DOCSLIB.ORG

Of NIGCOMSAT-1R

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Of NIGCOMSAT-1R A University of Sussex DPhil thesis Available online via Sussex Research Online: http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/ This thesis is protected by copyright which belongs to the author. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the Author The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the Author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given Please visit Sussex Research Online for more information and further details ECONOMICALLY SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC SECURITY AND EMERGENCY NETWORK EXPLOITING A BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE by LAWAL LASISI SALAMI Submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Sussex Department of Engineering & Design School of Engineering and Informatics University of Sussex Brighton August, 2014 ii Declaration and Statement of Originality DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING AND DESIGN, SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND INFORMATICS, UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX, BRIGHTON August, 2014 I hereby declare that this thesis has not been submitted, either in the same or different form to this or any other University for a degree. It is original work of Lawal Lasisi Salami with contributions from training and experiences of Nigerian Communications Satellite Projects (NIGCOMSAT-1R) as well as implementation of National Public Security Communications System. L.S LAWAL Signature iii Dedication I dedicate this thesis to my amiable family. iv Acknowledgement Special thanks go to Almighty Allah for granting me the strength, mercy and grace throughout the course of the doctorate’s degree program and project. I wish to express my sincere appreciation to Professor Chris R. Chatwin for his support, teachings and guidance throughout the program and in the course of this project including preparation of the manuscript. In addition, special thanks to staff and lecturers of school of engineering and informatics for the exposition and tutelage especially Dr. Rupert Young; my second supervisor and colleagues. I also appreciate extra research lectures, training and development course received from other departments and schools, which immensely contributed to the success of my work and short stay in the university especially the researcher development unit. My sincere thanks also go to the management of Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd especially to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer for the sponsorship and support. Thanks also to professional friends, colleagues and associates including NIGCOMSAT Ltd technology partners (CAST, CGWIC, Messers ZTE) for their valuable inputs. Finally, my sincere appreciation goes to my wife, children and siblings for their sacrifice and the peace I enjoyed at home throughout the course of this program. It is my pledge to continue to apply my knowledge and skills for the benefit of my society and humanity and at the same time strive towards excellence and professional proficiency at all times, in all positions and circumstance. v Abstract The research contributes to work in Rapid Deployment of a National Public Security and Emergency Communications Network using Communication Satellite Broadband. Although studies in Public Security Communication networks have examined the use of communications satellite as an integral part of the Communication Infrastructure, there has not been an in-depth design analysis of an optimized regional broadband-based communication satellite in relation to the envisaged service coverage area, with little or no terrestrial last-mile telecommunications infrastructure for delivery of satellite solutions, applications and services. As such, the research provides a case study of a Nigerian Public Safety Security Communications Pilot project deployed in regions of the African continent with inadequate terrestrial last mile infrastructure and thus requiring a robust regional Communications Satellite complemented with variants of terrestrial wireless technologies to bridge the digital hiatus as a short and medium term measure apart from other strategic needs. The research not only addresses the pivotal role of a secured integrated communications Public safety network for security agencies and emergency service organizations with its potential to foster efficient information symmetry amongst their operations including during emergency and crisis management in a timely manner but demonstrates a working model of how analogue spectrum meant for Push-to-Talk (PTT) services can be re-farmed and digitalized as a “dedicated” broadband-based public communications system. The network’s sustainability can be secured by using excess capacity for the strategic commercial telecommunication needs of the state and its citizens. Utilization of scarce spectrum has been deployed for Nigeria’s Cashless policy pilot project for financial and digital inclusion. This effectively drives the universal access goals, without exclusivity, in a continent, which still remains the least wired in the world. vi Contents Declaration and Statement of Originality ii Dedication iii Acknowledgement iv Abstract v List of Figures ix List of Tables xix List of Acronyms xxiii List of Symbols with Dimensions xxxvii List of Publications and Successful Launch of Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT-1R) during DPhil Programme. xxxix CHAPTER 1: Introduction 1 1.1 General Introduction and Literature Review of National Public Security and Emergency Network. 2 1.2 Growing Needs for National Public Security and Effective Disaster Management. 4 1.3 Common Problems associated with Public Safety and Emergency Networks. 6 1.4 Research Objectives 8 1.5 Achievements 10 1.6 Thesis Organization 12 CHAPTER 2: Communication Satellite Technologies Supporting Broadband Applications And Rapid Deployment 15 2.0 Summary: 16 2.1 Communications Satellite: Past, Present and Future. 16 2.2 Communications Satellite Architecture and Communications 19 2.3 Higher Spectral Bands; The Ka-Band: New Possibilities and Capabilities. 47 2.4 Satellite Communications Network Technologies for Communications Satellite. 49 2.5 Conclusion 50 CHAPTER 3: Needs Assessment, Feasibility and Suitable Design Specifications for Nigerian Communications Satellite. 51 3.0 Summary 52 3.1 Introduction of Communications Satellite and Broadband-Based Services. 52 3.2 Needs Assessment and Feasibility Studies for Nigerian Communications Satellite 57 3.3 Suitable Design Specifications and Technical Requirements for Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT-1) within the African Sub region to meet desirable Availability and Quality of Service (QoS). 64 3.4 Conclusion 86 CHAPTER 4: 88 The Redesign of Nigerian Communications Satellite Insurance Replacement (NIGCOMSAT-1R) with Navigation Capability for Optimal Performance and Test Results. 88 4.0 Summary: 89 4.1 Antennas and Payload Design of Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT- 1R) to meet Specified Regional Performance Requirements and Service Coverage Areas. 89 vii 4.2 Regional Communications Satellite in Africa, Insurance Replacement of Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT-1R) and the its Predecessor (De-Orbited NIGCOMSAT-1). 124 4.3 Test Data Results, Uncertainty Analysis, Validity Criteria and Test Result Analysis 134 4.4 Broadband Delivery over Communications Satellite 166 4.5 High-Definition Television (HDTV), Digital 3D Broadcast over Communications Satellites and the London 2012 Olympic Games. 168 4.6 Conclusion 169 CHAPTER FIVE: Space-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) and the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT-1R) with Navigation Capability as a Piggy-Back Payload with Performance Results 172 5.0 Summary: 173 5.1 Introduction of Space-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) and Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT-1R). 173 5.2 Overview of Augmentation System 174 5.3 Overview of Global Position System Technique 175 5.4 Roles of Space-Borne Oscillators for Improved Performance of Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS). 177 5.5 Regional Satellite-Based Augmentation System 192 5.6 NIGCOMSAT-1R Navigation Payload 194 5.7 Africa’s Contribution to Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) using NIGCOMSAT-1R Navigation Payload. 197 5.8 Conclusion 200 CHAPTER 6: Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) overview of Nigerian Public Security Communications System (NPSCS). 202 6.0 Summary: 203 6.1 Introduction and Background of The National Public Security Communications System (NPSCS) Project 203 6.2 The NPSCS Project System Technology And Architecture 205 6.3 Overall System Design Overview of the NPSCS Project 209 6.4 Descriptions of the Five (5) Sub-Systems and Components of The NPSCS. 211 6.5 The NPSCS Project Implementation Results 214 6.6 Benefits of the NPSCS Project 229 6.7 Conclusion 230 CHAPTER 7: Solutions, Applications and Services Exploiting Communications Satellite and National Public Security and Emergency Network. 232 7.0 Summary: 233 7.1 Broadband Communications for Internet and 234 Mobile Communications 234 7.2 Digital Broadcasting 247 7.3 Emergency Communications Exploiting Communications Satellite with the National Public Security Communication System (NPSCS). 267 7.4 Telemedicine and Healthcare Delivery 267 7.5 Tele-Education and E-Learning 270 viii 7.6 Community Telecommunications Center (CTC) 273 7.7 Integrated and Secured Public Communications Network. 274 7.8 Other Spin-Offs from the Integrated Communications
Load more

Recommended publications
  • AMC-14 MO Final.Qxp 2/29/2008 1:15 PM Page 1
    AMC-14 MO final.qxp 2/29/2008 1:15 PM Page 1 THE VEHICLE THE SATELLITE PROTON HISTORY PROTON www.ilslaunch.com Lead designer was Vladimir Chelomei, DESCRIPTION who designed it with the intention of creating a powerful rocket for both TOTAL HEIGHT military payloads and as a high- 56.2 m (184 ft) performance ICBM. The program GROSS LIFTOFF was changed, and the rocket WEIGHT was developed exclusively for 691,272 kg launching spacecraft. (1,523,565 lbm) First named UR-500, but PROPELLANT UDMH and N O adopted the name 2 4 “Proton,” which also was INITIAL LAUNCH the name of the first July 16, 1965 three payloads Proton-1 Spacecraft launched. PAYLOAD FAIRINGS Proton launched Russian There are multiple payload fair- ing designs presently qualified for interplanetary missions to flight, including standard commer- the Moon, Venus, Mars, and cial payload fairings developed specif- Halley’s Comet. ically to meet the needs of our Western customers. Proton launched the Salyut space stations, the Mir BREEZE M UPPER STAGE SATELLITE OPERATOR core segment and both The Breeze M is powered by one pump-fed gim- SES AMERICOM baled main engine that develops thrust of 19.6 kN the Zarya and Zvezda www.ses-americom.com (4,400 lbf). The Breeze M is composed of a central core modules for today’s and a jettisonable additional propellant tank. Inert mass of the SATELLITE MANUFACTURER International Space stage at liftoff is approximately 2,370 kg (5,225 lbm). The quan- Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems Station. tity of propellant carried is dependent on specific mission require- www.lmcommercialspace.com ments and is varied to maximize mission performance.
    [Show full text]
  • BR-248 Part of Our Daily Lives
    BR-248 8/19/05 11:18 AM Page 3 BR-248 August 2005 Part of Our Daily Lives 3 BR-248 8/19/05 11:18 AM Page 1 Contents Satellite Telecommunications – Part of Our Daily Lives Satellite Telecommunications – What For? 2 Advantages over Terrestrial Systems 3 Orbits 4 The Satcom Market 5 Role of the European Space Agency 6 ESA Telecom Department 7 More Than 30 Years of Satcom Experience 8 Investing in New Technology 9 Broadcasting 10 SATMODE – A New Dimension for Interactive Satellite-based TV 11 Mobile Communications 12 Telemedicine – Medical Care from Space 13 Distance Learning via Satellite 14 Satellites Save Lives 15 Bridging the Digital Divide 16 AlphaBus, the New European Platform for the Next Generation of Telecommunications Satellites 17 AmerHis – The First Switchboard in Space 18 The Future of Satellite Telecommunications 19 1 BR-248 8/19/05 11:18 AM Page 2 Satellite Telecommunications – What For? Without us realising it, satellite communications permeate our lives. Many everyday events that we take for granted happen because telecommunications satellites are in orbit, 36 000 km above our heads - they are reliable and can be used in a plethora of ways. • Did you know that many news- • Did you know that when you make papers and magazines are a call from an aircraft or cruise boat, produced centrally, but printed it is transferred via satellite? locally? The content of the paper is sent to the printing plants using • Did you know that satellites are satellite links. being used for tele-education, telemedicine and video-confer- • Did you
    [Show full text]
  • The Technological and Commercial Expansion of Electric Propulsion in the Past 24 Years
    The Technological and Commercial Expansion of Electric Propulsion in the Past 24 Years IEPC-2017-242 Presented at the 35th International Electric Propulsion Conference Georgia Institute of Technology • Atlanta, Georgia • USA October 8 – 12, 2017 Dan Lev1, Roger M. Myers 2, Jonathan Kolbeck3 Michael Keidar3, Jose Gonzalez del Amo4, Wonho Choe5, Hiroyuki Koizumi6, Riccardo Albertoni7, Stephen Gabriel8, Ikkoh Funaki9…, William Hart10 1Rafael – Advanced Defense Systems, Haifa, Israel, 3102102, Israel 2Space Electric Propulsion Consultant, Seattle, WA, USA 3George Washington University, Washington D.C., USA 4European Space Agency (ESA), Noordwijk, Netherlands 5Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, South-Korea 6The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8654, Japan 7Airbus Defence and Space, Toulouse, France 8Mars Space Ltd., Southampton, UK 9Institute of Space and Astronautical Science / JAXA, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5210, Japan 10Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA Abstract: These instructions give you guidelines for preparing papers for IEPC17. Use this document as a template if you are using Microsoft Word 6.0 or later. Otherwise, use this document as an instruction set. Define all symbols used in the abstract. Do not cite references in the abstract. The footnote on the first page should list the job title and email address for each author. I.Introduction N the hundred years since electric propulsion (EP) was originally conceived it has been developed by an I increasing number of research and industrial entities worldwide1. To date a myriad of technological subclasses of EP exist2,3, each at a different Technological Readiness Level (TRL), from basic notions of particle acceleration techniques to space proven applications.
    [Show full text]
  • Global Satellite Communications Technology and Systems
    International Technology Research Institute World Technology (WTEC) Division WTEC Panel Report on Global Satellite Communications Technology and Systems Joseph N. Pelton, Panel Chair Alfred U. Mac Rae, Panel Chair Kul B. Bhasin Charles W. Bostian William T. Brandon John V. Evans Neil R. Helm Christoph E. Mahle Stephen A. Townes December 1998 International Technology Research Institute R.D. Shelton, Director Geoffrey M. Holdridge, WTEC Division Director and ITRI Series Editor 4501 North Charles Street Baltimore, Maryland 21210-2699 WTEC Panel on Satellite Communications Technology and Systems Sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States Government. Dr. Joseph N. Pelton (Panel Chair) Dr. Charles W. Bostian Mr. Neil R. Helm Institute for Applied Space Research Director, Center for Wireless Deputy Director, Institute for George Washington University Telecommunications Applied Space Research 2033 K Street, N.W., Rm. 304 Virginia Tech George Washington University Washington, DC 20052 Blacksburg, VA 24061-0111 2033 K Street, N.W., Rm. 340 Washington, DC 20052 Dr. Alfred U. Mac Rae (Panel Chair) Mr. William T. Brandon President, Mac Rae Technologies Principal Engineer Dr. Christoph E. Mahle 72 Sherbrook Drive The Mitre Corporation (D270) Communications Satellite Consultant Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922 202 Burlington Road 5137 Klingle Street, N.W. Bedford, MA 01730 Washington, DC 20016 Dr. Kul B. Bhasin Chief, Satellite Networks Dr. John V. Evans Dr. Stephen A. Townes and Architectures Branch Vice President Deputy Manager, Communications NASA Lewis Research Center and Chief Technology Officer Systems and Research Section MS 54-2 Comsat Corporation Jet Propulsion Laboratory 21000 Brookpark Rd.
    [Show full text]
  • The History of the Development of British Satellite Broadcasting Policy, 1977-1992
    THE HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRITISH SATELLITE BROADCASTING POLICY, 1977-1992 Windsor John Holden —......., Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of PhD University of Leeds, Institute of Communications Studies July, 1998 The candidate confirms that the work submitted is his own and that appropriate credit has been given where reference has been made to the work of others ABSTRACT This thesis traces the development of British satellite broadcasting policy, from the early proposals drawn up by the Home Office following the UK's allocation of five direct broadcast by satellite (DBS) frequencies at the 1977 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC), through the successive, abortive DBS initiatives of the BBC and the "Club of 21", to the short-lived service provided by British Satellite Broadcasting (BSB). It also details at length the history of Sky Television, an organisation that operated beyond the parameters of existing legislation, which successfully competed (and merged) with BSB, and which shaped the way in which policy was developed. It contends that throughout the 1980s satellite broadcasting policy ceased to drive and became driven, and that the failure of policy-making in this time can be ascribed to conflict on ideological, governmental and organisational levels. Finally, it considers the impact that satellite broadcasting has had upon the British broadcasting structure as a whole. 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract i Contents ii Acknowledgements 1 INTRODUCTION 3 British broadcasting policy - a brief history
    [Show full text]
  • The Delta Launch Vehicle- Past, Present, and Future
    The Space Congress® Proceedings 1981 (18th) The Year of the Shuttle Apr 1st, 8:00 AM The Delta Launch Vehicle- Past, Present, and Future J. K. Ganoung Manager Spacecraft Integration, McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co. H. Eaton Delta Launch Program, McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co. Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.erau.edu/space-congress-proceedings Scholarly Commons Citation Ganoung, J. K. and Eaton, H., "The Delta Launch Vehicle- Past, Present, and Future" (1981). The Space Congress® Proceedings. 7. https://commons.erau.edu/space-congress-proceedings/proceedings-1981-18th/session-6/7 This Event is brought to you for free and open access by the Conferences at Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Space Congress® Proceedings by an authorized administrator of Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE DELTA LAUNCH VEHICLE - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE J. K. Ganoung, Manager H. Eaton, Jr., Director Spacecraft Integration Delta Launch Program McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co. McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co. INTRODUCTION an "interim space launch vehicle." The THOR was to be modified for use as the first stage, the The Delta launch vehicle is a medium class Vanguard second stage propulsion system, was used expendable booster managed by the NASA Goddard as the Delta second stage and the Vanguard solid Space Flight Center and used by the U.S. rocket motor became Delta's third stage. Government, private industry and foreign coun­ Following the eighteen month development program tries to launch scientific, meteorological, and failure to launch its first payload into or­ applications and communications satellites.
    [Show full text]
  • Development of a Hydrazine Arcjet System Operating at 100 Volts Input Voltage
    International Electric Propulsion Conference, October 2017, Atlanta, Georgia IEPC 2017-305 Development of a Hydrazine Arcjet System Operating at 100 Volts Input Voltage Dieter M. Zube1, Keith D. Goodfellow2, Chris Hearn3 Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc., Redmond, WA 98052, U.S.A. Abstract Since 1996, Aerojet Rocketdyne MR-510 hydrazine arcjet systems have provided North-South station keeping for more than 44 geostationary spacecraft. A typical system consists of four 2 kW arcjets, two of which can be operated simultaneously from a Power Conversion Unit (PCU) that includes three power converters in a three for two redundant arrangement. Over the last two years, the flexibility of the system was expanded by developing and qualifying a modern state of the art PCU for a 100 VDC spacecraft power bus. To set the stage, the paper summarizes the development and deployment history of hydrazine arcjet systems beginning in 1993. It discusses the changes and repeated system life tests which significantly expanded the flexibility and robustness of the arcjet system. The paper then describes the changes necessary to accommodate the new PCU with an input voltage of 100 VDC and a new communication protocol. While there were only a limited number of changes required for the thruster and its subcomponents, the PCU underwent a complete redesign. Aerojet Rocketdyne incorporated advances in design philosophy, electronic components, and materials to avoid component obsolescence while improving overall system reliability. 1. Hydrazine Arcjet System History propulsion systems was dormant until a Electric propulsion (EP) systems are usually development effort initiated by NASA and grouped by their primary acceleration industry in the early 1990s put hydrazine arcjets mechanism (electrothermal, electrostatic, and on the GE-Astro (now Lockheed Martin) Series electromagnetic), and there are six classical EP 7000 spacecraft bus in the form of the Aerojet thruster types: resistojets, arcjets, ion thrusters, Rocketdyne MR-508/509 hydrazine arcjet Hall current thrusters, Pulsed Plasma Thrusters system.
    [Show full text]
  • Preparation of Papers for AIAA Technical Conferences
    LEO to GEO (and Beyond) Transfers using High Power Solar Electric Propulsion (HP-SEP) IEPC-2017-396 Presented at the 35th International Electric Propulsion Conference Georgia Institute of Technology • Atlanta, Georgia • USA October 8 – 12, 2017 Christopher S Loghry1 Moog Inc, Chatsworth, CA, 91311, USA Steven Oleson2, Jeffrey Woytach3, Michael Martini4, David Smith5, James Fittje6, John Gyekenyesi7, Anthony Colozza8, James Fincannon9, Aimee Bogner10, Robert Jones11, Thomas Packard12, Elizabeth Turnbull13 NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH, 44135, USA Abstract: Rideshare, or Multi-Payload launch configurations, are becoming more and more commonplace but access to space is only one part of the overall mission needs. The ability for payloads to achieve their target orbits or destinations can still be difficult and potentially not feasible with on-board propulsion limitations. The High Power Solar Electric Propulsion (HP-SEP) Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV) provides transfer capabilities for both large and small payload in excess of what is possible with chemical propulsion. Leveraging existing secondary payload adapter technology like the ESPA provides a platform to support Multi-Payload launch and missions. When coupled with HP-SEP, meaning greater than 30 kW system power, very large delta-V maneuvers can be accomplished. The HP-SEP OMV concept is designed to perform a Low Earth Orbit to Geosynchronous Orbit (LEO- GEO) transfer of up to six payloads each with 300 kg mass. The OMV has enough capability to perform this 6 km/s maneuver and have residual capacity to extend an additional transfer from GEO to Lunar orbit. This high delta-V capability is achieved using state of the art 12.5 kW Hall Effect Thrusters (HET) coupled with high power “roll up” solar arrays.
    [Show full text]
  • 00/81 39752 TUESDAY December 26, 1978 (NASA-News-Belease-78
    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA-News-Belease-78-190) HIGHLIGHTS OP N79-13906 1978 ACTIVITIES INational Aeronautics and Space Administration) 18 p CSCI 05A Dnclas " 00/81 39752 Bill Pomeroy TUESDAY Headquarters, Washington, D.C. December 26, 1978 Mary Fitzpatrick Headquarters, Washington, D.C. (Phone: 202/755-8370) RELEASE NO: 78-190 HIGHLIGHTS OF 1978 ACTIVITIES Five Pioneer Venus atmospheric entry craft pene- trated the clouds of Venus and a companion craft went ".'." into orbit around the planet to highlight the 1978 space exploration activities of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the agency's 20th anni- versary year. Altogether, NASA conducted 20 launches in 1978, mainly for other organizations or agencies. It was the third year in NASA history with a 100 per cent launch . success record. Most of the orbited payloads were for the application and benefit of users on Earth. The year also was one with major milestones in preparations for the crew-carrying Space Shuttle mis.- sions scheduled to start late in 1979. - more - Space Science With the Pioneer Venus mission, the United State con- tinued its systematic program of exploration of the solar system and beyond. Launched on May 20 and August 8, respectively, Pioneer Venus 1 and 2 arrived in the vicinity of Venus in early December to begin the most detailed scientific examination ever conducted of that cloud-shrouded planet. Pioneer Venus 1 was inserted into orbit on .Dec. 4 to make'measure.-- - ments and take pictures for at least eight months. The array of instrumented probes which comprised Pioneer Venus 2 arrived on December 9 and began their hour-long descent through the murky Venusian atmosphere at widely separated points.
    [Show full text]
  • 2001 Commercial Space Transportation Forecasts
    2001 Commercial Space Transportation Forecasts Federal Aviation Administration's Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation (AST) and the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC) May 2001 ABOUT THE ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR FOR COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION (AST) AND THE COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (COMSTAC) The Federal Aviation Administration’s senior executives from the U.S. commercial Associate Administrator for Commercial Space space transportation and satellite industries, Transportation (AST) licenses and regulates U.S. space-related state government officials, and commercial space launch activity as authorized other space professionals. by Executive Order 12465, Commercial Expendable Launch Vehicle Activities, and the The primary goals of COMSTAC are to: Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984, as amended. AST’s mission is to license and • Evaluate economic, technological and regulate commercial launch operations to ensure institutional issues relating to the U.S. public health and safety and the safety of commercial space transportation industry property, and to protect national security and foreign policy interests of the United States • Provide a forum for the discussion of issues during commercial launch operations. The involving the relationship between industry Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984 and the and government requirements 1996 National Space Policy also direct the Federal Aviation Administration to encourage, • Make recommendations to the Administrator facilitate, and promote commercial launches. on issues and approaches for Federal policies and programs regarding the industry. The Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC) provides Additional information concerning AST and information, advice, and recommendations to the COMSTAC can be found on AST’s web site, at Administrator of the Federal Aviation http://ast.faa.gov.
    [Show full text]
  • Satcom for Net-Centric Warfare May 2012 Milsatmagazine
    SatCom For Net-Centric Warfare May 2012 MilsatMagazine U.S.A.F.’s AEHF-2 Launch via ULA (cover photo) Competing For Space—AIAA Space Weather For Emergency Managers The Importance Of The Space Fence COMMAND CENTER General Thomas S. Moorman [Ret] Diego Paldao, NewSat Space Weather WGS + How The DoD’s MILSATCOM Vision Has Veered Off Track XipLink Discusses Optimization Space: Distruptive Challenges Industry Expansion, Exploration, Enthusiasm MilSatMagazine — May 2012 — Vol. 3, #2 Publishing Ops Silvano Payne ....................................Publisher + Writer Authors Hartley G. Lesser .................................Editorial Director Gunnery Sergeant Jennifer Antoine Pattie Waldt ......................................... Executive Editor Kyle Bond Jill Durfee ................. Sales Director, Editorial Assistant Staff Sergeant Andrew Caya Donald McGee ................................Production Manager Mike Conschafter Simon Payne ............................... Development Manager Tom Cristler, Colonel, U.S.A.F. [Ret.] Mike Antonovich ...............................Contributing Editor William J. Donahue, Lt. Gen. U.S.A.F. [Ret.] Maxime Baudry ................................Contributing Editor Elliot Holokauhi Pulham Chris Forrester ..................... Senior Contributing Editor Hartley Lesser Alan Gottlieb ........................ Senior Contributing Editor Doug Loverro, DISES, U.S.A.F. Bob Gough ............................ Senior Contributing Editor Ellen Pawlikowski, Lt. Gen., U.S.A.F. Richard Dutchik ...............................Contributing
    [Show full text]
  • GPS III to the Global Community
    Bringing New Capabilities GPS III to the Global Community The next generation of GPS satellites — GPS III — is under development to bring improved performance and new capabilities to users around the globe. In this article, authors from the company designing and building those satellites describe the technical features and operational requirements of the GPS III that will produce these benefits. WILLARD MARQUIS, MICHAEL SHAW identifying similarities to and differences from earlier ver- LOCKHEED MARTIN SPACE SYSTEMS COMPANY sions of GPS satellites. We will highlight the basic subsystems of the GPS III SVs being built by Lockheed Martin, its navi- n May 2008, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company gation payload subcontractor, ITT; communications payload received a contract from the U.S. Air Force to develop a subcontractor, General Dynamics; and numerous other new, third generation of GPS satellites. The GPS III space subcontractors. This article will also provide an overview of I vehicle (SV) has been designed (Figure 1) and is now the new signals and services on the GPS III SV, the SV simu- being built to bring new future capabilities to both military lators, and the assembly facility. and civil positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) users throughout the globe. The Need for GPS III The GPS III SV critical design review (CDR) was success- GPS III is required to maintain the GPS constellation and fully completed in August 2010 — two months early. CDR improve PNT services to meet user demand in the future. marked the completion of the GPS III design phase, and the The GPS III capabilities, with the new L1C signal, higher production phase is now well under way with integration and signal power, greater accuracy, longer SV lifetime, and higher test to follow next year.
    [Show full text]