EHF system concepts for serving mobile users

It is noted that the higher frequencies being contemplated for communications satellites offer the opportunity to develop systems and signaling structures that are functionally common across multiple user communities. Techniques of this type provide interoperability possibilities while allowing more efficient use of spacecraft assets and minimizing the number of unique terminal developments. What is more, total system costs can be kept down by designing to accommodate small, low-power user terminals. One such approach involves departing from traditional communications satellite designs by incorporating increased satellite sophistication for reduced terminal size and complexity requirements. The associated spacecraft would employ advanced technologies, for example, uplink antenna discrimination, on-board signal processing, and downlink beamhopping. The system approach for providing EHF service to mobile terminals is presented, with implementation possibilities for the major spacecraft payload subsystems indicated. Operational configuration possibilities are described.