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A figure of merit for competing communications satellite designsTrends in launch schedules, weights, power, and space segment costs per transponder year for Intelsats and North American domsats (domestic communications satellites) are discussed. The Intelsat system currently services 25,000 point to point telephone links at any one moment, and a $3 billion order has been placed for Intelsat VIs, which feature 36,000 telephone circuits each. The Intelsat VI spacecraft will weigh 1670 kg in orbit, a continuance of the trend to heavier satellites, while the domsats will stay at 650 kg due to launch vehicle limitations. Direct television broadcast satellites are being designed for receive only (R/O) earth stations, with each satellite capable of servicing 50,000 individual ground stations. Competition is growing for C and Ku band satellite transponders for DBS, with costs $350,000 each. No standardized design has yet emerged.
Document ID
19830063315
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Lovell, R. R.
(NASA Office of Space Science and Applications, Communications Div., Washington DC, United States)
Fordyce, S. W.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 1983
Publication Information
Publication: Space Communication and Broadcasting
Volume: 1
ISSN: 0167-9368
Subject Category
Economics And Cost Analysis
Accession Number
83A44533
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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