Satellite Communications Payload and System

Design, Technology, and Analysis
1. Auflage 2012
ISBN: 978-0-470-54084-8
Verlag: Wiley

Buch, Englisch, Band 1, 400 Seiten, Format (B × H): 163 mm x 243 mm, Gewicht: 792 g

Reihe: Wiley - IEEE

This is the first book primarily about the satellite payload of satellite communications systems. It represents a unique combination of practical systems engineering and communications theory. It tells about the satellites in geostationary and low-earth orbits today, both the so-called bent-pipe payloads and the processing payloads. The on-orbit environment, mitigated by the spacecraft bus, is described. The payload units (e.g. antennas and amplifiers), as well as payload-integration elements (e.g. waveguide and switches) are discussed in regard to how they work, what they do to the signal, their technology, environment sensitivity, and specifications. At a higher level are discussions on the payload as an entity: architecture including redundancy; specifications--what they mean, how they relate to unit specifications, and how to verify; and specification-compliance analysis ("budgets") with uncertainty. Aspects of probability theory handy for calculating and using uncertainty and variation are presented. The highest-level discussions, on the end-to-end communications system, start with a practical introduction to physical-layer communications theory. Atmospheric effects and interference on the communications link are described. A chapter gives an example of optimizing a multibeam payload via probabilistic analysis. Finally, practical tips on system simulation and emulation are provided. The carrier frequencies treated are 1 GHz and above. Familiarity with Fourier analysis will enhance understanding of some topics. References are provided throughout the book for readers who want to dig deeper.

Payload systems engineers, payload proposal writers, satellite-communications systems designers and analysts, and satellite customers will find that the book cuts their learning time. Spacecraft-bus systems engineers, payload unit engineers, and spacecraft operators will gain insight into the overall system. Students in systems engineering, microwave engineering, communications theory, probability theory, and communications simulation and modelling will find examples to supplement theoretical texts.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Braun, Teresa M.

Fachgebiete

• Technische Wissenschaften Elektronik | Nachrichtentechnik Nachrichten- und Kommunikationstechnik Satellitenkommunikation, Satellitentechnik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

PREFACE xix

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xxi

ABOUT THE AUTHOR xxiii

ABBREVIATIONS xxv

1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 What This Book Is About 1

1.2 Payload 3

1.3 Conventions 6

1.4 Book Sources 7

1.5 Summary of Rest of the Book 7

PART I PAYLOAD

2 PAYLOAD'S ON-ORBIT ENVIRONMENT 13

2.1 What Determines Environment 13

2.2 On-Orbit Environment 20

2.3 General Effects of Environment on Payload 27

3 ANTENNA 33

3.1 Introduction 33

3.2 General Antenna Concepts 35

3.3 Single-Beam Reflector Antenna 48

3.4 Horn 54

3.5 Antenna Array 57

3.6 Reflector-Based Multibeam Antenna 64

3.7 Autotrack 68

4 FILTER AND PAYLOAD-INTEGRATION ELEMENTS 79

4.1 Introduction 79

4.2 Impedance Mismatch 80

4.3 RF Lines for Payload Integration 82

4.3.1 Coaxial Cable 83

4.4 Other Payload-Integration Elements Aside from Switch 94

4.5 Filter 97

4.6 Switch and Redundancy 111

5 LOW-NOISE AMPLIFIER AND FREQUENCY CONVERTER 123

5.1 Introduction 123

5.2 Low-Noise Amplifiers and Frequency Converters in Payload 124

5.3 Intermodulation Products 126

5.4 Low-Noise Amplifier 127

5.4.1 LNA Unit Architecture and Technology 127

5.5 Frequency Converter 132

6 PREAMPLIFIER AND HIGH-POWER AMPLIFIER 147

6.1 Introduction 147

6.2 High-Power Amplifier Concepts and Terms 148

6.3 Traveling-Wave Tube Amplifier versus Solid-State Power Amplifier 153

6.4 Traveling-Wave Tube Amplifier Subsystem 155

6.5 Solid-State Power Amplifier 170

7 PAYLOAD'S COMMUNICATIONS PARAMETERS 181

7.1 Introduction 181

7.2 Gain Variation with Frequency 184

7.3 Phase Variation with Frequency 187

7.4 Channel Bandwidth 189

7.5 Phase Noise 190

7.6 Frequency Stability 190

7.7 Spurious Signals from Frequency Converter 191

7.8 High-Power Amplifier Nonlinearity 192

7.9 Spurious Signals from High-Power Amplifier Subsystem 192

7.10 Stability of Gain and Power-Out of High-Power Amplifier Subsystem 194

7.11 Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power 195

7.12 Figure of Merit G/Ts 196

7.13 Self-Interference 199

7.14 Passive Intermodulation Products 201

8 MORE ANALYSES FOR PAYLOAD DEVELOPMENT 207

8.1 Introduction 207

8.2 How to Deal with Noise Figure 208

8.3 How to Make and Maintain Payload Performance Budgets 211

8.4 High-Power Amplifier Topics 223

8.5 How to Avoid Monte Carlo Simulations on Gaussian Random Variables 231

9 PROCESSING PAYLOAD 241

9.1 Introduction 241

9.2 Capabilities of Current Processing Payloads 242

9.3 Digital-Processing Elements Common to Both Nonregenerative and Regenerative Payloads 245

9.4 Nonregenerative Processing-Payload 248

9.5 Regenerative Payload 250

PART II PAYLOAD IN END-TO-END COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

10 PRINCIPLES OF DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS THEORY 259

10.1 Introduction 259

10.2 Communications Theory Fundamentals 260

10.3 Modulating Transmitter 268

10.4 Filters 278

10.5 Demodulating Receiver 281

10.6 SNR, Es/N0, and Eb/N0 293

10.7 Summary of Signal Distortion Sources 295

11 COMMUNICATIONS LINK 299

11.1 Introduction 299

11.2 End-to-End C/N0 300

11.3 Signal Power on Link 301

11.4 Noise Level on Link 311

11.5 Interference on Link 312

11.6 Link Budget 317

12 PROBABILISTIC TREATMENT OF MULTIBEAM DOWNLINKS 321

12.1 Introduction 321

12.2 Multibeam-Downlink Payload Specifications 322

12.3 Repeater-Caused Variation of C and C/Iself and Nominal Value 324

12.4 Combining Antenna-Caused Variation into Repeater-Caused Variation 333

12.5 Payload-Caused Variation of CI(I+N) 337

12.6 Combining Atmosphere-Caused Variation into Payload-Caused Variation 337

12.7 Optimizing Multibeam-Downlink Payload Specified on Link Availability 339

13 END-TO-END COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM MODEL WITH FOCUS ON PAYLOAD 343

13.1 Introduction 343

13.2 Considerations for Both Software Simulation and Hardware Emulation 344

13.3 Additional Considerations for Simulation 352

13.4 Additional Considerations for Emulation 359

References 362

INDEX 363

Über Autor(innen)

TERESA M. BRAUN, PhD, is President of Braun Communications Consulting GmbH. She has twenty-six years' experience in satellite and ground systems and technology, twenty-three in communications, and three in navigation, at major corporations. She earned her PhD at UCLA in electrical engineering in 1989.