Downlink Acquisition and Tracking Procedures for the ASCAMP Satellite Communications Terminal

Abstract

The advanced single-channel antijam man portable (ASCAMP) terminal was developed at MIT Uncoin Laboratory as a proof of concept for the Army's SCAMP terminal. The ASCAMP terminal is a 30-lb, extremely high frequency (EHF) satellite communications terminal capable of operating from 75 to 2,400 bps with low inclination, geosynchronous FLTSAT EHF package and Milstar satellites. The terminal was designed to be carried, set up, and operated by a single user. In many instances the control algorithms have been designed to compensate for simplifications made in the hardware to keep the terminal's size, weight, and power to a minimum. This report describes the procedures implemented in the ASCAMP terminal to locate the satellite and synchronize with its downlink. It contains descriptions of the timing and pointing requirements, the procedures for acquisition and tracking, and the measured performance. Milstar acquisition, Downlink acquisition, Satellite acquisition, Time tracking, Spatial tracking, Satellite tracking, Angle tracking, Position tracking, ASCAMP, PIN Estimation, SNR Estimation, One-bit demodulation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 14, 1993
Accession Number
ADA272912

Entities

People

  • Robert J. Figucia

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Acquisition
  • Algorithms
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Control Systems
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Downlinks
  • Dynamic Range
  • False Alarms
  • Frequency
  • Measurement
  • Satellite Communications
  • Signal Processing
  • Terminals
  • Uplinks
  • Warning Systems

Readers

  • Radio communications and signal processing.
  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.
  • Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites
  • Space - Space Objects