Common Elements Versus Unique Requirements in Various Types of Satellite Application Systems

Abstract

The concept of developing a handbook on satellite applications is based on the concept that all of the commercial and practical applications of space have many elements in common. In fact very similar power systems, spacecraft platforms, stabilization and positioning systems, and tracking, telemetry, and command systems are used for the various types of application satellites. It is the payloads that tend to be quite specialized. Even in the field of telecommunication satellites, quite different antenna systems and communications subsystems are now developed and deployed for various satellite systems for satellite broadcasting, fixed, or mobile services. It is equally true that different types of remote sensing, space navigation, and meteorological satellites can and do have different payload designs. The purpose of this chapter is to contrast and compare different types of application satellites to note major areas of similarities as well as how and why differences occur. Such an analysis is useful to understand where the most promising common elements lie in order to aid identifying new potential synergies for future research and development in order to seek out improved methods for common forms of reliability testing, sparing and redundancy strategies, as well as lifetime extension and reduced operating and monitoring costs.