Maritime safety communication experiments with the ATS-6 satellite

Maritime and aeronautical satellite communications experiments were conducted using the NASA Applications Technology Satellite-Number 6 (ATS-6) from September 1974 through April 1975. The ATS-6 satellite maritime experiments have produced data useful for preparing specifications of ship terminals for possible future operational satellite systems. Evaluations were performed of a shipboard antenna design, various types of voice, data, and ranging modulations, and the effects of multipath reflections off the sea and the ship super structure. Safety demonstration experiments were conducted and are expected to aid in evaluating the effectiveness of satellite communications in maritime safety-of-life-at-sea applications. In these tests, the satellite to ship link was used in a typical search and rescue incident along with an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) Buoy which initiated the distress alert.