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The ACTS Flight System - Cost-Effective Advanced Communications TechnologyThe multibeam communications package (MCP) for the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) to be STS-launched by NASA in 1988 for experimental demonstration of satellite-switched TDMA (at 220 Mbit/sec) and baseband-processor signal routing (at 110 or 27.5 Mbit/sec) is characterized. The developmental history of the ACTS, the program definition, and the spacecraft-bus and MCP parameters are reviewed and illustrated with drawings, block diagrams, and maps of the coverage plan. Advanced features of the MPC include 4.5-dB-noise-figure 30-GHz FET amplifiers and 20-GHz TWTA transmitters which provide either 40-W or 8-W RF output, depending on rain conditions. The technologies being tested in ACTS can give frequency-reuse factors as high as 20, thus greatly expanding the orbit/spectrum resources available for U.S. communications use.
Document ID
19840042488
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Holmes, W. M., Jr.
(TRW, Inc. Redondo Beach, CA, United States)
Beck, G. A.
(RCA Astro-Electronics Div. Princeton, NJ, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1984
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Report/Patent Number
AIAA PAPER 84-0683
Accession Number
84A25275
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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