The Use of Commercial Low Earth Orbit Satellite Systems to Support DOD Communications.

Abstract

Within the next five years there will be a proliferation of commercial Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite systems providing voice/data services to anywhere in the world. Instead of investing heavily in new satellite systems, the military services can use these forthcoming commercial satellite shyster to enhance their existing satellite-based systems. An in-depth study and detailed summary is provided in this thesis for each of the following four commercial LEO satellite systems: Iridium, Teledesic, Odyssey, and Globalstar. Then, a comparison of these systems is performed from the military point of view by using criteria such as antijam protection, security, mobility, flexibility, interoperability, coverage, and capacity. It is shown that an architecture consisting of Globalstar and Odyssey has the potential to provide communications support for DoD's less critical needs which include administration, logistics, and other support functions. Finally , other military applications of these systems are given.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1996
Accession Number
ADA326969

Entities

People

  • Haralambos Stelianos

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Bandwidth
  • Communication Channels
  • Communication Systems
  • Digital Communications
  • Military Applications
  • Modulation
  • Multiple Access
  • Multiplexing
  • Payload
  • Radio Equipment
  • Radio Frequency Devices
  • Satellite Buses
  • Satellite Communications
  • Satellite Orbits
  • Spacecraft Orbits
  • Voice Communications

Readers

  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites