attitude, although spacecraft do determine spacecraft attitude within the accuracies listed in the previous para-Figure 4 Sample IMC Signal at 2.86 NS angle
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SatMagazine July/August 200837FEATURE graph. Thus, the spacecraft is entirely dependent upon orbit and attitude (O&A) information provided from the ground system. As the O&A data is used primarily for IMC computa tion, the particular format used to provide O&A data is referred to as an IMC set. The GOES I-M system was designed so that a minimum of only one IMC set must be uploaded each day, although in practice it is usually necessary to upload about five because Earth sensor unpredictability requires frequent adjustment of attitude biases. GOES NOP was designed to operate using one daily IMC set upload and a second IMC upload with modified orbit parameters that adjust for daily momentum-dumping maneuvers. To work with only one IMC upload per day, the model defined by the IMC set must accurately predict O&A values for 24 hours. Accurate prediction of a geosynchronous spacecraft orbit is relatively easy if thrusters are not fired, since other perturbing forces are small. Although IMC sets could have used standard 6-element orbital elements (e.g., Kepler, or Cartesian), it would have been necessary for the spacecraft and GOES users to time-integrate the ephemeris in order to calculate orbital position and velocity at times of interest. Instead, the IMC set uses a simpler 24 parameter orbit model that defines daily perturbations from the reference position. Twenty-four hour prediction of instrument internal misalignments is not a trivial problem. It is assumed that instrument misalignments are due to fixed biases that do not change, and time-varying misalignments that are due to thermal deformation. Since the relative sun angle profile for one day is nearly identical to the profile for the next day, it is further assumed that the daily misalignment profile does not change from dayto-day. In truth, thermal deformation effects on point ing can change about 10 rad between days in which solar eclipses do not occur, and more than 100 rad during the eclipse season.Eclipse season processing is described later, and the 10 rad daily non-repeatability is ignored. Hence the daily instrument attitude profile is modeled as a truncated Fourier series with a fundamental period equal to the solar day. In the GOES I-M system the series is truncated at orders less than or equal to 12 for each of five instrument attitude parameters: three Euler angles (roll, pitch, yaw) and two misalignment parameters that represent the effects of several internal misalignments. The need to predict O&A profiles for 24 hours not only limits achievable accuracy, but also it imposes operational and scheduling restrictions that require significant support and limit system flexibility. Hence driving goals of the GOES-R system included greater automa tion, reduced operational manpower, reduced system outage time, faster scanning, and improved accuracy11. Another design factor was the twenty-fold increase in imaging data generated by the ABI compared to the Imager and Sounder. These considerations led to the decision to abandon the GOES I-P onboard IMC concept and instead to perform INR on the ground. That is, the ABI will scan the Earth without attempting to align detector samples with fixed-grid pixels. When the data is received on the ground, the detector samples will be navigated to the fixed-grid space and the resampled fixed-grid pixel intensity will be computed by appropriate weighting of adjacent detector samples12,13. As this INR process is performed in real-time just prior to image distribution, there is no need to predict O&A parameters for more than a few minutes, i.e., computation of O&A parameters can be performed almost continuously using a Kalman filter14. Other improvements of the GOES-R system include a spacecraft capability to determine orbit independently of the ground15, and to provide orbit and spacecraft attitude information to the ABI so that it can operate somewhat autonomously. Also the ABI is thermally more stable than the Imager or Sounder16 and has greater computational capabilities17,18. All these improvements help to greatly improve system accuracy and flexibility, and to minimize operational and scheduling requirements. It should be noted that the Japanese MTSAT, European Union Meteosat and NOAA XGOHI geosynchronous weather satellites all implement INR on the ground. The concept is well-tested and should be low risk for GOES-R.Orbit and Attitude Determination (OAD)The above discussion was the conceptually simple part. We now address the more complicated imple-
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SatMagazine July/August 200838FEATURE mentation issues involving computation of the IMC sets. In the GOES I-P system, the Orbit and Attitude Determination (OAD) ground process computes O&A parameters by weighted least-squares fitting of range, star and landmark observation data taken over the previous 24 to 48 hours19,20,21.The OAD function is executed once per day. Range measurements are obtained by inserting ranging bits in the uploaded GVAR data and measuring the time delay before the same data is received back on the ground. Hence, the range measurement is the two-way transit time between the ground station and the spacecraft, multiplied by the speed of light. A measurement preprocessing function removes known range bias errors, such as equipment delays and atmospheric group delay effects, before data are used in OAD. Notice that the range measurement is only a function of spacecraft orbital position and velocity, not spacecraft or instrument attitude.Landmark measurements22 are obtained by cor relating maps of prominent land/ water interfaces, such as islands or peninsulas, with an edge-detecting transform of the received image pixel data. The shift in latitude and longitude required to maximize correlation between the shoreline map and transformed image data is added to the nominal landmark location to generate an observed landmark position. As with range measurements, a preprocessing function converts data from one form to another and applies various corrections, such as telemetry downlink time, detector offset, and IMC compensation. Because the instrument image is used to obtain the measurement, landmark obser vations are a function of both spacecraft orbit and spacecraft/instrument attitude. Separate landmark observations are obtained for both the visible and at least one IR channel. Figure 5 GOES-13 Imager Star Residuals for 2006 days 250-255
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SatMagazine July/August 200839FEATURE Star observations are not obtained while the instruments are scanning the Earth. Several times per hour the instruments briefly stop scanning and dwell at fixed gimbal angles, selected by ground processing, to view given stars. As the spacecraft is always rotating (primarily in pitch) at Earth rotation rate to maintain Earth pointing, detector output will peak as the star crosses the detector field-of-view. The detector number, gimbal angles, and star detection time provide the information necessary to deter mine the star angles in instrument coordinates and to process the observation. Star preprocessing includes corrections for downlink time, servo error, origin offset, and detector offset and rotation effects. In the stellar inertial GOES NOP system, star observations are only a function of spacecraft/instrument attitude, but because GOES I-M spacecraft use an Earth sensor for attitude reference, star observations are also a weak function of spacecraft orbit. In addition to converting/correcting observations so that they can be used by OAD, GOES preprocessing also computes the residual (difference) between the corrected observations and predicted observations based on the currently enabled IMC set. These residuals are usually interpreted as a measure of the GOES navigation errors, and landmark residuals in particular are similar (but not identical) to the navigation er ror seen by a GVAR user. Figures 5 and 6 show typical GOES-13 residuals obtained during a period of postlaunch testing23 when the spacecraft experienced daily Earth eclipses at local midnight.If the three observation types could be grouped so that two were a function of only spacecraft orbit parameters, and one type was only a function of attitude parameters (or vice versa), then the OAD function could be performed separately for orbit and attitude. Since GOES landmark observations are a function of both orbit and attitude, it is necessary to simultane-
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SatMagazine July/August 200840FEATURE ously solve for orbit and attitude parameters using all range, landmark and star observations. The or bit determination portion of GOES OAD is similar to most batch or bit determination software, i.e., it numerically integrates epoch orbit elements to generate ephemeris, and uses weighted least-squares estimation to adjust epoch orbit elements so that residuals between actual observations and computed observations are minimized. OAD must also compute an attitude profile that minimizes obser vation residuals, where the attitude profile is represented as a truncated Fourier series with 24-hour fundamental. First or second-order poly nomial coefficients are optionally included in the attitude model to handle trends. In routine operations, OAD simultaneously estimates 6 epoch orbit elements and 80 to 100 attitude parameters per instrument.The GOES I-M spacecraft do not have the capability to operate during periods, lasting up to 72 minutes, in which the spacecraft passes through the Earth shadow. These spring and autumn eclipse seasons last about 48 days. GOES I-M spacecraft must stop imaging operations during each eclipse and for some period after. GOES NOP spacecraft do operate during eclipse, but because instrument thermal conditions change so rapidly, the 24-hour fundamental Fourier series attitude model is not accurate for this period. To better match the eclipse attitude profile, GOES NOP switches to a 4-hour fundamental period Fourier model for a 4 hour period around eclipse. A separate OAD fit is computed for this eclipse period, and with adjustments for changing eclipse durations, is used to compute the eclipse period IMC set for the next day. Post yaw-flip operations are another GOES NOP capability not available in GOES I-M. The I-M series spacecraft were never intended to flip about the yaw axis, but because of a one-directional failure of the GOES-10 solar array drive, that spacecraft was oper ated in the inverted yaw-flip orientation rather than upright. GOES NOP spacecraft were designed to yawflip two times per year so that the Imager and Sounder Figure 6 GOES-13 Imager Visible Landmark Residuals for 2006 days 250-255
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SatMagazine July/August 200841FEATURE coolers will always face away from the sun. This reduces instrument temperatures and hence detector ther mal noise. However a yaw-flip maneuver changes the daily instrument thermal profile and thermal deformation. OAD solutions computed using the last 24 hour of observations cannot be used to predict the next 24 hours. Instead, a previous attitude profile for the same yaw orientation and time-of-year is used for the first 24 hours after a yaw-flip maneuver. IMC Set GenerationBecause of limited computational capabilities, the GOES I-M spacecraft do not directly use the O&A set computed by OAD. Instead, ground software timeintegrates the OAD epoch orbit elements to compute spacecraft ephemeris over the 24-hour IMC prediction interval and a 24-parameter orbit perturbation model is least-squares fit to the ephemeris. OAD attitude coefficients are re-epoched and re-formatted and included with the 24 orbit parameters in the IMC set24. These IMC sets are uploaded to the spacecraft to allow on-board IMC calculations, and are also included in GVAR so that GOES users can navigate image pixels during periods when spacecraft IMC is turned off. Whenever a maneuver is expected during the 24-hour prediction period covered by an IMC set, two IMC sets are generated: pre-maneuver and post-maneuver. The post-maneuver IMC set uses the same OAD solution as the pre-maneuver, but the post-maneuver ephemeris is computed by including the effects of the planned maneuver velocity change. This happens at least once per day for GOES NOP spacecraft because of the daily momentum-dumping maneuvers required to unload reaction wheel angular momentum generated by solar pressure on the single solar array. IMC set generation is not the only system complexity caused by the GOES I-P need to predict O&A behavior for 24 hours. Instrument commands for image frames (scan patterns boundaries) and for star sensing must be uploaded in instrument coordinates that the instruments can directly convert to mirror gimbal angles. Separate star angle commands must be computed in advance and uploaded for every star sense during the 24-hour IMC prediction interval. Any change in IMC sets requires that all star sense angles after the IMC set change be re-computed. This re-computation is also necessary for all image frame boundaries whenever the spacecraft is operated with IMC turned off. Nor mally, IMC is on, so that it should only be necessary to compute frame boundaries once for each frame. The proposed GOES-R system is much simpler in that there is little need to predict behavior for more than a few minutes into the future. Rather than performing OAD using batch least-squares estimation with a 24 to 48-hour span of observations, the effects of instrument thermal deformation can be computed in near real-time using a Kalman filter that processes star and optionally landmark observations as they become available25. The spacecraft will independently deter mine its orbit and attitude rates and supply that data to the instruments and to ground processing26,27. Star sense and frame boundary angles can be computed directly by the much more capable ABI with very little input from the ground28. These changes will greatly reduce operator workload and allow for a much more reliable and accurate system.SummaryTo perform the weather-monitoring functions for which GOES was designed, the spacecraft must image the Earth from a fixed-point relative to the Earth. Since real spacecraft and instruments cannot exactly maintain the ideal orbit and attitude position desired by users, the GOES system applies pointing corrections so that image pixels appear to have been obtained from an ideal fixed-grid system.Requirements on INR accuracy have become progressively tighter as the GOES system has continued to evolve. GOES I-P spacecraft implement on-board pointing corrections during scanning so that the detector samples are directly registered to the fixedgrid. While this approach has been used successfully since 1994, the system is complex and requires predicting orbit and attitude behavior for 24 hours in the future. This has undesirable operational and per formance limitations. The next generation of spacecraft and instruments, starting with GOES-R, will perform INR on the ground by resampling detector samples. In this approach it is only necessary to predict O&A behavior for a few minutes into the future, so the system is
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SatMagazine July/August 200842FEATURE much more flexible and accurate and requires less operator interaction. We hope that this article gives readers a better appreciation of the complexity required to generate GOES images displayed on the nightly news.About the author Mr. Gibbs is a Senior Systems Analyst at Integral Systems, Inc., and has led the development of the GOES NOP Orbit and Attitude Tracking System (OATS) since 1998. He holds BSEE and MEE degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and has 39 years experience in a wide variety of applications including spacecraft modeling, orbit and attitude determination, batch and recursive estimation, process control, optimization, tracking, signal processing, numerical analysis, data analysis, dynamic modeling and simulation, and software development. References1GOES I-M Data Book, http://rsd.gsfc.nasa.gov/goes/text/ goes.databook.html 2GOES N Data Book, http://goes.gsfc.nasa.gov/text/goes. databookn.html 3NOAA GOES-N,O,P The Next Generation, NASA/ NOAA, http://www.osd.noaa.gov/GOES/GOES-NOP_ Brochure.pdf 4GOES-R Mission Requirements Document, NOAA P417R-MRD-0070, Ver. 3.2, January 2008, http://www.goes-r.gov/ procurement/ground_documents/MRD_V_3_2.pdf 5GOES-R Series Concept of Operations (CONOPS), February 2008, NOAA/NASA, http://osd.goes.noaa.gov/ documents/CONOPS_V2.3.pdf 6Krimchansky, A., D. Machi, S. Cauffman, M. Davis, Nextgeneration Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R series): a space segment overview, Proceedings of SPIE -Volume 5570, 2004, pp. 155-164, http://goes.gsfc.nasa. gov/text/Next_Generation_Geo_2006.pdf 7Newcomb, H., R. Pirhalla, C. Sayal, C. Carson, B. Gibbs, and P. Wilkin, First GOES-13 Image Navigation & 2008 Conference, May 2008, AIAA-2008-3464 8Earth Location Users Guide (ELUG), NOAA, DRL 504-11, Rev. 2, July 2005, http://www.osd.noaa.gov/gvar/documents/ Earth_Location_Users_Guide.pdf 9GOES Operations Ground Equipment (OGE) Interface GVAR Transmission Format, http://www.osd.noaa.gov/gvar/ documents/G023_504.02_DCN3_Sect_3.pdf 10GOES I-M Data Book, op cit. 11GOES-R Series Concept of Operations (CONOPS), op cit. 12GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager Performance and Operational Requirements Document (PORD), NOAA, May 2004, http://www.osd.noaa.gov/rpsi/Baseline_PORD_ Ver2.pdf 13Ormiston, J., J. Blume, J. Ring, J. Yoder, GOES Advanced Baseline Imager Ground Processing Development System, P1.7, 5th GOES Users Conference, New Orleans, January 2008, http://ams.confex.com/ams/88Annual/techprogram/ paper_136059.htm Virgilio, A. Kamel, GOES Advanced Baseline Imager Image Navigation and Registration, P1.27, 5th GOES Users Conference, New Orleans, January 2008, http://ams.confex. com/ams/88Annual/techprogram/paper_136060.htm 15GOES-R Mission Requirements Document, op cit. Virgilio, A. Kamel, op cit
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SatMagazine July/August 200843FEATURE .17Krimchansky, A., D. Machi, S. Cauffman, M. Davis, op cit. 18GOES-R Mission Requirements Document, op cit. 19Ong, K. and S. Lutz, GOES orbit and attitude determination theory, implementation, and recent results, Proc. SPIE, v2812, p 652-663, Oct. 1996 20Kelly, K., J. Hudson, and N. Pinkine, GOES 8/9 Image Navigation and Registration Operations, GOES-8 and Beyond, 1996 International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, SPIE, Denver, Co., August 1996; describes measurements and preprocessing 21Gibbs, B., J. Carr, D. Uetrecht and C. Sayal, Analysis of GOES-13 Orbit and Attitude Determination, SpaceOps 2008 Conference, May 2008, AIAA-2008-3222. 22Madani, H., J. Carr, and C. Schoeser, Image Registration using AutoLandmark, Proceedings of the 2004 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, 20-24 September 2004 23Carson, C., J. Carr, and C. Sayal, GOES-13 End-to-End GOES Users Conference, Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society, 20-24 January 2008, http://ams. confex.com/ams/pdfpapers/135921.pdf 24GOES I-M Data Book, op cit; IMC set. 25Ormiston, J., J. Blume, J. Ring, J. Yoder, op cit. Virgilio, A. Kamel, op cit. 27GOES-R Series Concept of Operations (CONOPS), op cit. Ogle, and V. Virgilio, The ABI star sensing and star selection, P1.28, 5th GOES Users Conference, New Orleans, January 2008, http://ams.confex.com/ams/88Annual/techprogram/ paper_136061.htm DISCLAIMER This article does not reflect the perspective of NASA/GSFC GOES-R Project all information presented was gathered from the public domain by the author.
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SatMagazine July/August 200844FEATURE by David Zufall Senior Vice President, Network Technology ICOAmericans love movies, like that Judy Garland classic of hopes and expectations in an exciting new era. The MSS industry is evolving in much the same way, and is on the cusp of delivering groundbreaking mobility services to meet Americans love for mobility and connectivity. The cornerstone of these next-generation systems just happens to be a prime piece of real estate in the orbital band: 92.85 degrees West longitude, covering the U.S. from the equator, just over St. Louis, Missouri. Just a few weeks ago, the final milestone in a process to usher in that new era of MSS was achieved when ICOs G1 (launched April 14) was declared operational. Trials for MSS services are now set to begin, the culmi nation of years of research, collaboration and technology development.To get to St. Louis, MSS operators have navigated a maze of technology choices, regulatory frameworks and a challenged business climate. Considering the required investment and competitive landscape, the primary question during this process has been to determine what suite of products, and or services, can tap the demand for mobility services ideally suited to satellite in a successful business model? Was the answer voice and data services? Broadband? Mobile Video?The research and discovery process was driven by an understanding of the ideal attributes and todays drawbacks of satellite services. The terrestrial wireless business has always operated on two fundamental principles: coverage and capacity. The key to widespread adoption of MSS is no different. Satellites are ideal at overcoming the limits of terrestrial networks, in terms of delivering a signal to as broad an area as possible (coverage). Yet traditional terrestrial cellular operators are able to maximize spectral efficiency to meet the insatiable market demand for mobility ser vices (capacity). The technology development process has, ultimately, led to two key decisions: select an agnostic platform MSS GOE S LI VE I N TH E S-BAN D, OR, MEE T ME I N ST. LO UIS
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SatMagazine July/August 200845FEATURE that could provide the needed flexibility to ensure whichever business plan had the greatest likelihood of success,; and pursue an Ancillary Ter restrial Component (ATC) to meet those two funda mental principles of cover age and capacity. Add to these the development of satellite reflectors large enough to accommodate two-way interactivity, to devices with more widely accepted product form factors that could be freed from requirements for bulky antennas. From this vantage point MSS is well-positioned to build on the success of todays direct-to-home multichannel video market and satellite radio offerings. As the technology approach began to unfold, in parallel time was the development of one of the most innovative satellites to be commercially deployed ICO G1. Built on the Loral 1300 platform, G1 is the key enabler that provides the flexibility needed to maximize the use of radio spectrum and deliver on the potential for widely accepted MSS-based offerings.In addition to G1s reflector enabling a new generation of mobility products, G1 is also the first satellite to use groundbased beam forming ( GBBF) in both the transmit and receive modes. GBBF allows the simultaneous creation of from 1 to 250 spot beams over the United States without making any changes to the satellite. Together, G1 and the GBBF form provide an extremely flexible bent pipe system that can support virtually any communications signal. When combined with a
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SatMagazine July/August 200846FEATURE terrestrial component via ATC, the system laid the groundwork for offering a differentiated set of capabilities and services with widespread growth potential.The systems ability to support any number of standards-based technologies, ranging from GMR ( GeoMobile Radio), GSM ( Global System for Mobile communications), CDMA ( Code Division Multiple Acess ) or WiMAX ( Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), to the emerging worldwide standard of DVBSH ( Digital Video Broadcasting Satellite services to Handhelds ) for mobile video, not only minimizes the risks inherent with proprietary technologies, it also delivers economies of scale that can be achieved through standards-based technology deployments. In the case of ICO, our investment in the foundation of ICO G1, GBBF and perfecting our spectrum holdings for ATC has allowed us to now concentrate on developing a standards-based suite of services. Our MSS offering, ICO mim (mobile interactive media) will include a combination of mobile video (live TV delivered over 8-15 channels with a broad mix of programming choices), interactive navigation and an emergency communications capability. The service will be delivered through a combination of automotivebased and portable devices. Unlike current mobile television options, the product is focusing on larger screens more suited to a better mobile video experience, which will drive greater consumer adoption. We believe MSS enhances what is in the market today with a differentiated and improved product set that takes advantage of widespread consumer demand for enhanced mobile services. In addition, it delivers on the promise of ubiquitous service that only the combination of an MSS network and nationwide radio spectrum allow. ICO is able to leverage the flexibility of the satellite and GBBF to support these services. This is accomplished through simultaneous use of a broadcast oriented standard, DVB-SH for mobile video and the industry proven 2-way standard, GMR, to deliver the interactive element. Alpha trials for the service are scheduled to begin this summer in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Raleigh Durham, North Carolina. Demonstrations this year in Las Vegas using terrestrial spectrum have already realized impor tant results and shown the quality of satellite-based mobile services. Initial commercial prototypes are on track for delivery by the end of this year, with a commercial service launch slated for late 2009. A growing standards-based ecosystem worldwide has emerged to support the DVB-SH and GMR standards. They are joined by dozens of leading names in technology, service providers, automotive companies and consumer electronics manufacturers creating the momentum for full-scale commercial offerings. In sum, MSS has come a long way from having a great deal of promise, to having real market potential. The first operational system in the U.S. using MSS spectrum, combined with worldwide MSS deployments, marks a bright future for next-generation services that have widespread consumer and business appeal.With such a wide variety of technology options and ser vice offerings worldwide, the lyrics of the title song of that old classic musical seem to sum up best the excitement building for a next-generation of MSS services. Especially when it comes to Americas love of all things mobile and all things video, or as the old song goes: Meet me in St. Louis, well see you at the fair.About the authorMr. Zufall has been Senior Vice President, Network Systems since January 2, 2006. During the 12 years prior to joining the Company, Mr. Zufall served in a number of technical and operational capacities at Nextel Communications, Inc., including Vice President, Infrastructure Technology Development, and Vice President, Network Architecture/Chief Architect. Nextel operated a nationwide digital cellular network in the United States. Mr. Zufall had responsibility for working with partners in Nextels strategy and marketing divisions to establish Nextels long-term network and technology roadmap. Mr. Zufall holds a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Electrical Engineering and an M.B.A. in Finance and International Business, both from Columbia University.
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SatMagazine July/August 200847FEATURE by Jim Corry Vice President, Government SolutionsMobile Satellite VenturesIn January of 2008, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) conducted an auction of 62 MHz of spectrum that was to become available upon the switch from analog to digital signal transmission by TV broadcasters. The changeover occurs in February of 2009. Of the 62 MHz, 20 MHz was apportioned in two, 10 MHz blocks. This public-private partnership will be respon sible for building out 10 MHz for a nationwide, interoperable, public safety broadband network and a 10 MHz block for commer cial licensing, known as the Upper D Block. As the $1.3 billion reserve price for the latter portion was not met during the 700 MHz auction in January, the FCC is likely to re-auction the spectrum by the end of this year, if possible. Much discussion has taken place as to why the original auction was unsuccessful and what might occur in order to turn the venture around. Commentators have suggested that the fail ure of the Upper D Block auction was a combination of the FCCs stringent build-out requirements, which included requiring coverage of 99.3 percent of the U.S. population within 10 years, and uncertainty regarding the terms of the public-private partnership.For any upcoming re-auction, the FCC is looking at providing more flexibility in the build-out requirements as well as more certainty regarding the relationship between the commercial and public safety licensees. Mobile Satellite Ventures ( MSV ) believes satellite ser vice can play a critical role in making a public safety TH E RE-BI R TH OF BLOC K D
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SatMagazine July/August 200848FEATURE wireless broadband network a success. For the first round, the FCC required the D Block licensee to make available at least one model of a public safety hand set with satellite capability. For this second round, its important to see the FCC go further and mandate that all public safety user devices be satellite-enabled, or provide the licensee flexibility in meeting coverage and other performance requirements. This is in return for offering public safety a ubiquitous, and robust, satellite component that meets certain criteria, or both. The case for a more pervasive satellite component is a good one. It allows for more coverage, better reli ability, and a higher degree of interoperability, all at a far lower cost than the build-out contemplated in the previous public-private partnership plan. Throughout a significant part of the build-out process, and even following it, significant portions of the geography of the U.S. will be without coverage. Similarly, without satellite back up, the reliability of the network when the terrestrial infrastructure is not available is non-existent. The most efficient means to promote the goal of a nationwide, interoperable, public safety, broadband network is to make satellite services an integral part of that network. Technological advances will soon permit satellite capability to be added to millions of public safety user devices at a manufacturer cost of no more than a few dollars, perhaps $5 or less. Thats a small price for enormous additional value, and its a tiny fraction of the cost of terrestrial build-out and operations in remote areas. During the 700 MHz proceeding, the FCC imposed a satellite component requirement on the D Block licensee. This was required because experience has shown that the United States needs to deploy and operate a nationwide, interoperable, wireless public safety communications network. The licensing of the 700 MHz D block provides an excellent opportunity to develop such a network, and ensures it is implemented in a manner that best serves the emergency response community. During many recent emergency situations, it has become apparent that the terrestrial communications infrastructure is insufficient to withstand natural and man-made disasters. For example, according to a recently published industry report from CostQuest Research, more than 40 percent of U.S. roadways lack 3G (third generation) mobile phone coverage. This is despite the advanced stages of cellular network construction and coverage. In many areas of the United States, basic communications, much less advanced IP communications simply are not available. This means communications sys tems sometimes are not accessible when and where they are most needed. Satellite services are offered almost everywhere and are essentially immune from Dispatchers respond to emergency call in the Allegany County (Maryland) 9-11 Operations Center Ofcer Chris Fraley of the Allegany County Police communicates via satellite radio from the Police Mobile Command Vehicle
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SatMagazine July/August 200849FEATURE threats that disrupt terrestrial communications. Incor porating satellite capability into every public safety device is the only way to provide full assurance that links to the interoperable public safety network are available to public safety officials. Plus, that assurance includes making certain officials have access to the network everywhere at any time, with devices and applications they already know how to use. The FCC recognized the vital importance of satellite communications and the critical role satellites serve in ensuring members of the public safety community are able to effectively communicate. Its important to understand the added value of including the satellite component as part of the re-auction requirement as the public safety network needs to be available everywhere. Perhaps more importantly, the network must be designed to be available during disaster situations. However, there is no public funding available to build the network. Incorporating satellite services is the only way to achieve 100 percent cover age and extremely high reliability at a reasonable cost. Without a satellite component, the FCC will have to settle for too little coverage in order to make the partnership attractive to potential D block bidders. Satellites can be used as an effective means to increase interoperability between the federal government and the public safety community, but there is room for improvement in increasing interoperability. Today, many key federal government agencies with national security and emergency response functions rely on satellite communications to talk amongst agencies.This type of model would also work to ensure that the federal government and the public safety entities that rely on the 700 MHz band nationwide public safety network are able to communicate in times of emergency, even when the terrestrial wireless infrastructure is not
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SatMagazine July/August 200850FEATURE available. If satellite capability is built into every public safety device, every public safety user can be assured of getting a link to the interoperable network anywhere, anytime, using the device they use every day.Incentives that could be considered for potential li censee bidders begin with requirements that should include extending the build-out period, and reducing the hardening requirement, particularly in rural areas, if the D Block licensee offers public safety a ubiquitous and robust satellite component that meets certain criteria. By substituting satellite service for terrestrial service in less densely populated areas, the operators costs will be substantially reducedby possibly billions of dollars by managing the needs for thousands of cell siteswithout compromising the availability to public safety agencies of a reliable, interoperable network that is available nationwide. By complying with these requirements, it would give the licensee the flexibility it needs to build out the national public safety network. It would ensure the networks ubiquity and interoperability, and it will give the emergency response community the communication tools it so desperately needs to efficiently respond to emergencies and protect the public. The American public benefits from the unique availability and reliability of Mobile Satellite Ser vices ( MSS ) networks that provide an effective, high value service to public safety users and consumers. In fact, public safety agencies, the nation al security community, and the defense community, are the heaviest users of MSS services today.Making MSS services available and accessible to more agencies and consumers through mandatory inclusion in terrestrial communications devices encourages improved interoperability, greater geographic coverage, and communications reliability independent of the condition of the terrestrial infrastructure. MSS provides pervasive, disaster-proof communications to public safety responders and consumers to essentially 100 percent of the U.S. To further protect the public and respond to emergencies, the next generation hybrid satellite-terrestrial networks will prove invaluable. As an example, the one being constructed by Mobile Satellite Ventures, which means that, for the first time, the public safety community will be able to seamlessly and transparently roam between cellular and satellite networks on a handheld device (cell phones, PDA, laptops, GPS devices, and such) virtually anywhere throughout North America These next-generation networks will offer the public safety community the ability to allocate more capacity almost instantly to an area where terrestrial infrastructure is saturated, out of service, or destroyed altogether. Ter restrial facilities, even when equipped with backup power, are far more limited in their ability to re-allocate capacity to respond to local demand and cannot reallocate capacity across large distances at all. Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) is involving itself in the auction process and the company has filed its official comments recommending the FCC require every public safety device be satellite-enabled, and provide the D Block licensee flexibility in meeting license requirements, such as build-out and hardening. This is in return for offering public safety a ubiquitous and robust satellite component that meets certain crite ria. This requirement would ensure that emergency responders truly have a reliable, interoperable, and ubiqDr. Fred Conley and technician Ken Watkins, communicating via satellite push-to-talk from the Emergency Room in the Preston County (West Virginia) Memorial Hospital
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SatMagazine July/August 200851FEATURE On June 10, 2008, a major storm swept through the mountains of Western Maryland, wiping out all cellular communi cations and power. With damaged homes, mangled power lines, and trees down across the roads, fire, police, and EMS responders were without communications options. Fortunately, in Allegany County, satellite communications allowed responders to stay connected with one another, even when away from their 911 centers. Being a small, remote Appalachian county, without satellite communications our emergency responders would not have been able to respond to the public needs in an efficient and timely manner, said Richard DeVore, chief of the Emergency Management Division for the Allegany County, Maryland Department of Public Safety. With MSVs MSAT G2 and pushto-talk services, we were able to stay in touch with emergency responders in the field, representing a major step forward in this regions communications interoperability and helping us accomplish our mission of emergency response. Ricahrd Devore, Allegany County Maryland Department of Public Safetyuitous network to rely upon, no matter where in the country they may be. With satellite connectivity incorporated into every device, an additional element of the MSV proposal encourages the FCC to allow the ultimate winner greater flexibility in meeting certain license requirements, such as the facilities hardening mandate. MSV is also extremely interested in working with the eventual winner of the auction to help meet the satellite communication requirement.About the author In his capacity as Vice President, Government Solutions, Mr. Corry leads MSVs federal, state and local government sales and marketing initiatives. He is a 22-year veteran of the United States Secret Service, where from 1976 to 1998, he held various positions of increasing responsibility including leading various technical teams and protecting senior U.S. leaders including the President and Vice President. In 2007, Mr. Corry served on the Joint Advisory Committee on Communications Capabil ities of Emergency Medical and Public Health Care Facilities. Established by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the committee assessed the capabilities and communications needs of medical and public health care facilities across the nation and submitted its report to the U.S. Congress. Mr. Corry is currently the 2008 Vice-Chair of the National Coordinating Center for Telecommunications Information Sharing and Analysis Center (NCC-ISAC) within the National Communications System of the Department of Homeland Security.
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SatMagazine July/August 200852FEATURE by Hartley & Pattie Lesser and a cast of dozens of subject-specific expertsThanks for returning for Part III of the satellite imagery article. Lets take a look at what, and who, is taking a look... in Part II, we present ImageSat International, Surrey Sattelite Technoloyg, Ltd., and RapidEye. Please keep in mind that companies arrange the technical specifications for their satellites in various ways. The information contained on each satellite in the specifications sections was drawn directly from each companys satellite spec sheets. Some companies took the time to forward to us additional information for the article, and we are most grateful for their support. For more inclusive information, we recommend you visit each firms website and access additional details in their satellite and product information pages.ImageSat InternationalImageSats EROS system is manufactured by Israel Air craft Industries ( AIA). ImageSat became the first nonU.S. company, to successfully deploy a commercial highresolution imaging satellite. EROS satellites are light, low earth-orbiting (LEO), high-resolution satellites designed for fast maneuvering between imaged targets. The orbital period of the EROS satellites is 94 to 96 minutes for one revolution around the Earth. The satellite completes approximately 15 revolutions around the Earth every 24 hours, including two daylight passes per day through the footprint of a typical Ground Receiving Station. ImageSat International offers a Satellite Operating Partner Program (SOP) that enables governments to own exclusive rights for the use, and control, of EROS satellite imaging time over a defined geographical footprint. This service is conducted through a long-term service basis. Customers receive exclusive, local tasking and confidential reception of imagery to their own ground control station. Their Exclusive Pass on Demand ( EPOD) program provides special services from a High Resolution Satellite but at relatively low cost, and the customer is the only one in the loop of satellite tasking and imagery reception. The program includes upgrading the customers ground station to allow autonomous tasking of the EROS satellite to directly receive all acquired imagery. Their Priority Acquisition Service Program (PAS) enables ownership at the nearest imaging opportunity for a pre-selected quantity of images, with commitment to a defined footprint as long as those images do not fall within the exclusive SOP footprint. This is a cost-effective method for imagery acquisition. For full information on ImageSat Internationals product offerings, head to the ImageSat website There are currently two operating models in the EROS family of satellites, with a third satellite planned for launch in 2010.EROS AThis was the first in a constellation of sun-synchronous, polar-orbiting satellites that ImageSat plans to deploy dur ing this decade. Successfully launched on December 5, 2000, the 260-kg EROS A has been commercially operational since January 1, 2001. The launch occurred at the Svobodny Launch Complex in the eastern part of Siberia aboard a Russian Start-1 launcher. The satellites weight at launch was 250 kg. EROS A is equipped with a camera whose focal plane of CCD (Charge Coupled Device) detectors produces a standard image resolution of 1.8 meters, with a swath of 14-km at nadir (perpendicular to the surface) at an HERES LOO KI NG AT EVERY THI NGPAR T III EROS image capture of Papua, new Guinea, volcano
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SatMagazine July/August 200853FEATURE altitude of ~500 km, and sub-meter resolution using hypersampling techniques. The satellites sun-synchronous orbit allows the craft to cross the equator at 9:45 a.m., local time, and imaged targets are always in daylight. The data transmission rate is 70 Mbit/s. The anticipated lifespan of the EROS A satellite is 10 years.EROS BIn order to address market demand for higher resolution and faster revisit of EROS satellites, ImageSat launched the 290-kg EROS B satellite, also on a Start 1 launcher from the Cosmodrome in Svobodni. Slightly larger and similar in appearance to EROS A, this satellite has superior capabilities, including a larger camera of CCD/TDI type (Charge Coupled Device/ Time Delay Integration), with standard panchromatic resolution of 0.70 m at an altitude of about 500 km, a larger on-board recorder, improved pointing accuracy and a faster data communication link. The satellite is expected to provide services for 8 to 10 years.EROS-CWith a scheduled launch set for 2010, Image Sats EROS C satellite will have an expected lifespan of 10 years. EROS Cs highest resolution will be 0.7-m and the satellite will offer higher quality resolution and a higher data link rate than either EROS A or B. Also in the mix will be multispectral imagery capabilities. EROS C will weigh 350-kg at launch and will or bit in a sun synchronous orbit (SSO) at an altitude of about 500-km. The satellite is equipped with a camera with CCD/TDI (Charge Coupled Device/Time Delay Integration) sensors. Produced will be panchromatic imagery at a standard resolution of 0.70-m, and multispectral imagery at a standard resolution of 2.8-m. The swath will be 11-km at nadir. The data transmis sion rate will be 455 Mbit/s. All of the EROS satellites offer a Color Fused Image (CFI) using the EROS A or EROS B sensor as the highresolution panchromatic data source, and a medium resolution multi-spectral sensor as the color data source. ImageSat awarded Apogee the worldwide rights to commercially supply the CFI product. EROS satellite image captures
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SatMagazine July/August 200854FEATURE Spot ImageSPOT 1, 2, 4 + 5 Spot Image offers standard products to value-added geometric products, and has an archive of several million images. With custom programming of satellites, their multiresolution imagery can meet multiscale needs from 2.5 to 20 meters. They publish an online catalog through SIRIUS, where customers can locate images archived since 1986. The company has also created a web-based service for AmericaView members in which archived SPOT imagery can be purchased at discounted rates. This data includes the North American Archive, USA Select, USA Nationwide Prime and, coming soonOne Country, One Year.Spot Images satellites perform 14 + 5/26 revolutions per day. The same pattern is phased, meaning it is repeated over and over. Both High Visible Resolution (HRV) and High Geometric Resolution ( HRG) instruments offer combined field-of-view that is wider than the greatest distance between two adjacent tracks. Every point on the Earths surface, between 81.5 N and 81.5 S, can be collected during the satellites 26-day cycle. Collection above 81.5 N, or below 81.5 S, is possible, but is not conducted on a normal basis. The revisit frequency depends upon the latitude needed. At the equator, a target area can be imaged 11 times during the orbital cycle, or, an average of 2.4 days. SPOT satellites transmit their image data in two ways, all depending on whether or not the bird is within range of a ground station: downloaded in real-time if within range of a Direct Receiving Station (DRS); if not within range of a Spot DRS, the image data is stored onto onboard receivers on SPOT 4 + 5. If within range of a main receiving station, the satellite can be programmed to downlink image data in real-time or play back the onboard recorders and transmit the image data that was recorded earlier. SPOT 4 + 5 satellites pack two, identical optical imaging instruments as well as two tape recorders for image data, plus a payload telemetry package for images transmissions to ground stations. On SPOT 2, there is HRV; SPOT 4 offers HRV-IR and on SPOT 5, HRG is the imaging device. HRVs offer an oblique viewing capability, with the look angle being steerable through +/27, relative to the vertical. Such produces an incidence angle of +/-31. This steering capability is handled by the programming system and provides for target capture of regions that are not directly below the satellites path. As youll note in the specifications,
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SatMagazine July/August 200855FEATURE these instruments can be operated in panchromatic or multispectral mode, simultaneously or individually. SPOT 5s HRS (High-Resolution Stereoscopic Imaging Instrument) can capture near simultaneous stereo pairs on a swath 120-km across and 600-km long. The images are acquired in panchromatic mode with a 10-m spatial resolution (to be precise, GSD is 5-m along track in the direction of the satellites velocity by 10-m cross track) with a telescope-viewing angle of 20. Theres one sensor forward and one aft, which allows for the near-instantaneous acquisition of stereopairs. The forward telescope acquires ground images at a viewing angle of 20 ahead of the vertical. The aftlooking telescope then acquires the same strip behind the vertical at 20 1 minute and 30 seconds later. SPOT 4 and 5 have a vegetation instrument aboard. This is a very wide angle Earth observation instrument with a resolution of 1-km and high radiometric resolution. The swath is actually two, 2500-km-wide captures of BO (blue), B2 (red), B3 (NIR), and B4 (SWIR). Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.Disaster Monitoring ConstellationSurrey Satellite Technology Ltd. ( SSTL), recently acquired by EADS Astrium, manufactured five, remotesensing satellites known as the Disaster Monitoring Constellation. The Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) is the first earth observation constellation of four, low cost, small satellites that provide daily images for applications, including global disaster monitor ing. These satellites are managed for the International Charter for Space and Major Disasters by a whollyowned subsidiary of SSTL, that being DMC International Imaging ( DMCII).The cooperation of an international consortium makes DMC possible. Each partner owns an independent small satellite mission that ser vices national needs. By sharing space and ground assets membership of the DMC consortium confirms the unique benefits of having access to a seamless global monitor ing service. SPOT 3D coverage map
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SatMagazine July/August 200856FEATURE DMC was designed as a proof of concept constellation. The satellites are capable of multispectral imaging of any part of the world every day. All satellites have been equally spaced around a sun synchronous orbit (SSO) to provide daily imaging capability. SSTL continues to own and operate the United Kingdoms satellite in this constellation. Daily revisit is possible as they image an area of up to 600x600-km. Theres no need for mosaics of images from different seasons. The members of DMC all agree to provide 5 percent of capacity at no charge for imaging disaster areas. Reuters AlertNet is the channeling agency for such work, contributing daily imaging capability to fill the existing three to five day response gap. The DMC Imager is a 6-channel, Surrey Linear Imager (SLIM6). When operated from a near polar, SSO and circular orbit at a 686-km nominal altitude, with an or bit inclination of 98, the design offers a nadir viewing, three-band multispectral scanning camera thats capable of providing mid-resolution image info. The swath is 600-km wide as it passes over the target area, using the spacecrafts orbital motion to provide an alongtrack scan with the pushbroom configuration. The onboard Close Coupled Device (CCD) scans 6 channels are stored in a Solid State Data Recorder (SSDR) in a band-interlaced RAW format. Storing data from each bank of the three CCDs is a separate SSDR. There are 2 banks of 3 channels, with the combination of the 2 banks providing the total swath width of 600-km. The SLIM6 imager channel has a solid-state detector at the focal plane, with the spectral filters located in front of each channel lens.
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SatMagazine July/August 200857FEATURE AISAT-1In November of 2002, SSTLs AISAT-1 was launched aboard a Kosmos launcher from Plesetsk. This micro satellite was part of a technology transfer project for the Centre National des Techniques Spatiales ( CNTS ) of Algeria and was intended to help that country develop their space infrastructure. The project included the satellite, a mission control station, and hands-on training for Algerian engineers at SSTLs HQ. This was the first satellite in the Disaster Monitoring Constellation that provides the world with medium-resolution imagery, including daily, worldwide revisits, all coordinated by SSTL. AISAT-1 carried a SSTL-developed imaging payload that provided 32-m ground resolution and a wide swath of more than 640-km. Green, red, and nearIR bands are used, with images stored in a 9 gigabit solid-state data recorder. Scenes as large as 640-x560km can be imaged. The images are returned via an 8 Mbps S-band downlink.BILSAT-1Then, in September of 2003 from the same launch site as AISAT-1, BILSAT-1 was placed into orbit via a Kosmos launch vehicle. It was one of three satellites launched simultaneously to complete the Disaster Monitoring Constellations first phase. The client was the Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council ( TUBITAK), and the project included the satellite, a mission control station in Turkey, and that all-important, hands-on training for Turkish engineers at SSTL.
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SatMagazine July/August 200858FEATURE The payloads included a high-resolution panchromatic imager with 12-m ground resolution, a four-band, medium-resolution imager with 26-m ground resolution, plus a 9-band hyperspectral imager designed and built by engineers at BILTEN ( Information Technologies and Electronics Research Institute of Turkey). Provided by BILTEN was also a DSP image processor that could handle high-speed, multispectral image compression using JPEG2000 algorithms. The spacecraft could slew and capture images anywhere within its ground footprint, due to it employing a zero-bias, three-axis attitude control system. The system used two SSTL star imagers that were supplemented by MEMS gyroscopes. This mission was completed in 2006. Another of these simultaneous satellites launches was...NigeriaSat-1Launched in September of 2003, this was part of a technology transfer program for the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST) of Nigeria. During this project, Nigeria formed the National Space Research and Development Agency ( NASRDA), which continue to manage the NigeriaSat-1 program. This satellite offered 32-m ground resolution with a swath width of more than 640-km. Also using green, red, and near-IR bands, images are stored on a 1 Gbyte, solid-state data recorder and returned via an 8 Mbps S-band downlink.UK-DMCLaunched with BILSAT-1 and NigeriaSat-1, UK-DMC was developed for the British National Space Centre (BNSC) under a grant from the Microsatellite Applications in Collaboration ( MOSAIC ) program. UK-DMC is a standard DMC design, with added research and development payloads. It carries an optical imaging payload developed by SSTL to provide 32-m ground resolution with a swath width of over 640 km. The payload uses green, red, and near-IR bands equivalent to Land sat TM+ bands 2, 3 and 4. In comparison with other DMC satellites, UK-DMC features increased on-board data storage, with 1.5 Gbyte capacities. Images are returned to the SSTL mission operations center using the Internet Protocol over an 8-Mbps S-band downlink. UK-DMC also contains a commercial Internet router from Cisco Systems, which builds on the use of the Internet Protocol by the DMC satellites to experiment with Internet packet routing to, and in, space. UK-DMC is also the test bed for a new SSTL concept in remote sensing, GPS reflectometry. This technique, which measures the signals from the GPS navigation system after they are reflected off the sea, could revolutionize oceanographic remote sensing.Beijing-1October of 2005 saw the launch of Bei jing-1 which was developed for Beijing Landview Mapping Information Techology Ltd. ( BLMIT). The satellite combines SSTLs standard DMC multispectral camera with a high-resolution panchromatic imager. Enhancements to the two imagers included a 32-m multispectral imager (also flown on AISAT-1, UK-DMC, and Ni geriaSat-1) and a new, 4-m panchromatic imager that was developed under contract to SIRA Electro-Optics Ltd This satellite is fully supported by SSTL S-band telemetry, telecommand as well as an 8 Mbps data retrieval ground station. Plus, customers furnished Xband data retrieval support for a ground station and reflector subsystem is incorporated into this project. In the 4th quarter of 2008, the DMC will be enhanced by the addition of two more SSTL satellites: Demios-1 for Spanish customer Deimos Space and SL and UKDMC-2, funded by SSTL. Both of these satellites will carry an enhanced version of the DMC wide area imaging system. They will provide 600-km wide swaths of the Earth in three spectral bands at a ground resolution of 22-m. Additionally, the new spacecraft will benefit from more than 10 times the capacity for information provision. These significant enhancements reflect SSTLs evolutionary approach to development that provides state of the art performance with mini-
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SatMagazine July/August 200859FEATURE imal risk. The improved resolution and capacity enable the system to better meet European Global Monitoring for Environment and Security ( GMES ) program needs, particularly in the areas of forestry and fire.Nigerian customer NASRDA has contracted SSTL for a next generation DMC satellite and will launch NigeriaSat-2 in 2009. The contract includes a training and development program for 25 Nigerian engineers, and the launch of the training satellite, NX, into the DMC alongside NigeriaSat-2.RapidEyeRapidEye AG (Brandenburg, Germany), a publicprivate cooperative enterprise, has stated that during 2008, the already delayed launch of five microsatellites will occur. RapidEye controls and partially handles the satellite manufacturing. Subcontractors involved in this constellation effort include MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA ) in Canada, who received a $170 million CDN contract from RapidEye in June of 2004, and is the prime contractor. MDA, in turn, awarded a 19.2 million pound contract to Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) in the United Kingdom to supply the spacecraft platforms, integration, and launch arrangements for the five satellites. The satellites will use SSTLs advanced microsatellite avionics, a precision attitude orbit and control system with star tracker. The latter will provide 30 degrees roll-offset for accurate image targeting and onboard propulsion for constellation station keeping. SSTL is going to provide the Spacecraft Control Center ground equipment for the mission. The camera subcontractor is Jena Optronik GmbH.
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SatMagazine July/August 200860FEATURE RapidEye will offer a variety of commercial geospatial products and services, with the primary source of their data in their planned constellation of five imaging satellites. The firm will offer data for information solutions, from the integration of multiple geospatial data sets, including their satellite image data and a variety of third-party raster or vector data. This information is delivered directly to clients in the format that best fits their needs. Specific solutions have been developed for the agricul ture, cartography, forestry, government, and utility markets. This unique public-private partnership will find the DLR Space Agency holding the rights for use of the satellites for scientific research, and they will also function as an inter face between these sec tors. There will be no costs attributed to German scientists working on projects using RapidEye imagery data. The RapidEye satellites will have a total weight of approximately 150 kilograms, and will be carried aloft together on one rocket. They will orbit at an altitude of 630-km and will have a SOS inclined at 97.8. Orbits will require 96.7 minutes to complete. The life span is expected to be 7 years. The RapidEye constellation of Earth observation satellites collects multispectral image data at a high resolution over large areas, with the capability to reach any point on Earth every day. The sys tem will be able to collect more than 4 million square kilometers of data per day. The satellites orbit at an altitude of 630-km and within 3,000-km. Customers will be provided with data of up to a maximum of 1,500-km in length. Data will be received at a ground station operated by Kongsberg Satellite Services AS in Svalbard, Norway, with the mission control center in Brandenburg controlling the vehicles. The camera system is a multispectral pushbroom imager, which packs an additional red edge channel.Get The Point...Futron recently published their 2008 Space Competi tiveness Index, which is an analysis of the manner in which countries invest in, and benefit from, the space industry. Part of their report deals with Earth Obser vation (EO) and offers a benchmark for this dynamic and increasingly commercial, international, and highly competitive industry. Currently, the U.S., Canada, and Europe have the most well developed, national EO policy, laws, and regulations. However, within the next five to 10 years, Europe is planning significant investments in EO assets and may well overtake the U.S. Indias long-standing investment and organizational capacity continues to build their EO capability. This has launched India into one of the top three countries; however, its weakness is a lack of clear government policy. Assessing China is difficult, due to their lack of transparency. Futron believes this fact is, in and of itself, insightful because that lack of transparency hampers the countrys commercialization and applications development. Today, the largest customers of commercial
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SatMagazine July/August 200861FEATURE EO data are governments yet, innovative products such as Google Earth permit public access to integrated remote sensing data, while raising awareness, and increases product value. Faster, longer and crisper improvements are a regular occurrence in the satellite realm, making it surely one of todays most exciting industries.This closes our look at satellite imagery, with a commercial perspective. Tables for the mentioned satelliets follow... we hope you have found the information useful... we recommend you go directly to any of the mentioned companies websites to learn more about their services and the satellites on orbit. Thank you for attending this series! Hartley & Pattie LesserCREDITS and THANKSCompanies supplying information for this article, and their missions, include DigitalGlobe Earth Observation Research Center, JAXA Futron ESRI GeoEye Lockheed Martin Space Foundation National Weather Association (NWA) Remote Sensing Committee Satellite Imaging Corporation ViaSat GeoTechnologies 1 The GIS information text and graphics in Part I of this article were excerpted from ww.gis.com and www.esri.com and are the intellectual property of ESRI and are used by permission. Copyright ESRI. All rights reserved.
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SatMagazine July/August 200862FEATURE EROS-AOrbit500-km, SSOGround sampling1.9-mHyper-sampling1.0-mSwath width14-kmScanningAsynchronous, push broomSensor type CCD Spectral band 0.5 0.9 Sampling depth 11-bits Griybd sampling distance 1.0-m at nadir from 510-km Swatch width inclination 97.2 Datalink rate 70 Mbit/sec EROS-BOrbitAverage 510-km, SSO, period is 5,678 secondsGround sampling 1.0-m Hyper-sampling 0.7-km Swath width 7-km Scanning Asynchronous, push broom Sensor type CCD/TDI (selectable) Sensor resolution 70-cm @ 510-km Spectral band 0.5-0.9 Sampling depth 10-bits Ground sampling distance 0.7-m at nadir from 510-km (TDI stages, 1, 4, 8) 0.8-m at nadir from 510-km (all other TDI stages) 7-km at nadir from 510-km Swath width 7000-km @ 510-km Swath inclination 97.2 Dynamic range 10-bits Datalink rate 280 Mbit/sec Knowledge CE90 = 35-m Retargetting accuracy 1.5/sec Revisit frequency 3 days @ 90-cm Onboard starge 32 GB Max viewing angle 45 Per orbit collection 4500-kim ground track (1500-km2 7700-kim2, depending upon image scenario Max contiguous area > 450-km Communications Imagery download: 280 Mbps Command upload: 5 Kbps Telemetry upload: 2.5/15 Kbps
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SatMagazine July/August 200863FEATURE SPOT-4Orbit822-km, SSO, 98.7Velocity7.4 kbpsAttitude controlEarth-pointingOrbital period101.4 minutesOrbital cycle26 daysRecording capacity Two 120 GB records + 9 GB solid state memory 36 MB)Image telemetry 8 GHz, 50 Mbps Spectral bands/res MonospectralPanchromatic (10-m) 3 multispectral (20-m) 1 IR (20-m) Spectral range Monochromatic: 0.61-0.68B1: green, 0.50 to 0.59 m B2: red, 0.61 to 0.68 m B3: NIR, 0.78 to 0.89 m B4: SWIR, 1.58 to 1.75 mImaging swath 60x60-km to 80-km Abs. location accuracy 30-m Angle of incidence.06Revisit interval 2 to 3 days, depending on latitude SPOT-1 + -2Orbit822-km, SSO, 98.7Velocity7.4 kbpsAttitude controlEarth-pointingOrbital period101.4 minutesOrbital cycle26 daysRecording capacity size 36 MB) DPCM, panchromatic imagery only) On SPOT 2, recorder is no longer functional Image telemetry 8 GHz, 50 Mbps Image swatch 60x60-km to 80-km Revisit interval 2 to 3 days, depending on latitude
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SatMagazine July/August 200864FEATURE SPOT-5Orbit822-km, SSO, 98.7Velocity7.4 kbpsAttitude control rotational effectsOrbital period101.4 minutesOrbital cycle26 daysRecording capacity 144 MB)Image telemetry 8 GHz, 2x50 Mbps Spectral bands/res 2 panchromatic (5-m), generating 2.5-m product 3 multispectral (10-m) 1 IR (20-m) Spectral range Panchromatic, 0.48 to 0.71 m B1: green, 0.50 to 0.59 m B2: red, 0.61 to 0.68 m B3: NIR, 0.78 to 0.89 m B4: SWIR, 1.58 to 1.75 m Imaging swath 60x60-km to 80-km Abs. location accuracy 30-m Angle of incidence.06Revisit interval 2 to 3 days, depending on latitude
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SatMagazine July/August 200865FEATURE RAP IDEYE FI VE SA T ELL IT E CON ST ELLA TI ONOrbit630-km, SSO, spaced equallyPeriod14.8 orbits in 24 hours ECT: 11:00 a.m., descending (local time)Sensor bandsFive: Blue: 440-510-nm Green: 520 to 490-nm Red: 630-685-nm Red Edge: 690 to 730-nm Near-IR: 760-850-nmSensor resolution6.5-m @ nadirPixel size5-m, orthorectifiedDynamic range 12-bit Swath width 77-km Pointing accuracy 0.2 Sampling depth 10-bits Knowledge 373-m, along track, 221-m across track Retargeting agility Once per orbit Revisit frequency Daily access of an point (off-nadir) Seamless coverage 3.50 days (off-nadir) @ 45 latitude, no clouds Capacity per day 4 million square kilometers Onboard storage 48 GB Max viewing angle (soft limit, 3-axis stabilization) Max contiguous area 115500-km2 (per orbit + per satelliet) CommunicationsX-band downlink @ 80 Mbps (image data) S-band downlink @ 38.4 Kbps (telemetry) S-band uplink @ 9.6 Kbps (command)
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SatMagazine July/August 200866FOCUS by Pattie LesserA three-in-one conference must be similar to drinking a double espresso and a Red Bull, combined. Talk about getting many things accomplished in a little amount of time! Very smart. The ISCe 2008, ICSSC-2008 and Navy SATCOM Us ers Workshop has proven to be a major success. An indicator of such is in sheer numbers close to seven hundred satellite industry executives and military/ government leaders who spent three days addressing key industry issues, policies, opportunities and challenges in San Diego, at Hannover Fairs seventh annual ISCe conference. The conference, which ended on June 12, focused its program on Access to SATCOM for the Next Decade, and provided a unique forum for military SATCOM users and planners, and commercial SATCOM products and service providers. This enabled them to examine the continuing importance of satellites in the global information and war fighting grid. This was the first time in the seven-year history that ISCe teamed with two other leading organizations to provide a platform for collaborative discussion and networking. Members and supporters of the 26th Annual AIAA International Satellite Systems Conference (ICSSC-2008) and the 2nd Annual Navy SATCOM Users Workshop joined with hundreds of industry and government/military leaders in a comprehensive program of technical, marketing, and user-themed panels. Speaking of themes, several dominated ISCe 2008. The critical need for commercial bandwidth and services to support the military and its warfighters The convergence of satellite communications with fixed, mobile, and wireless networks The increasingly crucial role played by integrators of satellite services to deliver solutions to commercial and government customersPlans are already underway for next years eventISCe 2009, which will take place June 2nd through 4th at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina, in San Diego, California. In her annual State of the Satellite Industry report, Satellite Industry Association (SIA) president Patricia Cooper reported a 16 percent growth in global revenues for the commercial satellite industry. Patricias annual report was commissioned by her organization and conducted by Futron Corp. Worldwide industry revenues in 2007 were $123 billion, representing an average annual growth of 11.5 percent for the period from 2002-2007. Encouraging reports, indeed. Satellite ser vices revenues continued to drive the overall industry, with a 60 percent total share of industry revenues. Continuing a trend identified in previous Futron/ISCe surveys, commercial attendees also project that the Department of Defense will remain their primary tar get for new products and services. However, some five percent are planning to increase their solutions tar geting Department of Homeland Security and public safety/first responders. While satellite capacity sales remain the dominant new service driver for most respondents, more than 20 percent see an increase in their hybrid network services. Twice as many respondents as last year project software to be their big driver of new business. Almost 70 percent of military and other government attendees anticipate that the launch of new military satellites will have no impact on their use of commer cial communications satellites; more than 20 percent projected that commercial usage will decline by 25 percent or more. Seventy percent believe availability of appropriate space segment is the governments greatest challenge in utilizing commercial satellites, 30 percent see avail ability of ground terminals as the greater challenge in accessing commercial bandwidth. ISCE EP IT OME OF EFF I C I ENCY, TH REE-I N-ONE CONFERENCE
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SatMagazine July/August 200867FOCUS Military/government attendees gave the commercial satellite industry good grades on understanding and meeting government needs. More than 85 percent reported that commer cial vendors meet their needs in a timely manner always or most of the time, while 76 percent believe industry under stands their service and procurement requirements.The Boeing Corporation played host to the awards dinner in which the ISCe honored Globecomm Systems Chairman and CEO, David Hershberg with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Hershberg joins previous renowned recipients such as Dr. Harold Rosen (formerly of Hughes ), Connie Kullman (formerly with Intelsat), Dr. Denis Curtin ( XTAR) and Joseph Clayton among others. ISCe also honored ATCi founder and CEO Gary Hatch with its Innovation Award and Boeing Satellite Systems International with its 2008 Leadership Award.At its annual Awards Luncheon, the AIAA International Communication Satellite Systems Conference presented Mark Dankberg, ViaSat CEO & Chairman, with its Aerospace Communications Award. Dankberg, founder of the company, was cited for shepherding ViaSat into a leading satellite communications company through outstanding leadership and technical expertise.This years ISCe event was the culmination of a yearlong planning process involving the expertise of the ISCe Advisory Board, our partners at the AIAA and our program partners the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) and SPAWAR, said David Bross, ISCe 2008 Chair man and Director of Business Development, HFUSA. The new military/government focus of ISCe proved key to capitalizing on the economic trends affecting the commercial satellite industry and its military and government customers.Future events includeOctober 14th, the third annual ISCe Satellite Investment Symposium (ISIS NYC 08 ) to take place at the 3 West Club in Manhattan, New YorkFebruary 4 and 5, 2009, HFUSA will launch the Multichannel Content Distribution Conference & Expo (Powered by CeBIT) at the University City Hilton Hotel Universal Studios, California. Focusing on the commercial and entertainment sides of multichannel and mobile signal content delivery to consumers, this hybrid conference and expo will address networks and distribution, and will look behind the scenes at what the impetus is that creates the transport of content.
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SatMagazine July/August 200868FEATURE Communication Satellites, Fifth Edition by Donald Martin, Paul Anderson, and Lucy BartamianRelayThe Relay program [1 + 2] was undertaken by NASA to perform active satellite communications and to measure Van Allen belt radiation and its effect on satellite electronics. Basic objectives were to transmit telephone and television signals across the Atlantic and to transmit telephone signals between North and South America. During the time the satellite was being developed, foreign governments were invited to par ticipate in communications experiments. Primary ground stations were in Maine, England, and TH E HIST ORY OF SA T ELL IT E S, PAR T 4Francethe same stations that conducted demonstrations with Telstar 1 (see May issue of SatMagazine ). Other ground stations were in California, New Jersey, Germany, Italy, Brazil, and Japan. The Relay satellite had a more complex communication subsystem than Telstar, with two identical redun dant repeaters. Either repeater could be connected to the common antennas by ground command. Each repeater had one 25 MHz channel and two 2 MHz channels. These channels allowed either one-way transmission of wideband (WB) signals or two-way transmission of narrowband (NB) signals. The communication subsystem block diagram is shown; the satellite details follow.SatelliteOctagonal prism, 35 in. long, 29 in. diam, 53 in. overall length 172 lb in orbit Solar cells and NiCd batteries, 45 W Spin-stabilized, 150 rpm
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SatMagazine July/August 200869FEATURE Two double-conversion repeaters (one on, one standby), each with one WB and two NB channelsCapacityWB: 300 one-way voice circuits or one TV channel NB: 12 two-way telephone circuits (limited by ground equipment, not satellite bandwidth)Transmitter4164.7, 4174.7 MHz (NB), 4169.7 MHz (WB) All solid state except TWT 10 W output Receiver1723.3, 1726.7 MHz (NB), 1725 MHz (WB) All solid state 14 dB noise figure AntennaTwo biconical horns (one transmit, one receive) Approximately 0 dB gain normal to spin axis Circular polarization LifeOne year OrbitRelay 1: 712 x 4012 nmi, 47.5 deg inclination Relay 2: 1130 x 4000 nmi, 46 deg inclination Orbital historyRelay 1: launched 13 December 1962, operated until February 1965 Relay 2: launched 21 January 1964, operated until May 1965 Delta launch vehicle ManagementDeveloped by RCA for NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Relay 1 was launched in December 1962. Radiation experiment data were obtained on the first day. That same day, difficulties with communications transponder No. 1 that caused excessive power consumption were noticed. The problem could not be fully cor rected, and from January 1963 transponder No. 2 was used for almost all the communication experiments. Relay 1 operated until February 1965. During 1963, several tests and demonstrations were conducted including telephone and television transmis sions. Network TV broadcasts were transmitted from the United States to Europe and to Japan. Several times, both television and telephone transmissions were used for international medical consultations. In October 1964, television coverage of the Olympic Games was relayed from Japan to the United States by Syncom 3, and then from the United States to Europe by Relay 1. Relay 2 was modified slightly to provide increased rel ability and radiation resistance. Relay 2 was launched in January 1964 and was used in a variety of communications tests similar to those done with Relay 1.
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SatMagazine July/August 200870FEATURE By July 1964, Relays 1 and 2 had been used for 112 public demonstrations of telephone and television transmission. Relay 2 was used until May 1965. The Telstar and Relay programs were both considered successful. They demonstrated that the technology at that time could produce a useful,medium-altitude communication satellite. In addition, ground station technology was proven, and routine operation of ground stations was demonstrated. Measurements of communications parameters indicated no significant deviations from theoretically expected values. Finally, it was shown that satellite communication systems could share frequencies with terrestrial microwave systems without mutual interference. Select the book graphic to order this book from The Aerospace CompanyAuthor BiographyDonald H. Martin is a senior engineering specialist in The Aerospace Corporations Architectures and Spectrum Management Office. Martin joined the Communications Department in the Engineering Group at Aerospace in 1968 after receiving B.S. and M.S. degrees in engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles. He has been collecting information on satellite communications since 1972, when his manager offered him a choice of assignments: of the three options, he chose to write a description of communication satellites then in orbit. The assignment grew the next year to include a report describing satellites being built, and gradually expanded to the first edition of Communication Satellites in 1986, with the book now in its Fifth Edition.1. Space Communications and Navigation 1958, NASA SP-93 (1966). 2. K. W. Gatland, Telecommunication Satellites, Prentic Hall, New York (1964). 3. Final Report on the Relay 1 Program, NASA SP-76, Goddard Space Flight Center (1965). 4. L. Jaffe, The NASA Communications Satellite Program Results and Status, Proceedings of the 15th International Astronautical Congress (1964), Vol. 2: Satellite Systems (1965). 5. S. Metzger and R. H. Pickard, Relay, Astronautics and Aerospace Engineering, Vol. 1, No. 8 (September 1963). 6. Publications of Goddard Space Flight Center 1963, Vol. II: 7. a. S. Metzger and R. H. Pickard, Relay (See Ref. 5). 8. b. R. H. Pickard, Relay 1 Spacecraft Performance. 9. c. R.Pickard, S. Roth, and J. Kiesling, Relay, An Experimental Satellite for TV and Multichannel Telephony. 10. Development of the Relay Communications Satellite, Interavia, Vol. 17 (June 1962). 11. D. R. Glover, NASA Experimental Communications Satellites, http//sulu.lerc.nasa.gov/dglover/satcom2.html (10 June 1999). 12. D. R. Glover, NASA Experimental Communications Satellites, 19581995, in Beyond the Ionosphere: Fifty Years of Satellite Communication, A. J. Butrica, ed., NASA History
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SatMagazine July/August 200871 FOCUS ON TRAININGby Peter Xilliox Co-FounderSatProf, Inc.From the beginning, the VSAT industry recognized that VSAT installers would require training to transform a pile of cables, electronics, and antenna parts into a revenue-producing VSAT terminal. Up until now, most VSAT installer training programs have focused on how to bolt up the components and mount parts to a roof or wall. These programs have provided instructions about how to make certain indicators illuminate and/or achieve minimum levels on meters or displays. However, unintended consequences of basic bolt it up training have become liabilities and have inflicted cost burdens on the VSAT industry. Without a good understanding of the fundamentals of the satellite link, it is easy for installers to accidentally cause interference and it is difficult for them to troubleshoot problems.Swap-outs are expensiveWithout solid training in the engineering fundamen tals, technicians must resort to swapping hardware to troubleshoot problems. Often, the item removed is not actually defective, but it is returned anyway and joins an ever-growing pool of equipment of unknown condition circulating around warehouses, repair depots, and distribution centers. With todays high-volume VSAT production hardware, simply evaluating and re-testing questionable equipment often costs more than manufacturing the item in the first place. Cross-pol misalignment and adjacent satellite interfer ence impact entire networks Even replacing all of the parts may not solve the problem. The dish might not AN I MA T E D ONL I NE VSA T CO U R S Ebe aligned accurately, cross-pol (cross polarization) may not be set correctly, or cables may have reflections or poor RF isolation due to improper connector attachment. These errors dont just affect the service quality of the particular installation they can cause the entire VSAT network to be disrupted or can even create debilitating interference on the satellite or other satellites.Return visits sabotage customer relationsMany times a simple shotgun approach to troubleshooting is not successful. A return visit requiring additional hardware or a technician with a higher-level of technical competency must be scheduled. Such repeat truck rolls can be extremely expensive to the service providerthey can also inflict great damage to customer relationships. Broadband satellite services must compete with terrestrial services, such as DSL and leased lines, which are generally simpler to install. The VSAT industry simply cannot afford a reputation of low quality installations and frequent return visits.Responding to the industrys needsInterference, lost hardware, site revisits, disgruntled customers, and viable hardware returned for unnecessary repair could all be reduced by ensuring thorough installer training. When technicians have a solid under standing of the fundamental concepts behind the VSAT terminals operation, they are much better equipped to perform tasks such as peaking the antenna accurately, setting cross-pol with precision, and interacting effi-
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SatMagazine July/August 200872 FOCUS ON TRAINING ciently with a satellite operators Network Operations Center staff to resolve problems.The Training SolutionIn 2002, responding to membership requests to address the increasing problem of interference due to improper VSAT installations; the GVF initiated a Certified VSAT Installer program. comprised of a sequence of three-courses or Levels. Classes are given periodically in the U.S., South America, Africa, and other venues. The GVF Certified Installer database now lists over 200 certified installers worldwide. To increase the reach and effectiveness of this program, the GVF has teamed with SatProf, Inc. to make the fundamentals portions (Levels 1 and 2) of this program available on-line over the Internet. SatProf was founded by satellite systems engineering professionals who possess more than 50 years of industry and inhouse training experience. SatProf has developed techniques for highly interactive, real-time, simulator-based instruction delivered via the Web as Flash animations, a format readily available in all standard browsers. The new on-line program goes further than convention al classroom training modes hampered by rigid class times and locations (with the attendant travel and lost labor costs). SatProf went a few steps further and discarded the notion that distance learning material should be pushed to a student passively watching an audio-visual presentation. Instead, SatProf has crafted interactive, animated training material, delivered to any Web browser in carefully sequenced courses. SatProf courses can be accessed 24x7x365 from any location with Internet access. Each course focuses on presenting a fundamental understanding of the technical topics, with heavy doses of animation and virtual reality engines to support interactive play with the instructional tools. The GVF on-line fundamentals training consists of two course levels. Level 1, entitled In troduction to VSAT Technology, presents an overview of satellite communications principles, and is followed by Level 2, VSAT Installation Fundamentals. To follow on, students may enroll in Level 3i, which focuses on the details of iDirect remote terminal installation, and Level 3S, which is conducted in a classroom setFigure 1 TDMA Training
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SatMagazine July/August 200873 FOCUS ON TRAININGting and includes hands-on equipment skills exercises and testing.Introduction to VSAT Technology Level 1In the Level 1 course, the student receives an over view of satellite communications, with an emphasis on VSAT applications, for technicians, engineers, managers, and IT professionals. The course presents an over view of the technology and history of satellite communications, focusing on Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) networks and how they compete with terrestrial alternatives. The fundamentals of spacecraft operation, orbits, and coverage are explained, followed by an overview of ground equipment hardware and the alter native methods available for sharing space segment cost. The course concludes with a discussion of the main technical, economic, and regulatory factors of VSAT networks. The student is exposed to topics and terminology such as: Spacecraft Signal Path Building Blocks and Flight Control Systems Satellite Bandwidth and Capacity Spacecraft Orbits RF Spectrum Assignments allocated for Commercial Satcom Channel Latency Regional Coverage Footprints Analog/Digital TV, IP, Voice, Media Satellite Services Advantages of SATCOM Disadvantages of SATCOM Earth Station Varieties Satellite Transmission Access Techniques Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) This on-line course consists of animated & interactive Flash pages presented in a self-paced sequence. Dur ing the course, the student is encouraged to explore diagrams using mouse rollovers, turn knobs, adjust antennas, and tune test equipment, through the use of the on-line simulator functions. Figure 2 Signal ID Meter
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SatMagazine July/August 200874 FOCUS ON TRAININGFigure 1 on page 70 is from the Level 1 Training course and uses animation to explain how time-division multiple access (TDMA) is used for inbound data from VSATs to a hub. Similar learning pages explain SCPC, DAMA, TDM, and CDMAReview quizzes are given after each of the ten lessons and a final test is given at the end of the course. The prerequisites for the course are simply an interest in satellite communications. Level 1 consists of approximately 100 learning pages, requiring 5 to 10 hours of study.VSAT Installation Fundamentals Level 2The Level 2 course presents the fundamental knowledge and skills that all VSAT installers need for highquality, interference-free installations. As is the case with the Level 1 training, this course consists of animation and interactive Flash pages presented in a selfpaced, on-line format. The animation and simulatorbased interactivity are used even more extensively to bring critical technical concepts to life. The Level 2 student learns fundamentals of signals, noise, modulation, antennas, propagation, and link budgets. The key techniques necessary for a high quality installation are treated in detail, starting with the site survey, continuing with equipment installation and accurate antenna pointing, carrier lineup and cross-pol checks, indoor electronics installation, and IP network configuration concepts. The course concludes with a review of the installation process, troubleshooting tips, and maintenance guidelines. The student learns topics and terminology such as: Decibels (dB) Carrier to Noise Ratio and Digital Eb/No Ratio Digital Signal Primer for BPSK, QPSK, 8PSK, 16QAM Antenna Primer Polarization and Frequency Reuse VSAT Hardware Variations Forward Error Correction (FEC) Coding and Channel Bit Error Rate (BER) Rain Fading and Link Budgets Site Survey Basics, Use of Compass Virtual Antenna Pointing Exercises IP Networking Trouble Shooting The screen shown in Figure 2 on Page 71 is a sample page from Level 2The sky view shows how the antenna beam overlays the satellites. This page is one of a sequence explaining how to use both simple sat finder and signal ID meters. As with Level 1, review quizzes are given during each lesson and a final test is given at the end of the course. The student should expect to allocate 15 to 30 hours to navigate the approximately 180 pages, depending upon the pace the student finds comfortable.VSAT Foundation BuildingThe Level 1 and Level 2 courses provide a solid foun dation for understanding the engineering basics governing VSAT system operations. When VSAT installers are armed with a better understanding of the systems they are installing, the VSAT industry can expect to enjoy the economic benefits associated with less good hardware circulating around for repair depots, fewer inefficient (or interference causing) terminals installed, and a happier VSAT customer base. Students may self-register and start the courses immediately by going directly to the GVF Training Portal. A free guided tour containing additional sample pages from the GVF on-line classes, brochures with detailed class curricula, and information about discounts for developing country students are also available at the GVF Training Portal.Author BiographyPete Zilliox has 35 years satellite systems engineering experience with Hughes Aircraft Company, Collins Radio, Dalsat, Zilliox & Associates, and Andrew Corporation. In 2006 he founded SatProf, Inc. (www.satprof.com) with Ralph Brooker. SatProf is a provider of online, interactive training content and advanced engineering consulting to the satellite industry. He received a B.S.E.E. from Penn State and an M.S.E.E. from USC.
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CASE STUDY SatMagazine July/August 200875 by Tom Protzman System Test EngineerIntegral Systems Incorporatedand Doug Mathias, M. Math Manager, Satellite Operations SystemsSpace Systems, TelesatIn December 2006, the purchase of Telesat Canada by Loral Space and Communications and PSP Investments was announced. At this time, Loral Skynet, the satellite services subsidiary of Loral Space and Communications, was operating ten satellites. Four satellites were Loral-owned (Telstar), and six others were being maintained for two different customers. The ten satellites incor porated three different bus types. All of these satellites were operated by Skynet with the Epoch command and control software provided by Inte gral Systems, Inc (ISI). The original business deal estimated a closing of early summer 2007. In the interim, only minimal high-level planning could be done concerning future spacecraft operations. Nine months were allocated to transfer operations for all ten satellites from Lorals Hawley, Pennsylvania, facility to the Telesat control center in Ottawa, Canada. As the actual purchase did not occur until the fall of 2007, the project team only had six months to accomplish this transfer. Upon closing the deal, Telesat appointed Tony Grise as the project lead. Under his guidance, many people within the operations and network teams of both companies worked to get the entire task scoped, scheduled, and completed. TELE S A T IN T EGRA TI ON OF TEL ST AR FLEE T OPERA TI ON S
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CASE STUDY SatMagazine July/August 200876 The TaskSuccessfully transferring control of a satellite requires many areas to be correctly addressed. These include training, procedures, network, software, hardware, and facilities. In this case, it was necessary to integrate six locations running the Integral Systems(ISI) EPOCH software for satellite telemetry, tracking, and control with a total of eleven antenna sites. Toward the end of the project, it was necessary to remove the former primary site, Hawley, gracefully from operations. As EPOCH would continue as the real-time software in use, an additional requirement was the interfacing of EPOCH-to-legacy Telesat applications used for orbital analysis (Flight Dynamics System [ FDS]) and data archival (Scalable Data Management [SDM]). These Telesatdeveloped applications support operations for their entire fleet.The Balancing Act:As the careful operation of both the Skynet and Telesat fleets continued, great effort was required to not disrupt these activities at any time during the transition. The network team worked to ensure that core-required connectivity was not disrupted as the new WAN was implemented and tested. The software team used care when allowing configurations to migrate to their final, required form in small steps. Initially, Ottawa would serve as a monitor-only operation for the Skynet fleet. As the project moved forward, more Ottawa-centered control of hardware needed to be implemented and tested. Finally, full control of ranging and commanding was released to Ottawa.The ImplementationOne of the immediate milestones was to have ISIs EPOCH software running at Telesat in Ottawa. This allowed for controller training to begin on both the sys tem itself and legacy Skynet operational procedures. The decision was made that the primary Telstar console installed in the Ottawa control center be configured to passively monitor the Telstar fleet. This allowed personnel to begin monitoring real spacecraft data. Capitalizing on the flexibility of the Epoch software, the system was configured to be essentially appended to the existing EPOCH system already used at five different locations. This provided telemetry reception and the ability to test commanding. To minimize impacts to existing Skynet fleet operations, the Ottawa system was configured to see all of the legacy Skynet sys tem without the legacy system seeing Ottawa. Within two weeks of the closing, this system was up and running with initial command checks performed on each spacecraft. During the training period, the backup EPOCH console in the Ottawa control center was configured to inter face with Dynamic Satellite Simulators ( DSS) located in the Hawley facility. This allowed Telesat personnel to fully exercise the system and operational procedures. Due to concerns regarding flying simulators from within the control center, a practice normally avoided, the command lockout features of the EPOCH software were used on the primary console to reduce the possibility of an errant command. For the next four months, Telesat controllers and engineering staff exercised all legacy Skynet operational
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CASE STUDY SatMagazine July/August 200877 procedures against Hawleys DSS computers. This was an around-the-clock effort and required significant participation by staff both in Ottawa and Hawley to ensure success. As the DSSs were hosted by EPOCH servers located in Hawley, this process also provided for the discovery and reparation of network-related is sues along some of the new WAN segments. The transitions final six weeks included a process of passing individual and then groups of spacecraft to Ottawa operations to maintain for single shifts, then a day, and so on. During these periods, Hawley shadowed operations to ensure nothing was missed. This effort began during eclipse season in order to help Ottawa gain experience with each spacecraft for this criti cal operation.The InterfacesTelesat uses SDM and FDS software it developed with its entire fleet. Bridge software is developed as needed with each of their different Real-Time Systems (RTS) to provide processed telemetry, raw telemetry, range data, and events to SDM, which in turn feeds the FDS. EPOCH provides a number of very powerful API that customers can use to allow custom extensions to the core system. In this case, the CORBA-based API was used to develop the bridge software to SDM. Doug Mathias of Telesat, with guidance from ISIs Brian Gray, developed this interface. Beginning with provided examples, decommutated data was flowing from EPOCH to SDM within three days. Raw telemetry frames and events followed within two more days. Having the live system installed in Ottawa allowed for a thorough test of this new software. This also allowed Telesat engineers to begin to integrate the new fleet into their familiar trending tools that use SDM. For satellite ranging, Telesat FDS/SDM software required a different output format than Skynet needed with the ISI Orbital Analysis System (OASYS) software. Telesat also used a different range tone set on the Cortex units, common baseband units used by both companies. Fortunately, the EPOCH ranging software can be configured to provide several different output formats, including one that is compatible with the Telesat FDS/SDM system. The integration team took these required changes as an opportunity to write new EPOCH Satellite Test and Operations Language (STOL) procedures to simplify maintenance and operation for the ranging process. These new procedures are scheduled using ISIs Task Initiator ( TI), resulting in automat ed range data collection. This new process was also designed to retain the production of OASYS-formatted output for use by Telesat operations customers. Clear ly, the capabilities of the Epoch system were key to the success of the integration of the Epoch system with the legacy Telesat system components. Many other significant activities were completed dur ing the six-month transition. These activities included releasing and configuring antenna resources to accommodate the Hawley facilitys closure, as well as integrating scheduling and staff for the new fleet operations into Telesats overall fleet operations.
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CASE STUDY SatMagazine July/August 200878The ConclusionControl of the Skynet fleet was transferred from Hawley to Ottawa at the end of the first quarter of 2008. The original timeline was met. In the end, only nine spacecraft were transferred, as one was de-orbited before handover. Hawley personnel continued to monitor operations for another month, both on site in Ottawa, and remotely from Hawley. This was done in order to act both as a backup to Ottawa and as a continued training exercise for Ottawa staff. Transferring control of nine spacecraft, in a time-span of six months, was quite aggressive from a scheduling perspective, requiring a tremendous effort by those at Skynet and Telesat, and involved considerable support by Integral Systems (training, setup and systems support). With the successful completion, all nine spacecraft are monitored from a single console running Epoch. A second console acts as a backup and high activity area. About the authors Tom Protzman is a System Test Engineer at Integral Systems Incorporated and has been in the satellite industry for more than 18 years. He has worked in satellite manufacturing, operations, and ground segment software. He can be reached at tprotzmn@integ.co m. Doug Mathias, M. Math Manager, Satellite Operations Systems, Space Systems, Telesat, has been an employee of Telesat for 23 years. During his career at Telesat he was worked in Flight Dynamics, Data Processing Systems, and Real-Time Systems.
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SatMagazine July/August 200879INSIGHT by Andrea MalterFirst responders around the United States are already dealing with the beginnings of a busy and difficult season of managing natural disasters. From wildfires in the west to floods in the mid-west, the season has already started, and the National Hur ricane Center has just forecast a bad season ahead with 9 major hurricanes predicted. With this in mind, we have reviewed the current status of these systems to provide some insight into what users can expect, and what preparations they need to make to ensure they are able to get the communications capabilities they need to meet these challenges. For emergency services users there is a need to take steps now to best ensure that they can rely on the sys tems they currently use, including the systems capable of providing handheld satellite communications ser MSS: ST A TUS CH EC K FOR FI R ST RE S PON D ER S vice. The chart, at the top of the next page, provides an overview of these alternatives, and the rest of this article discusses each system in more detail.What Are the Promises?It has been ten years since the mobile satellite industry expanded dramatically beyond its traditional core with the launch of service on a series of low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellites. LEO satellites for the first time in history made handheld satellite communications services available commercially. While the range of services required to support recovery and reconstruction activities following natural disasters are supported by multiple satellite communications systems, handheld satellite services, which today are available in North America only from two LEO satellite systems, have proven themselves to be indispensable during the search and rescue phase of activities which occurs immediately following each disaster. To provide more details of current
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SatMagazine July/August 200880INSIGHT system options, as well as what is planned, the table at the bottom of this page depicts the basic services offered and currently available from each of the providers in North America, as well as a snapshot of their planned next generation expansion capabilities.What are the Challenges?As indicated above, all of these systems are at some stage in the process of building next generation satellites. While the expanded capabilities shown above are attractive, looking a bit more deeply at the planned enhancements of each operator, it is clear that, before those capabilities are deployed significant challenges will need to be overcome. These challenges include a range of technical, market, financing and regulatory issues. The financial challenges are perhaps greatest, and for some systems the next 2-3 years will be critical, as they move to finance, construct and launch new satellites while sustaining and growing business on increasingly limited satellite assets. Exceptions are Inmarsat, which has a solid, long-established financial position, and to a somewhat lesser degree Iridium, which has both a significant anchor tenant in the US Government and a consistently growing revenue base on satellites that do not need near-term replacement.
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SatMagazine July/August 200881INSIGHT On the distribution side partnerships are evolving to better serve customers and ensure access to equipment as well as services as and when needed. Finally, on the regulatory front, all companies are working continuously with the FCC to have a regulatory landscape which provides a positive future environment for the user. Within this general framework, however, each system has its own challenges, some more immediate than others, as summarized in the table at the top of the next page, and discussed in further detail.Globalstar one of only two companies providing handheld service in North America, is experiencing satellite anomalies which present perhaps the most visible and immediate risks, and the company has confirmed in filings with the FCC that there are times of the day when its coverage for voice ser vices falls short of the level expected under the Commissions rules. What this means is that phone service on the Globalstar system is not always available. In reporting on this situation in November 2007, industry publication Satellite Finance stated that: While its low cost simplex products for asset tracking has continued to attract demand, subscriber numbers for its two-way voice and data services have flattened since the degradation of services began and much of the companys plans are reli ant on its next generation system, the first satellites of which are due to go up in mid-2009. The practical deployment of a potential ATC network would also obviously rely on the second generation system being in place, which is not likely until late 2010. Potentially as problematic as the immediate technical concerns presented by this situation are the longer-term implica tions for the financial health of the business.Iridium, the only company other than Globalstar providing por table handheld satellite services, operates its first generation constellation which has outlasted initial design
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SatMagazine July/August 200882INSIGHT expectations, limiting near-term risks to the maintenance of system and service availability and putting the company in good shape to provide maximum service via hand-held equipment for the next 2-3 years.While multiple studies commissioned by the company have indicated the satellites currently on-orbit should continue to provide full service until a replacement constellation is launched starting in 2013, longer-term risks include the continued health of this extended-life fleet, as well as the construction and launch of future satellites. The company is in the process of designing their NEXT system not only as a replacement, but to provide improved capabilities, and is beginning the process of its financing. While this presents challenges, the companys recent growth rates and the time frame in which they need to raise the money enhance the prospects for meeting these challenges.With respect to Inmarsat, the most immediate risks are the ability to achieve global BGAN service, which is dependent on the launch of the third I-4 satellite, a launch that is now not expected until late 2008 due to launch vehicle delays. The gap in BGAN coverage is in the Pacific region. While the company has introduced a new dual-mode satellite and GSM hand-held phone in mid-2007, targeting the customers and contracts of Iridium and Globalstar, this new capability, a result of Inmarsats relationship with ACeS starting in Asia, will only be available in North America after 2010. MSV faces the need to launch its new generation MSV1 and MSV-2 satellites in 2010 in order to provide both its promised expanded service offerings, as well as to move into hybrid services using ATC. MSVs plans also include backwards compatibility with current customer equipment, but this requires deployment of a special ly-designed network interface that will enable existing satellite communications hubs and customer terminals to operate on its next generation satellite network. All of this requires significant financing.What is the Perception?The challenges noted above have, not surprisingly, created a range of views within the marketplace among investors, customers, and distribution partners about the perceived ability of each system to meet its service/ market promises, or to sustain service. These perceptions have been highlighted in reports by financial analysts and trade journalists, and as needed have been addressed by the companies themselves in regulatory filings. Based on a review of financial reports, trade publications, the general press and even Internet blogs, while all systems receive some critical or skeptical commentary, the highest level of concerns expressed for the near-term MSS business has involved Globalstar. As noted above, the company has been open in its regulatory filings about the degree to which its current spacecraft anomalies have limited service availability, in particular limited voice service. Beyond this the public commentary has been extensive. There have not
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SatMagazine July/August 200883INSIGHT been any similar concerns expressed with the ability of the other operational systems Inmarsat, Iridium, and MSV to provide service this hurricane/wildfire season or next. Questions do continue to be raised for the longer term about the ability of the latter two to finance and launch capacity needed by 2012-2014. Next Steps?For organizations gearing up to face the challenges of disaster response and emergency communications, the good news is that MSS systems offer a wide range of solid choices for both voice and data services this year. That being said, the options are reduced from last year, and many of the promised new capabili ties are on hold, awaiting satellites, partners and money. First responders and others with a genuine potential need for such services thus need to carefully assess whether the specific equipment they own and the associ ated services will be avail able when needed. Candid, early discussions with service providers are the best way to determine whether the solutions procured over the past 2-3 years will be the best options for the next 2-3 years. Emergency managers need to review the equipment they have on hand, as well as the ser vice agreements associated with that equipment, and contact their service providers to verify the cur rent system status. All of the MSS system operators reviewed in this paper are ready and willing to have those discussions.About the authorAndrea Malter, the Technical Director, Space and Communications Division, at Futron Corporation a leading consultant firm to the aerospace and telecommunica tions industries.
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SatMagazine July/August 200884FEATURED SATELLITE by Hartley LesserWith new offices on the 19th floor in the Sunning Plaza in Hong Kong, as of April of this year, AsiaSats AsiaSat-2 satellite targets customers in Asia and Australasia, the Middle East, and Europe. Offering multilingual and multicultural broadcast services, the satellite packs 24 Cand 9 (linearized) Ku-band transponders. In 2008, AsiaSat celebrates their 20th anniversary, having been established in 1988. Their first satellite, AsiaSat-1, was launched in April of 1990 and was the first Asian private, regional satellite, pioneer ing satTV broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific region. Cur rently, the company offers three pan-Asian satellites, with AsiaSat-5 already under construction and set for launch in 2009. AsiaSat-5 will replace AsiaSat-2 when on orbit. The AsiaSat-2 satellite was built by Lockheed Martin Astro Space on their Series 7000 bus and was launched on November 28th in 1995 from Xichang, China, aboard a Long Mark 2E rocket. With global connectivity support, theres instantaneous access to Asian terrestrial TV stations, cable networks, payTV platforms, and hospitality venues. The PanAsian C-band footprint spans an area ranging from Russia to New Zealand and from Japan to the Middle East and parts of Africa. Customers need only a small, C-band dish receiver sized from 1.8-meters. The companys satellites are monitored and controlled 24x7x365 from state-of-the-art control facilities: Stanley Earth Station and the Tai Po Earth Station, located at the Tai Po Industrial Estate in the New Ter ritories of Hong Kong. The latter station is the newest and consists of a 5,711 square meter, twolevel building with four 7.3-m, one 11.3-m, and one 6.3-m antennas. ASI ASA T-2Services offered include broadcast, telecommunications, VSAT network, multimedia and Internet, digital platforms (via MCPCDVB platforms and partners in Cyprus and Israel) and occasional services, such as SNG ( Satellite News Gathering). The service providers on AsiaSat for multimedia and Internet ser vices include BtNAccess REACH, and SpeedCast. As AsiaSats Chief Executive Officer, Peter Jackson, states at the companys website, Looking ahead, AsiaSat would continue to uphold our commitment to service quality, integrity and diversity to meet the growing and changing demands for satellite services in the years to come.And, just recently, AsiaSat was contracted by Eurovision to supply multiple transponders on AsiaSat 2 during the Beijing Olympic Games, being conducted from August 8th through the 24th. AsiaSat will play a key role in delivering Eurovisions live TV coverage of the event in HD format to the the world. Eurovision has been using AsiaSat-2 as part of its global network since 1999 to transmit regular and ad hoc live video contribution and distribution feeds to its members and customers between Asia, Australasia, and Europe. These include the latest coverage of premier sports events such as the UEFA Champions League, top European national football leagues, Grand Slam Tennis and Motor Sports.
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SatMagazine July/August 200885FEATURED SATELLITE C-band footprint Ku-band footprint C-band Number of Transponders 24 (linearised) Frequency Band 6/4 GHz Transponder Bandwidth 20 at 36 MHz and 4 at 72 MHz Uplink/Downlink polarisation Horizontal and Vertical TWTA Size 55 watts TWTA Redundancy 2 Groups 16 for 12 Satellite Receiving G/T 0 dB/k max Saturated Flux Density (SFD) -97dBW/m2 max. Receiver Redundancy 4 for 2Ku-band Number of Transponders 9 (linearised) Frequency Band 14/12 GHz Transponder Bandwidth 65 MHz Uplink/Downlink Polarisation Horizontal and Vertical TWTA Size 115 watts TWTA Redundancy 12 for 9 Satellite Receiving G/T 6 dB/K max. Saturated Flux Density (SFD) -97dBW/m2 max. Receiver Redundancy 4 for 2 ULPC/Tracking Beacons Horizontal and vertical polarisationsThe Spacecraft Designed/Built by Lockheed Martin Astro Space Model Series 7000 Expected End of Life 2010 Geostationary Orbital Position 100.5 E Stationkeeping .05COMMUNICA TIONS PAYLOAD
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SatMagazine July/August 200886 Index of Advertisers Company Page NumberAAE Systems 67 ADVANTECH AMT 83 AEROSPACE CORPORATION, The 69 AVL 43 COMTECH EF DATA 21 E2V TECHNOLOGIES 13 EUROCONSULT 45 FOXCOM INC., A DIVISION OF ONEPATH 39 FUTRON 79 IDIRECT 31 INTEGRAL SYSTEMS (NEWPOINT) 75 MANSAT LLC 7 MICROSPACE COMMUNICATIONS 59 MITEQ INC. / MCL 49 NEWSAT LIMITED 11 NEWTEC PRODUCTIONS N.V. 25 NSR (NORTHERN SKY RESEARCH) 20 RADYNETIERNANXICOM 27 SATSERVICE GMBH 84 TSC PUBLISHING / OFFSHORE 81 W.B. WALTON ENTERPRISES 47 WAVESTREAM CORPORATION 19
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