Tools for Analyzing and Describing the Impact of Superstructure Blockage on Availability in Shipboard and Submarine Satellite Communications Systems

Abstract

On most of today's warships, it is impossible to find a single location for a satellite communications (SATCOM) antenna that provides an unobstructed view of the entire sky. If there is sufficient available topside space, two antennas are usually installed to support a mission-critical system. Lower priority systems are often forced to use a single antenna. No matter how many antennas are used, it is critical to quantify the impact of topside blockage on the availability of a shipboard SATCOM system. Knowledge of this impact is needed in antenna location selection to ensure that the highest priority systems have the best views of the sky. Presenting this knowledge in an easily understood manner can make the topside design process more successful. Furthermore, once a shipboard antenna system is installed, the ship's company must have a clear understanding of the impact of unavoidable blockage on communications availability. This paper describes a set of tools for the analysis and display of the impact of superstructure blockage on shipboard SATCOM availability. The blockage analysis tools in the SATCOM Availability Analyst (SA2) software package combine topside blockage data, communications satellite constellation positions, and ship-motion models to calculate the impact of superstructure blockage on availability as a function of antenna installation locations, ship's geographic position, and sea state. This impact can be evaluated for a specific position, along a ship's planned route, or averaged across the entire field of regard of the SATCOM constellation(s) of interest. This paper details the capabilities of the blockage analysis tools in SA2. The tools are applied to the analyses of topics of current interest, including International Maritime Satellite (INMARSAT) on the CG 47 class, Global Broadcast Service (GBS) aboard the flagship USS Coronado (AGF 11), and submarine High Data Rate (SubHDR) on the SSN 688 class.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA434128

Entities

People

  • Gerald B. Fitzgerald
  • Roy A. Axford Jr.

Organizations

  • Naval Information Warfare Systems Command

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Communication Systems
  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Data Rate
  • Equations Of Motion
  • Geographic Information Systems
  • Geosynchronous Satellites
  • Naval Operations
  • Naval Warfare
  • Satellite Communications
  • Satellite Constellations
  • Ship Motion
  • Ships
  • Submarines
  • Three Dimensional
  • Uss Providence
  • Uss Ticonderoga

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
  • Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites