Communications Satellite RF payload technologies evolution: A system perspective

Abstract

This paper addresses the evolution of microwave and RF technologies for communications satellite payloads that have contributed to the deployment of flexible payload architectures resulting in efficient use of critical satellite power and bandwidth resources. These technologies have made relatively complex space based systems feasible thus offering fixed and mobile satellite services, and have also resulted in satellite payload size/weight reductions, reliability enhancements, and significant performance improvements. Innovations in active and passive RF subsystems, including on-board microwave switches, signal channelization and routing technology, narrow spot beam operation with re-configurability, have resulted in satellite network operational flexibility, frequency reuse, capacity enhancements, and use of smaller and lower cost terminals.