Advanced Broadband Satellite Digital Communication System for the Emerging Ka-Band Market

Advanced Broadband Satellite Digital Communication System for the Emerging Ka-Band Market
Mark E. Bever, Douglas A. Hixon, Kenton T. Ho, Stuart T. Linsky, Terrence R. Smigla, and Eric R. Wiswell
TRW Space & Electronics, Business Development Division
In response to the demand for broadband satellite systems and services, TRW initiated development of the Gen*Star processing payload. The Gen*Star system development objective of providing profitable broadband connectivity with seamless interfaces to a terrestrial infrastructure implies highly reliable network nodes in space. Robust communication links and sophisticated onboard signal and data processing are required to achieve that objective. Using technologies designed to operate in space for years, the Gen*Star satellite payload provides such communication links and processing functions in a package suitable for launch into space. In developing TRWs Gen*Star payload, we incorporated business analysis, terminal concepts, payload technologies, network simulation and analysis, and network operations. Since initiating the effort, TRW has completed simulations, a functional hardware prototype of the payload, a complete engineering model payload, and integration of the first flight payload. The end-to end engineering model of a broadband payload operating at Kaband features engineering model hardware tested to flight environmental conditions and built to flight production standards.

Introduction
For more than two decades, TRW has been developing complex space communication systems at Ka-band. Figure 1 delineates the evolution of TRWs broadband payload history and development. TRW developed the first onboard-processed, on-demand, multibeam digital communication payload for military satellite payloads in the early 1980s. We then used that experience to develop design processes and the technologies required for an onboard digitally processed payload. We were developing our third generation of highly reliable space-based digital processors by the mid-1990s. As shown in Figure 1, the Gen*Star payload hardware was directly derived from this third-generation hardware. These processes and technologies were commercialized at that time, and we began a large research and development program as follows: We began with a business plan analysis. We performed system architecture studies. We identified the high-leverage and enabling technologies. By 1997, these technologies were successfully developed, including highly efficient digital signal-processing algorithms, frequency converters, and high-density monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) low-noise amplifiers (LNAs). We had retired the technology risks involved in broadband digital payloads by the end of 1997. However, we

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Advanced Broadband Satellite Digital Communication System for the Emerging Ka-Band Market

still had to prove that the application of these technologies to a specific design could meet the defined challenges. Thus, we shifted our research and development focus in early 1998 to implement an end-to-end hardware functional prototype (HFP) of the system. The next step following this successful development was to design the flight payload. Using flight processes that are integrated and in test, we manufactured high-fidelity design verification model (DVM) units. Full functional capability, low-risk, path-to-broadband payload solutions, and excellent correlation with performance predictions have been demonstrated, thus validating flight production techniques through this process. Overall cycle time was reduced by incorporating design-for-testability concepts.
Early 1980s to Present 19 Years Payload Processing Experience

1999 to 2001 Payload Design Verification Model Development and Flight 1 Payload Delivery

1995 to 1996 Early Ka-Band Architecture Studies

Antenna Power Amplifier A/D Converter MMIC ASIC Devices Packaging Technology

Size, Weight, Power

Regional FOV MBA (25-deg beams) TWTA 40% efficiency 2-m HBT GaAs 0.2-m HEMT 0.8-m CMOS 100K gate/5 V Surface mount IMA

Best for Gen Star

Full-Earth FOV MBA (0.8-deg beams) TWTA 50% efficiency 1-m HBT GaAs 0.15-m HEMT 0.7-m CMOS SOI 200K gate/3.3 V MCM

Risk
Phased Array SSPA/nB >50% efficiency 1-pm HBT InP 0.1-m HEMT 0.5-m CMOS SOI 500K gate/2.5 V BGA/COB

1996 Identified Enabling Technologies

1998 to 1999 Functional Validation in Hardware Functional Prototype 1996 to 1998 Early Development of Enabling Technologies

Figure 1. TRW broadband payload history and development 2 Technology Review Journal Fall/Winter 2001

Advanced Broadband Satellite Digital Communication System for the Emerging Ka-Band Market

In 2001, flight production was initiated. We completed unit-testing the first flight set of payload hardware, integrated it into the payload structure, and have begun payload-level acceptance testing.

Gen*Star Payload Requirement Overview

The categories of payload requirements for the Gen*Star system are 1. 2. 3. 4. Uplink communication Network functionality Downlink communications (see Figure 2) Coverage

The payload can provide coverage to densely packed ground cells located anywhere in the satellite field of view (FOV). The Gen*Star payload has the flexibility to accommodate a wide range of cell locations distributed between user cells and gateway cells. Coverage
User and Gateway Uplink Communications Networking Full-matrix ATM cell switch provides point-to-point FDM /TDMA QPSK format provides flexible transmission plan and multicast switching to any set of beams Three burst rates allow cost-effective terminal Supports over 10 million virtual-path and virtualclasses: circuit connections Z: 562 ksym/s (user) 128,000 cell buffers and 16 priority levels per Y: 2.81 Msym/s (user) downlink channel support wide range of QoS X: 14.05 Msym/s Cell statistics collected for network optimization Powerful Reed-Solomon code provides reliable Buffer occupancy statistics collected for transmission: cell loss ratio < 3 10 -8 congestion control Adaptive inner code maximizes throughput and rain margin User and Gateway Downlink Communications Common user and gateway transmission format Single-carrier TDM QPSK format allows provides operational flexibility and simplifies efficient traveling-wave-tube downlink amplifiers system design Stable 196.7 Msym/s burst rate provides High-accuracy power/performance control accurate frequency reference for terminals Coverage per Satellite Powerful concatenated code enables minimal Up to 80 coverage areas terminal size Up to 80 uplink/downlink channels provide user Adaptive convolutional code maximizes coverage throughput and rain margin Up to 80 uplink/downlink channels provide Common user and gateway transmission format gigawatt coverage provides operational flexibility Surge demodulations enable capacity to be Downlink hops between two channels in 50/50, concentrated into selected regions 67/33, 75/25, and 100/0 ratios Payload capacity of up to 12 Gb/s

Uplink Subchannel Plan

125 MHz 7X

Downlink Frequency Plan

Gateway 1X or 5Y or 25Z 1
18.3 GHz

User 1 2 20.2 GHz

2 250 MHz

Uplink Frequency Plan

Gateway User 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 28.35 GHz 125 MHz 30 GHz

Figure 2. Gen*Star payload requirement summary

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Advanced Broadband Satellite Digital Communication System for the Emerging Ka-Band Market

cells can be packed with four-way frequency reuse. Redundant uplink channels can also be activated, providing additional uplink surge capacity in selected regions. After all overhead and coding requirements have been met, the total capacity of the payload is up to 12 Gb/s. The waveform has many features that enable excellent performance in broadband satellite systems. A series of design trades led to the selection of the uplink and downlink waveform for the Gen*Star broadband systems. For uplink communication, the payload must receive user and gateway signals in each ground cell, then channelize, demodulate, and decode the signals. Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), which the basic network protocol is based on, permits quality of service (QoS); allows fixed uplink and downlink burst sizes to facilitate bandwidth assignments on the time-division multiple access (TDMA) link; and enables the encapsulation of various other protocols. The ATM protocol also facilitates interconnection with terrestrial networks. Three burst rates in the frequency-division multiplexing (FDM)/TDMA uplink structure allow the use of cost-effective terminals appropriate for each application. With a specified receive power for each channel rate, the decoded cell loss rate must be less than 3 108 to support efficient data transfer. The system design is simplified by using a common user terminal and gateway terminal transmission format. To minimize self-interference, the waveform incorporates pulse shaping. In addition, to prevent spectral emission problems with repetitive data, such as idle cell transmission, scrambling is incorporated for both uplink and downlink data. Short four-cell data blocks enable optimal allocation of bandwidth to users in the uplink frame, where traffic is composed of short-duration TDMA bursts from multiple users to the satellite. On the other hand, in the downlink, where a single data stream is sent to multiple users, longer data blocks with interleaving between the blocks are used to maximize code performance. Uplink power and signal-to-noise metrics are necessary to enable terminals to perform uplink power control. Direct feedback from the payload helps minimize uplink interference and provides greater power-control accuracy. The ATM switch must support over 10 million connections, both virtual circuit and virtual path. It must provide point-to-point as well as multicast connections between any of the cells, users, and gateways. It must also support multiple QoS types, including constant bit rate, real-time variable bit rate, non-real-time variable bit rate, or available bit rate. Statistics are collected for fairness, policing, network optimization, and congestion control. The payload must encode and modulate each ATM switch output into a single TDMA quadrature phase-shift-keyed (QPSK) signal that is shared by two beams for downlink transmission. Such downlink sharing enables capacity to flow dynamically to the location where demand is greatest. The downlink signals must be transmitted at a specified power with strictly limited, beam-to-beam interference.

Gen*Star Payload Signal Flow

Figure 3 shows a top-level payload block diagram. The multibeam antennas (MBAs) receive uplink signals. The unique side-fed dual-reflector Gen*Star antenna configuration enables Ka-band spot beam operation with the following performance characteristics:

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Ka-band (30/20 GHz) operation Performance using 2.5 GHz of available spectrum High-gain, multiple-hopping spot beams National, regional, and global coverage Global high-beam quality Low side-lobe and cross-polarization interference High degree of flexibility

The LNAs and downconverters (DCs) are MMICs and packaged in a single integrated microwave assembly (IMA). The IMA is mounted directly to the feeds, providing a lowfrequency, low-loss, intermediate-frequency (IF) cable interface to the payload module, thus simplifying integration complexity and reducing weight. The IF signal is then downconverted to pseudobaseband by the C-band downconverter. This signal is sent to the demodulator, which immediately converts it to digital form. The digital samples are processed to select the three different channel types. Each channel is demodulated and decoded. The demodulator sends the data formatted into ATM cells for presentation to the broadband packet switch processor, which is composed of an ATM switch and an onboard
Dual-Reflector Antenna Demonstrated gain, side-lobe performance LNA/DC Demonstrated noise figure performance Modulator C-Band Downconverter Demonstrated SRRC pulse Alcatel shaping demonstrated linearity Upconverter Demonstrated power output TWTA Bosch extensive flight history

Ka-Band MBA

Uplink RF
LNA/DC

Processor
Demodulators, Users, and Gateways Demodulator Surge Controller Hardware ATM Switch User Downlink Gateway Downlink

Ka-Band MBA

DC Unit Generator Frequency

Downlink RF

Frequency Generator Demonstrated stability and phase noise

Antenna Electronics Unit Demonstrated interface with LNA/DC

Demodulator Demonstrated communication, entry orderwire, and orderwire performance

Router Demonstrated functional performance

RF Switch Unit Demonstrated high-power hop switching

Figure 3. Payload design verification model units

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computer for control. In support of ATM QoS, the switch design includes significant downlink cell buffer capacity and input fairness algorithms. Statistics are generated, packaged into ATM cells, and routed to the network control center to facilitate traffic management. Switch outputs are formatted and encoded for transmission, then modulated with QPSK square-root-raised cosine (SRRC) pulses. Efficient transmission is achieved through upconversion via a single carrier per travelingwave-tube amplifier (TWTA). The carriers are sent to the antenna for transmission. The single-carrier downlink signal can be time-shared between two beams, further enhancing efficiency.

Gen*Star Payload Development

Gen*Star system concepts have been validated in several stages. First, we developed and tested a full end-to-end Gen*Star system testbed and the HFP, consisting of two full uplink and downlink channels and terminal emulators (Figure 4). The HFP was implemented hosting flight application-specific integrated circuit logic designs on fieldprogrammable gate arrays, thereby facilitating design checkout and integration. The HFP demonstrated payload design functionality and performance, including downlink frame construction, downlink modulation, uplink channelization, demodulation and decoding, cell routing, and nonblocking ATM switch routing. In the HFP environment, we also developed payload test methods. A brassboard antenna was developed along with the end-to-end electronics prototype. The selected antenna design was based on extensive design trades. Tests of the brassboard antenna show outstanding gain and isolation performance across the full- Earth FOV and correlate well with analytical predictions. We developed the Gen*Star DVM payload after fully validating the electrical design of the system, using the HFP (Figure 5). We built DVM units, using flight parts and flight processes (Figure 3), and have completed thorough design verification testing of them, including flight environmental screens. Concurrent engineering has enabled the unit designs to take maximum advantage of design-for-manufacturing and design-for-test practices. The RF MMIC components are manufactured on an automated assembly line and achieve excellent performance without tuning. The digital boards are assembled on an automated line and incorporate extensive boundary scan and logic built-in self-test (BIST) functions to facilitate checkout and detection of defective parts. Because of the special construction of the processor units, a board can be replaced without disassembly or removal from the satellite. To create a DVM payload, the DVM units were integrated into a flight-like mechanical facsimile of the satellite structure. The payload includes six full 125-MHz uplink channels and three full 250-MHz downlink channels. Each downlink channel serves two cells. The DVM digital processors were built to full scale to enable unit thermal and vibration qualification. The test equipment for the DVM payload is an extension of the HFP test equipment. The DVM payloads performance test results matched analytical performance predictions (Figure 6). Functional tests demonstrated successful routing of uplink ATM cells from the testset terminal emulator through all payload processing functions (downconversion, channelization, demodulation decoding at all three uplink subchannel rates, routing through the ATM switch, modulation, upconversion, amplification, and

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Demodulator

Dual-Reflector Antenna Demonstrated gain and side-lobe performance on brassboard HFP antenna

ATM Switch

Modulation

RF Units

RF Units

Testset

Testset

Figure 4. Full end-to-end Gen*Star system testbed

routing to the antenna) and back through the terminal emulator. The DVM payload achieved the following major goals: Validation of the functional design of the payload Validation of the payload performance Validation of the payload manufacturing processes Validation of the mechanical design of the payload We constructed the DVM antenna in two phases. First, we upgraded the brassboard antenna with flight horns and reflectors. The upgraded DVM antenna was used for complete electrical characterization, and it retired all risk related to the electrical performance of the antenna design. The DVM antenna test results, like those for the brassboard, show a striking correlation with predictions and demonstrate the excellent gain and sidelobe performance required for high-capacity broadband systems. We developed an antenna integration simulator to address the mechanical design, including the design of the full suite of four uplink and four downlink apertures, as well as the interface with the spacecraft bus. The antenna integration simulator consists of the core structureone complete uplink aperture and one complete downlink aperture (Figure 7). This antenna has retired all risk related to the mechanical design of the

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DVM Payload and Testsets Payload functionality verified Validated uplink and downlink performance Validated mechanical design of all units, harnesses

Figure 5. Design verification model payload integration

antenna, including the structural integrity of the antenna, the pointing, the alignment processes, and the manufacturing processes. We initiated flight production in early 2001. We have completed production and testing of each of the flight units, which have been integrated onto flight payload panels. The payload has been integrated and is now in acceptance testing. Integration tests that have been run thus far produce performance results comparable to the DVM payload test results. The payload acceptance test is near completion. The first flight antenna is also fully integrated. Following a precise alignment process, the antenna has entered performance testing in a near-field antenna range.

Effect of Gen*Star Development on Processed Payload Evolution

The Gen*Star payload development progress provides insight to address the following common questions concerning the ability of processed, or regenerative, payloads to be competitive: Do processed payloads impose adverse effects on spacecraft power and weight? The processor switch permits multiplexing multiple signals destined for a downlink beam to be multiplexed into a single high-rate data stream. This singlechannel-per-carrier signal can be transmitted using a high-efficiency saturated TWTA at a much lower dc power consumption than the equivalent multichannel signal through a TWTA, which is backed off in power. Additionally, this singleTechnology Review Journal Fall/Winter 2001

Advanced Broadband Satellite Digital Communication System for the Emerging Ka-Band Market

a. Downlink Spectrum
Power Spectral Density (dBc/Hz)
-83 -93 -103 -113 -500 Design-for-Test Channel 24, Color 1 versus Signal Processing Workstation (SPW) Simulation -300 0 -100 100 Frequency Offset (MHz) 300 500
Measured SPW Simulation

b. Uplink Channel Performance

10 0
Light Coding

C-Mode Measured Bit Error Rate

10 -2 10 -4 10-6 10-8 10-10

Heavy CodingUpper Bound Heavy Coding Punctual On-Frequency 200 Hz and 10% Timing Offset

Punctual On-Frequency 200 Hz and 10% Timing Offset

Light Coding QPSK Theory

10-12

2 6 8 10 12 4 Ratio of Energy per Bit to Noise Density, Eb/N0 (dB)

14

c. Uplink RF Noise Power

Noise Power Density at Input Demodulator (dBm/Hz)
-105 -107 -109 -111 -113 -115 460
Min Max Min Predicted Max Predicted

480

560 520 540 500 Intermediate Frequency (MHz)

580

Figure 6. Design verification model performance results

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Advanced Broadband Satellite Digital Communication System for the Emerging Ka-Band Market

Antenna Integration Simulator

Amplitude (dBc)
0 -6 -12 -18 -24 -30 -36 -2.0

Upgraded Design Verification Model Antenna

Amplitude (dBc)
0 -6 -12 -18 -24 -30 -36 -2.0

Low-Band Boresight

Low-Band 7-deg Scan

-1.0

Angle (deg)

1.0

2.0

-1.0

Angle (deg)

1.0

2.0

High-Band Boresight

High-Band 7-deg Scan

Amplitude (dBc)
0 -6 -12 -18 -24 -30 -36 -2.0

Amplitude (dBc)

0 -6 -12 -18 -24 -30 -36 -2.0

Angle (deg) Angle (deg) Figure 7. Antenna integration simulator and design verification model antenna

-1.0

1.0

2.0

-1.0

1.0

2.0

carrier operation is more bandwidth efficient (no need for internal guardbands), compensating for the packet overhead. Furthermore, total payload weight can be reduced by designing the digital broadband packet switch processor to multiplex traffic from multiple beams into a single downlink signal that is hopped between multiple beams. The weight efficiency of processed payloads is greatly improved through such sharing of transmit hardware across multiple ground beams. Are processed payloads riskier to field? Through modern design practices, digital design has been made faster than analog design and has enabled a flight-like DVM payload to be built in a time span comparable to that for bent-pipe payloads. The BIST allows faster and more thorough verification of the design. Being digital, the payload will perform throughout its life, over temperature, etc., just as it does when new. Reliability and the ability to recover from faults has been enhanced through the integrated fault management systems. Are processed payloads more costly and do they take longer to field? The modular design allows easy expansion or customization of the design configuration. Customization permits tailoring coverage and network mappings with minimal

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effort. The result is lower overall cost and schedule for constellations of more than one satellite, where the coverage and network map vary from one orbital slot to another. By reducing spare satellites and launches required for a constellation, overall life-cycle costs are greatly reduced. The digital design incorporates BIST, which greatly simplifies hardware-unit and payload-level integration and testing over the analog testing required for an IF switch. Are processed payloads less flexible? Although the waveform is fixed, the ability to encapsulate any data over ATM permits efficient transport of voice, data, multimedia, or specific applications yet to be defined. If required, those services can be provided with guaranteed QoS agreements. The digital broadband packet switch processor permits any network topology, from point to point, hub and spoke, to full mesh connectivity. Furthermore, the topology can be evolved as the business plan changes over the lifetime of the satellite network. That flexibility can also be applied to network backup and restorability of service. A single on-orbit spare can back up multiple orbital slots in case of catastrophic failure. The on-orbit spare can also be used to generate revenue until it is needed in its spare capacity. Although processing can reduce flexibility of the physical layer, it greatly increases flexibility of the network layer. Users care little about which waveform their information is traveling over, but they care a great deal about what services the network layer can support. Operators also benefit from the restoration of service flexibility afforded by processing, as well as by the greater deployment flexibility.

System Advantages of the Gen*Star Antenna

The Gen*Star antenna is designed to deliver the high performance necessary to support multibeam Ka-band systems. In each phase of the design process, the Gen*Star antenna was optimized for performance. The result is the first antenna to offer excellent gain and carrier-to-interference ratio (C/I) performance anywhere in the full-Earth FOV. In many multiple-beam systems, interferencerather than noiselimits capacity. The C/I performance becomes the key enabler for maximum capacity. To minimize interference, coverage patterns must be defined so that interference is reduced to acceptable levels. Typically, the coverage pattern is optimized to reduce C/I, forcing more separation between coverage cells and fewer copolarization interfering channels and resulting in a decrease in system capacity. With the Gen*Star design, satellite service providers can densely space coverage cells and thus optimize the coverage pattern for maximum capacity delivered where it is needed. That capability translates directly into service revenue and profit for the satellite service provider. Uniform effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) and gain/temperature (G/T) for all cells enable standard terminal design. The excellent scan performance of the Gen*Star antenna translates into uniform EIRP and G/T for all coverage cells. To minimize terminal cost and thus increase the affordability of the system to the end user, terminals for the Gen*Star system can be standardized for all coverage cells. A full-Earth FOV minimizes time to global coverage. The ability of the Gen*Star antenna to provide high-performance coverage over the full-Earth FOV reduces the number of satellites required for global coverage, allowing the service provider to reach global coverage with fewer launches and in less time. The improved time to market and reduced

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launch costs may translate into improved revenue and profit for the satellite service provider. Coverage flexibility enables high-value approaches to service rollout, sparing, and service restoration. Homogeneous gain and side-lobe performance over the full-Earth FOV translates into high levels of coverage flexibility. In addition to regional coverage, the Gen*Star antenna can provide multiregion and multislot coverage, as illustrated in Figure 8. The multiregion antenna provides coverage for the same slot, whereas the multislot antenna is configured to provide coverage for multiple slots. Upon launch, the beams for the selected slot are activated and the remaining feeds remain dark. Multiregion and multislot coverage capabilities enable high-value approaches to serve rollout and sparing. With the capability to cover multiple regions and serve multiple slots, the satellite service provider has much more flexibility in deployment. Rather than customizing the satellite for a specific coverage area, the service provider can select multiple coverage options and wait until launch to make the final selection. That additional flexibility permits the service rollout to be based on the latest market data. Multiregion and multislot coverage also enables high-value sparing and service restoration approaches, as illustrated in Figure 9. Instead of expensive one-for-one sparing, the service provider can configure spares to support multiple regions. Should a failure occur, the spare can be configured to provide the coverage of the failed spacecraft. Sparing requirements can be reduced dramatically, depending on the coverage requirements and available orbital slots. In addition, the spare satellite can be dark or configured to provide additional capacity. Upon failure of another spacecraft, the capacity can be reallocated as necessary.

Additional Gen*Star Payload Benefits

Bent-Pipe Configuration of Gen*Star Payload. TRWs Gen*Star payload elements can be structured in a high-performance, bent-pipe configuration. The performance advantages of the Gen*Star antenna apply directly to this alternative configuration. The highperformance MMIC LNA/DC mounted with the antenna feed offers optimal satellite G/T with the benefits of signal routing, filtering, and conditioning at a convenient IF frequency. Extension to C-Band and Ku-Band Broadband Satellite Networks. Spot-beam antenna coverage and onboard processing benefits can also be applied at C-band and Ku-band. The same onboard processors used at Ka-band can be used in these frequency bands. The spot-beam antenna coverage is achieved through multibeam antenna designs adapted to use at C-band and Ku-band. Those advances in satellite coverage can be achieved while supporting legacy networks. The improved technologies add new network capabilities. The use of multibeam antenna designs to produce spot-beam coverage increases system capacity through frequency reuse, just as in Ka-band. Frequency-reuse values greater than 10 are possible with this technology, resulting in dramatic increases in revenue-producing capacity. Additionally, satellite power resources are used more efficiently with spot beams by dedicating coverage to the high-revenue-producing areas.

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Focus coverage on a single region

Spread coverage over multiple regions

Single satellite capable of serving multiple orbital slots

Figure 8. Coverage flexibility enabled by the Gen*Star antenna

Partition of services to provide local content delivery is also obtained through the use of spot beams. Thus, content is delivered only to the revenue-producing customers, rather than entire regions. Another benefit is that coverage can be tailored to support geopolitical concerns such as regulatory requirements in a straightforward manner. Figure 10 demonstrates the multibeam advantages. At these frequencies, multibeam antennas improve communication link performance. The use of spot beams implies that the antenna gain is much higher than seen in conventional C-band and Ku-band systems. As a result, higher EIRP and G/T can be obtained without difficulty. With higher EIRP and G/T, the satellites can readily support higher data rates. Indeed, downlink data rates greater than 100 Mb/s are easily supported, bringing broadband communication capability to these networks. An additional advantage of the higher gain satellite antennas is that Earth terminals can use smaller antennas and lower transmit powers to achieve higher data rates. For example, a C-band Earth terminal with a 1.8-m antenna and a 4-W transmit power can support a 4-Mb/s uplink. Conventional systems would require much larger Earth terminals to provide the same support.

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Example 1 Satellite 3 Satellite 2 Satellite 1

Slot 1
Can provide additional capacity or backup to region 1 and/or region 2

Region 1 Example 2
Provides additional capacity or backup to region 1 and/or region 2

Region 2 Slot 2 Slot 3

Provides additional capacity or backup to region 2 and/or region 3

Slot 1

Region 1

Region 2

Region 3

Figure 9. Sparing/service restoration flexibility enabled by the Gen*Star antenna

By using these satellite network improvements, multimedia broadband services similar to the developing Ka-band systems can be provided at C-band and Ku-band. These advanced networks are especially well adapted to support both mesh and star network capabilities. With the addition of onboard processing that includes routing, full peer-topeer (mesh) connectivity is obtained. Thus, fully interconnected broadband multimedia networks can be achieved in regions where propagation conditionssuch as those seen in tropical areas with heavy rainfallprohibit practical deployment of Ka-band systems. In addition, onboard routing enables interconnectivity between cells served by different frequency bands. A solid system engineering competency is required to bring these critical technologies to fruition, particularly for use in broadband satellite networks. System engineering used in developing broadband Ka-band satellite networks resulted in technologies directly applicable to other frequencies. High-performance antennas designed for use at Ka-band and C-band (shown in Figure 11) and onboard processing technologies are critical to the emerging Ka-band market.

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5.00

*sin( ) (deg)

0.00

-5.00

More than 10 times capacity Higher effective system bandwidth Effective bandwidth = Number of cells allocated bandwidth Frequency reuse factor Example: 50-beam system using dual polarization Effective bandwidth = (50 2)(500 MHz) = 12.5 GHz 4 Equivalent number of 36 MHz transponders is ~310 Multibeam Coverage

Single Wide-AreaCoverage Beam

Figure 10. Advantages of multibeam coverage

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TRW Astro Aerospace is the foremost manufacturer of large High-performance deployable reflectors multibeam 6- and 12.5-m flight-proven antenna parabolic reflectors available off the shelf (9 m in production and High gain 20 m in development) High scan angle Shaped mesh reflectors in Flexible coverage development Excellent C /I

Figure 11. Ka-band and C-band high-performance antennas

Summary
The construction of the first Gen*Star payload application is well under way. The Gen*Star payload has demonstrated a high degree of maturity and excellent performance, enabling low-risk, early-service initiation. Successful technology developments in highdensity electronics provide high capacity at low risk. The Gen*Star antenna can provide multiregion and multislot coverage over multiple regions. It provides several dimensions of system configuration flexibility that are of significant use to satellite operators. Both the hardware functional prototype and the DVM payload end-to-end design have been validated. The DVM payload is manufactured using full flight processes, validating the high-throughput manufacturing techniques needed for multiple-beam satellite systems. Bent-pipe architectures and systems operating in alternative frequency bands can also benefit from technologies developed for the Gen*Star broadband system.

Mark E. Bever is currently the Astrolink payload program system engineering manager at TRW. He is responsible for all payload architecture trades, performance analysis, requirement allocation, and verification. Previously, he was the Milstar system engineering manager. Before that, he was the Satcom advanced systems manager, responsible for technology planning and new satellite communication system development. He has more than 20 years of communication system engineering experience. He holds a BS in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois and an MS in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California. [email protected]

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Douglas A. Hixon is a system engineer supporting new business development in TRWs Satellite Communication Directorate of the Business Development Division, TRW Space & Electronics. Currently, he is supporting payload architecture development and technical marketing for several commercial proposals, as well as Independent Research and Development of next-generation technologies for commercial applications. Of particular interest over the past year is the development of multibeam antennas for commercial Ka-band applications, for which he has coauthored several conference papers. Past positions include lead payload system engineer in a restricted program environment. He holds a BS and an MS in electrical engineering from the University of Kansas. [email protected] Kenton T. Ho is currently a product line manager for TRWs commercial broadband payloads, working with customers to define their approaches and requirements for broadband satellite systems. In his previous assignments, he led the development of product strategies for a variety of civil, military, and technology programs. He holds a BS in electrical engineering from Brown University and an MBA from California State University, Long Beach. [email protected]

Stuart T. Linsky is currently the director of Broadband Communication Systems at TRW. He is responsible for developing systems that meet user and service provider needs. Previously, he was the Astrolink chief engineer and deputy program manager, responsible for identifying and defining the requirements, architecture trades and definition, management of the prototype development, as well as tech- nical customer interface. Before that, he was the advanced system manager for the commercial Ka-band satellite ventures. He was also the system engineering manager for Milstar MDR, jointly developing requirements with the customer, defining the architecture, and managing trades and technology development. He holds a BS and an MS in electrical engineering from Northeastern University and the University of Southern California, respectively. [email protected]

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Advanced Broadband Satellite Digital Communication System for the Emerging Ka-Band Market

Terrence R. Smigla is an advanced system manager in TRWs Broadband Communication Systems Directorate, where he leads teams developing satellite payload architecture solutions for broadband networks. Since joining TRW in 1986, he has held a wide range of system engineering positions on numerous government and commercial programs. His expertise includes wideband satellite data links, onboard processing systems, and adaptive equalizers. He has led efforts to define the communication links for the Odyssey mobile satellite communication system and directed an architecture study for satellite-based digital audio radio services. He has been awarded six patents and has coauthored papers appearing in several satellite communication journals. He holds a BS and an MS in electrical engineering from Rice University and the University of Southern California, respectively, specializing in communication systems. [email protected]

Eric R. Wiswell is a TRW Technical Fellow working in TRWs Satellite Communication Directorate of the Business Development Division, TRW Space & Electronics. He is responsible for research and development of next generation satellite communication systems. He initiated the Gen*Star digital switching payload concept and several variations for application in the Ka-band frequency bands. Previously, he developed the TRW mobile satellite communication systems known as Odyssey. He has more than 25 years of experience in communication systems engineering. He holds a PhD in electrical engineering from Purdue University. [email protected]

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Technology Review Journal Fall/Winter 2001