The effects of rain on system performance for the NASA 30/20 GHz Experimental Satellite

A 30/20 GHz Experimental Communications Satellite System is presently under study by NASA to evaluate system technology and high data rate multi-beam communications techniques. In this paper the expected system performance for the 30/20 GHz Satellite is presented, for both trunking and customer premise service (CPS) modes, with particular emphasis on the effects of severe rain events on link reliability. A rain attenuation prediction model technique is described and path and two-way link availabilities are developed for the various modes of operation. The results indicate that acceptable link availabilities can be expected on the 30/20 GHz system for both the trunking and CPS modes, and the experimental satellite system can form the basis for verification of system performance for operational 30/20 GHz systems.