Future communications concepts. I - The switchboard-in-the-sky

The geostationary orbit has become very popular for communications satellites. Operational geostationary satellites on a global basis and the ten satellites over North America are considered. Attention is given to aspects of orbital crowding, traffic projections, plans for a new satellite system which is to provide additional capacities during the 1980's, and the employment of scanning and fixed spot beams. NASA is studying the concept of a switchboard-in-the-sky which provides a geostationary platform carried up to a low altitude earth orbit in three flights of the space shuttle. The payloads under consideration for inclusion on the space platform are not limited to domestic satellite communications applications. The services to be provided include also fixed communications satellite service (point-to-point), mobile satellite communications service, and broadcasting satellite service. Attention is also given to payloads for space research, meteorological studies, earth observation, navigation, ship surveillance, search and rescue services, and thin-route communications to small terminals as proposed for experimental rural communications satellites.