Archive for March, 2008

Thuraya Satellite Communications

Thursday, March 27th, 2008

Thuraya satellite communications provide satellite phone services mainly in the Middle East, Africa and Europe but are planning to extend its coverage to East Asia, Australia and South America. It is one of the principal rivals of Iridium Satellite LLC which provides global coverage. Thuraya is based in the United Arab Emirates.

Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT)

Thursday, March 20th, 2008

The Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT) programme is a programme for the United States Department of Defence (DOD) sponsored by the American Air Force for a high capacity, secure global communications network which can serve the Department of Defence, the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) and NASA.

The Transformational Satellite Communications System provides orbit to ground laser communications and incorporates radio frequency (RF) (or conventional radio based crosslink which completes the AEHF satellite constellation. This constellation is known as the Advanced Polar System (APS) which supports users in the Polar Regions. The APS can withstand nuclear attacks and provide uninterrupted service. These satellites insert jam resistant laser crosslinks into the TSAT) so as to achieve a high data transfer rate. The Transformational Satellite Communications System enables net centric warfare that helps defence and intelligence personnel by providing them detailed, comprehensive information.

Satellite Wireless Communications

Thursday, March 13th, 2008

Satellite wireless communications are also simply known as satellite communications (which is also abbreviated as satcom). Satellite wireless communications are carried out through artificial satellites positioned in space in different kinds of orbits. There are five different kinds of orbits. These are low (non-polar and polar) Earth (LEO) orbits, medium earth orbits (MEO), highly elliptical orbits (HEO), Molniya orbits and geostationary orbits.

 

Satellite TV Communications

Saturday, March 8th, 2008

Satellite TV communications provide television broadcast using artificial satellites put up in space. Satellite television as opposed to terrestrial television and cable television uses satellite dish communications. Satellite television satellites are either in highly elliptic orbits (HEO) or geostationary orbits (geostationary satellites appear to be in a fixed position to an observer on earth as they revolve around the earth at a constant speed).

Global communications satellites form a constellation or a system of interlinked satellites. As one goes farther away from earth, the coverage of the satellites increases and thus lesser satellites are required. For geostationary satellites, 4 to 6 satellites are enough to cover the whole surface of the earth.