SPACE COMMUNICATIONS

SYSTEMS
 OVERVIEW

OBJECTIVES
BASIC PRINCIPLES
MILITARY SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
COMMERCIAL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
WARFIGHTER APPLICATIONS
THE WAY AHEAD
 OBJECTIVES

UNDERSTAND BASIC CONCEPTS, PRINCIPLES AND

ADVANTAGES OF SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS

UNDERSTAND SYSTEM CAPABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS

FOR DOD, CIVIL, AND COMMERCIAL SATELLITE
COMMUNICATIONS

UNDERSTAND POTENTIAL SUPPORT APPLICATIONS FOR

MILITARY OPERATIONS
 OVERVIEW

OBJECTIVES
BASIC PRINCIPLES
MILITARY SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
COMMERCIAL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
WARFIGHTER APPLICATIONS
THE WAY AHEAD
BASIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

SPACE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

 COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
APPLICATIONS

COMPONENTS
USER/TRANSMITTER SEGMENT
TRANSMISSION MEDIUM
USER/RECEIVER SEGMENT

RELAY OR TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION

TEXT
VOICE
VIDEO
DATA
BASIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

SPACE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

POINT A POINT B
 COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
LINKS
SIMPLEX
(one way only)
POINT A POINT B

HALF DUPLEX
(one way or the other)
POINT B
POINT A

FULL DUPLEX
(both ways simultaneously)
POINT A POINT B
 GEO-SYNCHRONOUS

MOST COMMON ORBIT: LOW INCLINATION

ALTITUDE: APPROXIMATELY 23,0000 NM
LIFE SPAN: MEASURED IN YEARS
MAJOR EFFECT ON LIFE SPAN: CONSUMABLES AND
SYSTEM DEGRADATION
PERIOD: USUALLY 24 HOURS
 GEO-SYNCHRONOUS ORBIT
THREE SATELLITES IN NEAR-EQUATORIAL ORBITS CAN
PROVIDE CONTINUOUS GLOBAL COVERAGE...

...EXCEPT FOR THE POLES

GEO-SYNCHRONOUS SATCOM
 HIGHLY INCLINED, ELLIPTICAL

MOST COMMON ORBIT: NEAR POLAR

ALTITUDE: 200 TO 10000 NM
LIFE SPAN: 1 YEAR OR LONGER
MAJOR EFFECT OF LIFE SPAN: CONSUMABLES
PERIOD: 90 MIN TO 11 HRS
 HIGHLY INCLINED, ELLIPTICAL ORBIT

HIGHLY INCLINED, ELLIPTICAL

ORBITS COVER THE POLES,
BUT...

...DO NOT PROVIDE CONTINUOUS

GLOBAL COVERAGE

HIGHLY ELLIPTICAL
ORBITS
 NEAR-EARTH

MOST COMMON ORBIT: NEAR POLAR

ALTITUDE: 100 - 200 NM
LIFETIME: LESS THAN 1 YEAR
MAJOR EFFECT ON LIFESPAN: ATMOSPHERIC DRAG
PERIOD: 90 MIN
 NEAR-EARTH ORBIT

NEAR-EARTH SATCOM SYSTEMS USE

MANY SMALL, CHEAP SATELLITES TO
PROVIDE WIDE AREA COVERAGE

NEAR-EARTH ORBITS
 SATCOM VS TERRESTRIAL COMM
GENERAL ADVANTAGES

LINE OF SIGHT NOT REQUIRED BETWEEN USERS

COMMUNICATION COST & QUALITY LESS SENSITIVE TO
DISTANCE AND TERRAIN EFFECTS
MOBILE COMM LINKS BEYOND LINE OF SIGHT
DIRECT COMMUNICATIONS TO REMOTE AREAS, NO
NEED FOR INTERMEDIATE GROUND RELAYS
WIDE AREA OR FOCUSED BROADCAST OPTIONS
LARGE CAPACITY FOR MESSAGE TRAFFIC
MINIMUM RESTRAINT ON USERS
COMSAT ADVANTAGES

TERRESTRIAL COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS

 SATCOM VS TERRESTRIAL COMM
MILITARY RELATED ADVANTAGES

SMALLER TERMINALS THAN WHOLE TERRESTRIAL SYSTEM

LOW PROBABILITY OF INTERCEPT OR DETECTION
HIGHER DEGREE OF RELIABILITY AND SURVIVABILITY
REDUCED LOGISTICAL BURDENS
REDUCED SITING PROBLEMS
RAPID NETWORK DEPLOYMENT, RECONFIGURATION
EASILY EXPANDED
FLEXIBLE CONNECTIVITY
COLLOCATED WITH UNIT FOR DEFENSE
 SATCOM VS TERRESTRIAL COMM
LIMITATIONS

HIGH COST FOR SATELLITES, SPACELIFT, TERMINALS,

AND COMMAND & CONTROL RESOURCES
FREQUENCY SPECTRUM
ORBITAL POSITION AVAILABILITY
VULNERABILITY TO ASAT WEAPONS & JAMMING
 OVERVIEW

OBJECTIVES
BASIC PRINCIPLES
MILITARY SATELLITE
COMMUNICATIONS
COMMERCIAL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
WARFIGHTER APPLICATIONS
THE WAY AHEAD
 PROVIDE TIMELY ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND
DISSEMINATION OF DECISIONS TO GLOBALLY
DEPLOYED MILITARY FORCES

DSCS UFO

FLTSATCOM MILSTAR

AFSATCOM
 MILSATCOM REQUIREMENTS

SECURE, SURVIVABLE
HARD-CORE COMMAND AND CONTROL
FOR HIGH PRIORITY USERS

HIGH CAPACITY, SURVIVABLE

SOFTCORE COMMUNICATIONS FOR DOD

LOWER PRIORITY
COMMUNICATIONS WITH
GENERAL PURPOSE MINIMUM SURVIVABILITY
REQUIREMENTS
 GENERAL PURPOSE
COMMUNICATIONS

USERS
MOBILE TERMINALS
TACTICAL BROADCAST

SATCOM SYSTEMS
FLEET SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
UHF F/O
COMMERCIAL
 MILSATCOM REQUIREMENTS

SECURE, SURVIVABLE
HARD-CORE COMMAND AND CONTROL
FOR HIGH PRIORITY USERS

HIGH CAPACITY, SURVIVABLE

SOFTCORE COMMUNICATIONS FOR DOD

LOW PRIORITY
COMMUNICATIONS WITH
GENERAL PURPOSE MINIMUM SURVIVABILITY
REQUIREMENTS
 SOFTCORE
COMMUNICATIONS

USERS
AUTODIN/AUTOSEVOCOM
DEFENSE DATA NETWORK (DDN)
DEFENSE SWITCHED NETWORK (DSN)
DIPLOMATIC TELECOMM SERVICE (DTS)
GROUND MOBILE FORCES (GMF)

SATCOM SYSTEMS
DEFENSE SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
SYSTEM (DSCS)
 MILSATCOM REQUIREMENTS

SECURE, SURVIVABLE
HARD-CORE COMMAND AND CONTROL
FOR HIGH PRIORITY USERS

HIGH CAPACITY, SURVIVABLE

SOFTCORE COMMUNICATIONS FOR DOD

LOW PRIORITY
COMMUNICATIONS WITH
GENERAL PURPOSE MINIMUM SURVIVABILITY
REQUIREMENTS
 HARD-CORE
COMMUNICATIONS
USERS
NATIONAL COMMAND AUTHORITY/CINC NETWORKS
EMERGENCY ACTIONS MESSAGE DISSEMINATION TO
STRATEGIC FORCES
TAKE CHARGE AND MOVE OUT (TACAMO)
AIRBORNE WARNING AND CONTROL SYSTEM (AWACS)

SATCOM SYSTEMS
MILSTAR
AF SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
(AFSATCOM)
 UHF SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS

ADVANTAGES
GREATER CHANNEL CAPACITY
SMALL, ECONOMICAL, HIGHLY MOBILE
MATURE TECHNOLOGY ==> RELIABLE
EXCELLENT QUALITY
300-3000 MHz

DISADVANTAGES
VULNERABLE TO NUCLEAR BLACKOUT
SUSCEPTIBLE TO JAMMING AND INTERCEPT
CROWED SPECTRUM
UHF SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS

LARGE AREA
COVERAGE
MOBILE TERMINALS
MINIMAL PROTECTION
LDR, SOME MDR
 FLEET SATELLITE MISSION

GLOBAL, UNPROTECTED TACTICAL

COMMUNICATIONS FOR NAVAL AIRCRAFT,
SURFACE SHIPS, SUBMARINES AND SHORE
STATIONS
FLEET SATELLITE
 FLEET SATELLITE
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
CAPABILITIES
23 CHANNELS (FLEET BROADCAST, FLEET RELAY AIR
FORCE NARROWBAND AND DOD WIDEBAND)
TERMINALS ARE MANPACKS, AIRBORNE, SHIP/SHORE AND
SIOP MISSION TERMINALS
EHF TEST PACKAGE ON LAST TWO FLIGHTS
NO POLAR COVERAGE

CONSTELLATION SPECIFICS
4 OPERATIONAL SATELLITES
5 YEAR DESIGNED LIFE
LAUNCHED 1978 TO 1989
1 SATELLITE PER SECTOR
FLEET SATELLITE
 UHF F/O MISSION

GLOBAL, UNPROTECTED TACTICAL COMMUNICATIONS

FOR NAVAL AIRCRAFT, SURFACE SHIPS, SUBMARINES
AND SHORE STATIONS

REPLACES FLTSAT/LEASED SATELLITE CONSTELLATION

GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR NAVAL FORCES
EAM AND SIOP DISSEMINATION (AFSATCOM)
PRESIDENTIAL COMMAND NETWORK
UHF FOLLOW-ON SATELLITE
 UHF F/O
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
CAPABILITIES
39 CHANNELS (SOME POSSESS ANTI-JAM CAPABILITY)
TERMINALS ARE MANPACKS, AIRBORNE, SHIP/SHORE AND
SIOP MISSION TERMINALS
EHF TEST PACKAGE ON FLIGHTS 4-10
NO POLAR COVERAGE

CONSTELLATION SPECIFICS
6 SATELLITES ( 1 ACTIVE, 1 TACO)
14 YEAR DESIGNED LIFE
COMPLETE DEPLOYMENT BY 1998 (10 SATELLITES)
PAYLOAD CONFIGURATION BY NAVAL SPACE COMMAND
SATELLITE CONTROL BY AF SPACE COMMAND
UHF FOLLOW-ON SATELLITE
 FLTSAT & UHF F/O USERS

UHF CH 23

DOD WIDEBAND USERS

EAM DISSEMINATION

UHF
CH 1-10
UHF
CH 11-22

AFSCN USN LAND, SEA, AIR FORCES

TT&C DATA DISTRIBUTION
I&W
USAF NARROWBAND FLEET BROADCAST
NUCLEAR FORCE COMMAND TACTICAL INTEL
& CONTROL OTHER WARFARE USES
 SHF SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS

ADVANTAGES
GREATER CHANNEL CAPACITY
WIDESPREAD CONNECTVITY
ROUTING DIVERSITY
LESS VULNERABLE TO NUCLEAR BLACKOUT AND
SCINTILLATION

DISADVANTAGES
LIMITED FREQUENCY ALLOCATION
LIMITED ANTI-JAMMING CAPABILITY
GROUND EQUIPMENT IS LARGE AND COSTLY
SHF SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS

REGIONAL COVERAGE
TRANSPORTABLE/FIXED
TERMINALS
LIMITED AJ PROTECTION
MDR, SOME HDR
 DSCS MISSION

SECURE, SURVIVABLE COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE

GLOBAL C2 SYSTEM (GCCS); MANAGED BY THE DEFENSE
INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY (DISA)

ADDITIONAL AFSATCOM SUPPORT VIA THE DSCS III

SINGLE CHANNEL TRANSPONDER (SCT)
 DSCS SATELLITES

DSCS II DSCS III

 DSCS II SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

SYSTEM CAPABILITIES
TWO EARTH COVERAGE, TWO NARROW BEAM ANTENNAS
1200 SIMULTANEOUS TELEPHONE USERS
LIMITED MOBILITY
NO POLAR COVERAGE

CONSTELLATION SPECIFICS
3 ACTIVE SATELLITES
10 YEAR DESIGN LIFE
LAUNCHED 1971-1982
DSCS II SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
 DSCS III SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
CAPABILITIES
EARTH COVERAGE, SPOT, MULTIBEAM ANTENNAS
10,000 SIMULTANEOUS TELEPHONE USERS

CONSTELLATION SPECIFICS
6 OPERATIONAL SATELLITES--3 RESERVES IN GEO-
STATIONARY ORBIT
10 YEAR DESIGN LIFE
LAUNCHED 1982 TO PRESENT 5 DSCS OPERATIONS
CENTERS WORLDWIDE, OPERATED BY USARSPACE
SATELLITE HEALTH SUPPORTS BY AFSPC
DSCS III SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
DSCS EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS

NUCLEAR SURVIVABILITY
ROBUST COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM
ANTIJAM AT HIGH DATA RATES
SIOP AND CINC EAM/FDM MSGS
 DSCS EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS

GCCS EARLY WARNING

PAYLOAD CONTROL TT&C

NAOC ARMY SPACE AF SPACE GROUND MOBILE
COMMAND COMMAND FORCES
 EHF SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS

ADVANTAGES
EXTENSIVE BANDWIDTHS
JAM RESISTANT
NON-CROWDED SPECTRUM
SMALL EQUIPMENT, SATELLITE APPLICATIONS
LEAST VULNERABLE TO NUCLEAR BLACKOUT

DISADVANTAGES
TECHNOLOGY RISK -- BRAND NEW
SUSCEPTIBLE TO RAIN AND ATMOSPHERIC ATTENUATION
CAPABILITIES UN-EXPLOITED
EHF SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS

PRIMARILY SPOT
COVERAGE
MOBILE TERMINALS
AJ, AS, LPI PROTECTION
LDR, MDR, HDR
 MILSTAR MISSION

PROVIDE SURVIVABLE, ENDURING, MINIMUM

ESSENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR COMMAND &
CONTROL OF THE WARFIGHTING FORCES OF THE
UNITED STATES
 MILSTAR SYSTEM
DESCRIPTION
CAPABILITIES
SECURE AND ENDURING COMMUNICATIONS
MIX OF ORBITS -- POLAR ADJUNCTS AND INTERLINKING
USER DATA STORED ON SATELLITE TO IMPROVE SYSTEM
FLEXIBILITY AND SURVIVABILITY
ARMY, NAVY AND AIR FORCE TERMINALS INTEROPERABLE
ENCYPTED VOICE, DATA, TELETYPE OR FACSIMILE COMM

CONSTELLATION SPECIFICS
2 MILSTAR ON ORBIT
INITIAL LAUNCH IN 1992
 MILSTAR USERS

CINCS ARE APPORTIONED CAPACITY, AND CINCS

DIRECT IMPLEMENTATION FOR THEIR USERS
AIR FORCE (COMING)
PRIMARILY FOR COMMAND POST USE
SOME TERMINALS BACKWARD COMPATIBLE WITH
AFSATCOM
NAVY (AVAILABLE)
SHORE, SHIP, & SUBMARINE USE
FEWER OPTIONS THAN AF TERMINAL
ARMY (COMING)
SCAMP MANPACK; SOF/VIP APPLICATIONS
SMART-T (HMMWV MOUNTED)
 AFSATCOM MISSION

SECURE, RELIABLE, SURVIVABLE, TWO-WAY

GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE
COMMAND ELEMENT AND ALL SEGMENTS OF THE
FORCES THROUGH ALL LEVELS OF CONFLICT

AFSATCOM
EAM DISSEMINATION
JCS-CINC INTERNETTING
FORCE DIRECTION & REPORTING
NON-SIOP FORCES
 AFSATCOM
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

CAPABILITIES
WORLDWIDE CAPABILITY
DOWNLINK VULNERABILITY
DEPENDENT ON HOST SATELLITE

CONFIGURATION
TRANSPONDERS ON FLTSAT, UFO, AND
DSCS SATELLITES
MANAGED BY HQ AFSPC/SC
 AFSATCOM
USERS

NAVAL FORCES
B-52 AFSATCOM TERMINAL

COMMAND AND CONTROL AIRCRAFT

 AFSATCOM
USERS

NMCS MISSILE LAUNCH

CONTROL FACILITY

CINC BOMBERS AND

COMMAND CENTERS AIRBORNE CMD POST
 OVERVIEW

OBJECTIVES
BASIC PRINCIPLES
MILITARY SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
COMMERCIAL SATELLITE
COMMUNICATIONS
WARFIGHTER APPLICATIONS
THE WAY AHEAD
 COMMERCIAL SATELLITE
AUGMENTATION

AUGMENTATION OF DOD SYSTEMS

HIGH THROUGHPUT COMMUNICATIONS
NO SURVIVABILITY CAPABILITY
FIXED AND SEMI-FIXED TERMINALS
 INMARSAT

DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FULL

DUPLEX COMMUNICATIONS TO
SHIPS FOR TELEPHONE,
TELETYPE, FACSIMILE AND DATA.
DOD LEASE OF CHANNELS
CALLED GAPFILLER.
PORTABLE TERMINALS LEASED
TO SUPPORT DESERT STORM.

INMARSAT SATELLITE
INTELSAT

INTERNATIONAL
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SATELLITE ORGANIZATION
125 MEMBER NATIONS
HALF OF ALL INTERNATIONAL
TELEPHONE CALLS
NEARLY ALL TRANSOCEANIC
TELEVISION
NINETEEN COMSATS DEPLOYED
SIX GROUND STATIONS
WORLDWIDE
 LEASAT

COMMERCIAL SYSTEM TO
AUGMENT THE FLEET
SATELLITE
CONSTELLATION
FOUR SATELLITES, LAST
DEPLOYED IN 1990
OPERATED BY HUGHES
COMMUNICATION FOR
THE US NAVY
LEASAT
 OVERVIEW

OBJECTIVES
BASIC PRINCIPLES
MILITARY SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
COMMERCIAL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
WARFIGHTER APPLICATIONS
THE WAY AHEAD
 DOD WARFIGHTERS
HIGHLY MOBILE USERS
AIR/FLEET OPERATIONS
DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY (DEA)
WHITEHOUSE COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY

NUCLEAR CAPABLE FORCES

NATIONAL COMMAND AUTHORITITES
INTEGRATED TACTICAL WARNING ASSESSMENT
EAM DISSEMINATORS

COVERT/SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES

 MILSATCOM REQUIREMENTS
PERSPECTIVE
INTEL
27%

OTHER
JOINT
35%
STAFF/CINC
6%

ARMY
10%

AIR FORCE NAVY

MARINES
18% 3%
1%
 OVERVIEW

OBJECTIVES
BASIC PRINCIPLES
MILITARY SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
COMMERCIAL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
WARFIGHTER APPLICATIONS
THE WAY AHEAD
 INFORMATION TO THE WARFIGHTER

NEAR-REAL TIME WEATHER INFORMATION

UPDATED THREAT INTELLIGENCE
IMAGERY AND INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION