Investigation of the Applications of Advanced Communications Satellites

An experimental communications satellite will be launched later this year to flight-test various subsystems and to investigate the applications throughout society. By agreement in 1971 between Canadian and U.S.A. agencies, Canada is responsible for designing and building the spacecraft and the U.S.A. for supplying the high-power traveling-wave tube, launch vehicle and environmental test and operational support. The investigation will (1) flight-test and evaluate a traveling-wave tube with an efficiency greater than 50% and a saturated power output of 200 W at a frequency of 12 GHz; (2) flight-test a lightweight extendible solar array with an initial power output greater than 1 kW; (3) flight-test a 3-axis stabilization system; and (4) experiment with the use of the 12- and 14-GHz bands. Almost a score of agencies, universities and hospitals will participate in this experiment.