CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Next Generation Satellite Communications
2002 Colorado Space Grant Consortium's Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow University of Colorado at Boulder 6 April 2002 Dr. James R. Stuart 1082 W. Alder Street, Louisville, CO 80027-1046 USA tel: +1 (303) 666-0662, fax: +1 (303) 666-0388, email: [email protected]
Technology + Insight = Breakthrough Agenda
l Converging Revolutions
l Key Satellite Communications Drivers and Enabling Technologies • Business Driven Pulls and Technology Development Pushes
l Next Generation WINNING Satellite Communications Systems • GSO Evolution, LEO/MEO Evolution, Stratospheric Platforms • Hybrid Interconnected Networks, ‘3-D’ Constellations’ • Clusters, Virtual Satellites and Revolutionary ThinSats
l Future Trends and Next Big Things
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Converging Revolutions in Communications and Networks
l Wireless Communications Boom - Global Demand Explosion • All Types (e.g., Monitoring, Tracking, Paging, Cellular, PCS, DARS, Internet, DTV, Broadband, etc.)
l Network Booms - Hierarchical Centralized Mainframes - To Individual, Distributed PC’s - To Interconnected, Networked PC’s - To Hybrid, Interconnected, Interoperable Networks • e.g., Intranet and Internet Explosions - Metcalf’s Law: Value of a network grows with the square of number of participants
l New Satellite Communication Networks - Hierarchical Centralized GSO’s - To Individual, Distributed Non-GSO’s (NGSO’s) - To Interconnected, Networked NGSO’s (and GSO’s) - To Hybrid, Interconnected, Interoperable Networks • GSO’s, MEO’s, LEO’s, Stratospheric Platforms, Terrestrial0
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Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#› CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Spectrum is Scarce and Precious
l Licensed spectrum is critical development path • Clamor for more ‘Little’ and ‘Big’ LEO spectrum • Clamor for Ka-band GSO slots • Move to ever higher bands (V-band)
l FCC auctions - spectrum is scarce and precious • MCI bid of 682M$ for USA DBS slot (110°W)
l New entrants using new spectrum sharing methods • SDMA, spread spectrum, UWB, etc. • Skybridge, KITCOMM, etc. • Motient, ICO, etc (ATC, terrestrial spectrum use request)
l Must maximize revenues for fixed spectrum - maximize MHz/km2 - Frequency reuse dominates • Smaller spots (cells) and higher power satellites
l More Bandwidth is not enough !
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Global Interconnectivity Alternatives
Source: Daedalian Technologies, Ltd. J.R.Stuart 4/6/02 4
Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#› CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Apertures Rule !
l It’s all photon processing - Solar to RF - RF to RF - Multi-spectral to RF
l Market competition drives larger apertures - Smaller spots (cells) = larger antennas - Higher power satellites = larger solar arrays - Already: >12 m diam. ant., >18 KW EOL GSO’s • 20-20, A2100AXX, BS702 • Eurostar 3000, Spacebus 4000, ETS, Alphabus, etc.
l Larger apertures ‘pull’ other satellite technologies/designs - Flexible bodies, low thrust, energy storage, mechanisms, etc. - Distributed apertures, inter-satellite LAN/WAN’s, timing, etc.
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Boeing Deployable 40’ Antenna on Thuraya-1
Source: Space News, Oct. 2000
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Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#› CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Largest Antennas So Far on ETS-8
Source: Space News, 2000
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ACeS’ Garuda-1 Current Spot Beam Coverage
Source: Pasifik Satelit Nusantara, 2001
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Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#› CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Moore’s Law
• Performance/price ratio doubles every 18 months • Likely holds for next 10-15 years - 2002: routinely create circuits 180 nm wide - 2010: will routinely create circuits 45 nm wide Intel: 1 billion transistors/chip, >300 mm wafers End of optical lithography, shift to UV then EUV lithography - Long term limits approaching (12/01, SIA says slowdown beginning 2005) Design bug detection/correction delays increasing Chance of 6 months delay (1-3% on 250nm chip, 15-30% on 130 nm chip) Power density heat to reject increasing (SOI may help) Source: VLSI Research Inc. J.R.Stuart 4/6/02 9
Hard Drives Outperform Moore’s Law
Source: Daedalian Technologies, Ltd.
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Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#› CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Hard Drives Outperform Moore’s Law
• Moore’s Law: Performance/price ratio doubles every 18 months (4 fold in 3 years) • Hard Drives: Performance/price improved ~6 fold in last 3 years Capacity improved ~10 fold in last 3 years
Source: Gartner Data Group, WIRED, 2002
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Kurzweil’s View Of Moore’s Law
l Moore’s Law is 5th in continuous series of paradigm shifts
l ‘Each time one paradigm runs out of steam, another picks up the pace’
Source: R.Kurzweil, 2002
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Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#› CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Rapid Technology Advances
l Lower Weights and Increased Performance
Source: P. Rustan, AW&ST, 1999 J.R.Stuart 4/6/02 13
Converging Push/Pull Forces
l Business Pulls l Technology Pushes
- Higher bandwidths - Power generation and storage - Higher capacities - Multi-beam and large antennas - Smaller, more affordable terminals - Smart and multi-functional composite - Lower bit error rates (BER’s) structures - More efficient frequency reuse and - MEMS, Integrated piezo’s sharing - Deployment mechanisms - Higher frequencies - Precision pointing, attitude control, - Higher powers timing and navigation - Higher energy storage demands - Low-thrust electric propulsion - Larger antennas, smaller steerable - RF HPA’s and LNA’s beams - Digital data processing electronics - Tighter pointing (on more flexible - Thin film electronics, batteries, etc. satellites) - Optical LAN’s and Inter-satellite links - More precise stationkeeping - Modulation, coding and multiple - Inter-satellite links access schemes - Interconnectability (hybrid networks) - New frequency sharing schemes - Rapid network capacity - Autonomous satellite operations and reconfiguration/adaptation operating system software
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Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#› CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Enabling Technologies
l Digital Processing - Decreasing price/performance ratio - High performance, low power, low mass, rad hard microprocessors • 100’s of MIPS and multi-gigabytes on -orbit - e.g., ESA developed rad-hard Sun Sparc processors available • Non-volatile, fast memory (e.g. AFRL’s optically coated chalcogenide C-RAM)
- Digital Signal Processors (DSP’s) • ECL, CHFET, Optical FPS’s - ASIC’s, Digital GaAs, Thin-film electronics
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Enabling Technologies (cont’d.)
l 20/30 GHz Analog Technology - GaAs MMIC HPA’s, LNA’s - PHEMT, HBT, InP
l High Density Packaging - Advanced hybrids - Multi-chip Modules (MCM’s) - UHDI, 3-D packaging
l Thin Film Electronics - Multi-layer, conductive (metallic) polymers (‘plastic electronics’) • using advanced printing technology (ink-jet, roll-to-roll, etc.) - Transistors, CPU’s, LEDs, diodes, photodiodes, optocouplers, etc - Integrated thin-film batteries, photovoltaics, antennas, etc.
Layer Thin Film Components Top: Photovoltaics
2nd: Power/RF Driver Components 3rd: Rechargeable Battery 4th: Bi-stable Memory 5th: Central Processor, Antenna
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Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#› CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Enabling Technologies (cont’d.)
l Antenna Technology - Electronically-steered phased arrays • Modular, conformal arrays, adaptable beams - Multi-beam arrays and lenses - Large Precision Reflectors • Thin-film (nanofoamed polymer) • ‘Smart’ adaptive shapes
l Optical inter-satellite links - Interconnecting LEO’s, MEO’s, HEO’s, GEO’s
l Modulation and Coding Technology - Bandwidth efficient, power-efficient modulation/coding - High speed modems, coders, channelizers
l Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) and Fast Packet Switching
l Bandwidth Compression technology - Network quality voice at < 16 Kbps - VCR quality video at < 1.5 Mbps
l Fiber-optical LAN technology - Optical processing for passive optical network - Integrated microwave and photonic circuits in InP chip
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Enabling Technologies (cont’d.)
l Solar Power - Thin film solar arrays (Amorphous Si, CIS, CdTe, CIGS)
- Multi-junction cells • Single junction at ~13-15% • 2 junction at ~26% • 3 junction at ~40% • 4 junction at ~48% and up - Concentrators (reflective and refractive) • E.g., Entech’s 170 W/kg refractive prototype (340 W/kg coming) • 6 Boeing 702’s reflective (w/4-5 solar panels,2 junction) clouded-up - EOL power reduced from 15 kW to 12 kW - Redesign: eliminating concentrator w/6-7 panels, 3 junction GaAs
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Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#› CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Enabling Technologies (cont’d.)
l Energy Storage - Batteries • NH2-CPV, Sodium Sulfur, Lithium Ion - Lithium Ion ComDev’s shown: 1/2 mass, 1/2 size Lower cost, higher reliability Lower schedule risk • Lithium Ion Thin Film Polymer: 1/2 mass, flexible, shape-efficient - Flywheels • Long life, high efficiency, high energy density, low thermal, high pulse power • Combined energy storage with attitude control and electric propulsion - Fuel cells
l High Power Bus (AC, High Voltage)
l High Power TWTA’s • C-band: >120 W, X-band: >160 W Ku-band: >220 W • E.g., from Thales Electron Devices (France)
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Enabling Technologies (cont’d.)
l Attitude Determination and Control - IFOG and DQI IMU’s - CCD star trackers, ISL’s • Formation and Stationkeeping
l Low-thrust, Efficient Electric Thrusters - Pulse Plasma, Hall SPT, XIPS, Arc-Jet, Deflagration
l Lightweight, Manufacturable Satellite Structures, etc. - Structures: Advanced Composites, Multifunctional (Integrated Cabling, Optical LAN’s and Thermal Control),‘Smart Structures’, Self-healing composites (DCPD) - Booms: ‘Hardening’ inflatables, Shape Memory Extensions - Latch/Deploy Mechanisms: Paraffin (HOP), Shape Memory - Embedded Active Piezo Electrics - MEM’s Devices
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Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#› CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
MEMS
l MEMS turbojet (1/4” diam. turbine) will produce 10-20 g thrust at thrust-weight ratio > 10:1
l MEMS micro rocket engine can produce 3 lb of thrust
Source: AEROSPACE AMERICA, AW&ST, WIRED
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Enabling Technologies (cont’d.)
l Software - Autonomous adaptive packet routing - Autonomous orbit determination and navigation - Health/status monitoring, reporting and trend analyses - Embedded processors • ‘On-circuit’ calibration and test • Acceptance and LRU interchangeability • from production through test through operations - Neural networks and fuzzy logic processing - Remote agent software for adapting to anomalies - Automated, data-driven, ‘visual’ constellation control centers - SDR’s for multi-mode, multi-band, multifunctional, interoperable, upgradeable comms equipment
l New Standards - Interoperable control center software and interfaces - Satellite interface standards for servicing and upgrading
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Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#› CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Enabling Technologies (cont’d.)
l Efficient Design and Production Technologies - ‘Paperless’ Design and Manufacture • Common Data Base • Single Geometric Model - Integrated Product Teams - Design For Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) - Concurrent Engineering • Design Process with Product • R&D Technology Insertion with Design Process - Quality Production Process - ‘On-circuit’ Test, Diagnostics and Calibration • from Production through Operations - Common Test and Operations Systems
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Winning Satellite Network Features
l Marketshare, marketshare, marketshare - Spectrum and spectrum reuse efficiency is limit - Winners survive shakeouts with marketshare • Penetration, adaptive growth and consolidations • Highest share/volume enables lowest cost structure • Incumbent barriers to entry only delay shakeouts • 30% market share and low cost supplier dominates
l Rapidly adaptive networks and systems - Scaleable open architectures - Graceful/rapid introduction of new technologies and capabilities • Rapid tracking of market and traffic demands • Ability to rapidly use new spectrum resources • New deployments £2 year and replacement/upgrades £5 year
l Bundled services • Transparent interoperability • Seamless terrestrial LAN connections • Wireless terrestrial LAN extensions
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Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#› CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Next Generation GSO’s
l Extraordinary evolution of GSO’s over past 30 years • 1000 times more cost effective • 100 times higher power • 50 times higher frequency use efficiency • 10 times longer lifetimes
l Future GSO’s will continue to improve and grow larger - Crosslinked GSO’s • Intra-slot and inter-slot ISL’s (inter-satellite links) - Interlinked into integrated hybrid networks • With GEO’s, MEO’s, LEO’s, Aerostats - Future designs for integrated hybrid networks SS Loral/Alcatel’s GSO/LEO hybrid network: CyberStar/SkyBridge ICO-Teledesic/Motorola’s GSO/MEO/LEO network: Celestri/ICO/Teledesic NPO Energomash’s GSO/MEO/LEO network: Rostelsat • Interconnects crosslinked or ground terminal linked • New value-added services - Asymmetric traffic, local DBS channels, etc.
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Next Generation Small GSO’s
l Currently ~Half the size of classic HS 376 - 400-800 kg GTO
l ~Same power capability as classic HS 376 - 1.5 kW - 3 kW BOL
l Can launch on much smaller launchers - Rockot, LM-2C, Soyuz, etc.
l Use electric propulsion for GTO to GSO transfer - Transfer takes 4-6 months
l Can incrementally put 4 or more satellites co-located in each slot - Incrementally track changing market demands - Incrementally track technology availability
l Example: Intersputnik replacement fleet of small GSO’s - Filed with ITU in 4Q 2000 for 15 slots • 51 satellites (15 C/Ku-band, 36 S/Ka/V band) into 15 slots - First 2 satellites under contract to Khrunichev (Dialog) • 16 C/S-band transponders, 600-700 kg GTO, 3 kW, 10-12 year lifetime - 9 - 12 month construction cycle (follow-ons) - 4 to be launched by 2003 on Rockots (into 700 km x 30,000 km GTO) • Raised to GSO using electric propulsion (5-6 months) - Commercial price 35-40 M$ per launched satellite
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Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#› CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Next Generation Cluster GSO’s
l GSO Cluster (distributed virtual satellite) - Star LAN, modular, open architecture • Central stationkeeping GSO switching node - Digital FPS and ISL’s to Tx/Rx sub-satellites - Open architecture for adding new sub-satellites • Many formation-keeping Tx/Rx sub-satellite nodes - Large antennas, band specific - Digital ISL’s to central satellite - Formation rotates once per day around stationkeeping central satellite • Distributed aperture not required (1/4 l position knowledge) - Key Features • Interconnection of all frequencies and terminals • Incrementally deployable with scaleable capacity • Graceful introduction of new technologies • Rapid incorporation of new spectrum and bands • Robust network with graceful degradation modes • £2 year for new deployment, £5 year lifetimes
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Next Generation ‘Little’ LEO’s
l High differentiation for market niches • Ground relay nodes (satellite on the ground) • Agile, multi-frequency payloads (SDR’s) • Inter-satellite links • Interoperable terminals (strategic business alliances) • Integrated wireless LAN extensions (new bundled services) • Large capacity (>x10) systems in other bands (e.g., KITCOMM)
l Interlinked into hybrid networks • Crosslinked or ground linked (GSO’s, MEO’s, other LEO’s, and Aerostats)
l Consolidation on common platforms • Competitors share multi-payload constellation (e.g., HCI and USSB) • ‘Little’ LEO payload on other LEO’s (e.g., a Big LEO) - Superior coverage, increased capacity, longer lifetime, smaller org. - 70% cost reduction in project deployment
l New value-added services • Concentrators, bypass, trunking, global access, download, etc.
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Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#› CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Next Generation ‘Big’ LEO’s
l Higher capacity, adaptable systems - Smaller beams, higher frequency reuse - Agile, multi-frequency payloads - More on-board processing services - Laser inter-satellite links and laser ground links
l Interlinked into hybrid networks - Crosslinked or ground linked (GSO’s, other LEO’s, and Aerostats) • e.g., CyberStar/SkyBridge GSO/LEO hybrid network - Interoperable terminals (strategic business alliances)
l Consolidation on common platforms - Multi-payload constellations • Competitors share facility constellation • ‘Big’ LEO payloads on Mega LEO • Insertion of clone, dedicated remote sensing satellites - Superior satellites and data delivery, Significantly reduced costs
l New complementary value-added services • Asymmetric traffic, broadband trunking, etc.
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LEO Virtual (Cluster) Satellite
l Inter-satellite links provide virtual satellite capabilities - ISL’s: RF, laser or through ground bounce - 1/4 l position knowledge required for distributed apertures
l Early technology demonstrators - GSFC EO-1 (launch11/ 2000) - NRL Whitecloud (NOSS, operational follow-on) - USAFRL TechSat21 - GSFC ST5 (Nanosat Constellation Trailblazer), - French Essaim
Source: AWST, 2001 J.R.Stuart 4/6/02 30
Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#› CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Stratospheric Platforms Fill Important Coverage Gap
l Fill Important Coverage Gap - 20 km Altitude - Ideal Metropolitan Footprint • 50-400 km diameter footprint (at 0°-40° elevation angle) - Spot Beam Cell Diameters as small as 2-10km diameter • As small as terrestrial tower cells and~1/100 size of GSO Spots
l Tallest, Single Tower - Line-of Sight to Entire Metropolitan Population - Instant Roll-out of New Services
l Lowest, Closest Satellite - Orders of Magnitude Closer than Satellites • ~50 times closer than LEO’s • ~2000 times closer than GEO’s - ~10,000 times Spectrum Reuse within Metro Area • Concentrator acquires new previously unavailable customers • 10,000X increase in metro customers with same spectrum
l Dominates All Terrestrial and Space Alternatives (over 50-400 km diam. areas) - Rollout time, Installation Cost/POP, installation cost/km2
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Stratospheric Platform Start-ups on the Horizon
l Many Stratospheric Platforms Start-ups on the Horizon: - SkyStation Int’l (VA): lighter-than-airship • Unpiloted - Skysat Communications Network Corporation (TX): lighter-than-airship • Unpiloted - Stratcom Int’l (OH): lighter-than-airship • Unpiloted - Advanced Technologies Group (UK): lighter-than-airship • Piloted, www.airships.com - Lindstrand Balloons, Ltd. (UK): lighter-than-airship • Piloted - Platforms Wireless Int’l (CA): tethered lighter-than-airship blimp • San Diego Demo 3/01 • First service deployment in Brazil, South America announced 4/01 - Americel of Brazil, 325 M$ contract, 5 Aerostats ( first launch scheduled 6/01) - Space Data Corp (AZ): free release balloons • 1000’s released 2x daily from 70 USA sites - Angel Technologies (MO), etc.: heavier-than-air plane • Piloted, UAV - SkyTower Telecommunications (CA): heavier-than-air plane • Unpiloted UAV (by AeroVironment) - Etc.
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Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#› CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Stratospheric Platforms Fill Important Coverage Gap
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Stratospheric Platform Broadband System
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Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#› CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
ThinSats Are Natural Evolution of Drivers
l 1 m x 1 m square, 1 mil thick, multi-layer polymer film satellite
l 1,000 independent ThinSats linked end-to-end (1 m x 1 km strip) - Equivalent 250 Watt transponder
l Swarm of 1 km ThinSat strips - Equivalent 1km diameter distributed aperture (50-100 times smaller spot size than today)
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ThinSat Roll-To-Roll Production
l Production of 1,000 ThinSats linked end-to-end (1 m x 1 km strip)
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Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#› CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
ThinSat Thin Film Power Generation and Storage
l Thin film solar arrays on one side (50-100 W per 1 m x 1 m unit) - Amorphous Si, CIS, CdTe, CIGS • ECD Ovonics, www.ovonic.com (amorphous Si on plastic) • Iowa Thin Film Technologies, www.iowathinfilm.com (amorphous Si on plastic, R2R)
l Integrated with thin film Lithium Ion polymer battery • Thin film battery technology (NASA/JPL, LLNL, etc.) • Power Paper, www.powerpaper.com (Thin and Flexible Microlectronics, TFM)
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ThinSat Thin Film Electronics
l Internal printed layers of enlarged printed circuits and IC’s • Amorphous (poly)silicon transistors on plastic technology (LLNL, etc.) • Rolltronics, www.rolltronics.com (thin film integrated circuits) - amorphous silicon transistors in a continuous flow roll-to-roll manufacturing process - low-cost, high-strength, flexible semiconductors, on a roll of plastic
• Power Paper, www.powerpaper.com (Thin and Flexible Microlectronics., TFM) - low-power integrated circuits (IC), MEM’s, - chip and surface-mounted device (SMD) bondingoptional
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Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#› CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
ThinSats Are Flexible
l Printed steerable phased array on one side - Conjugate phase steered (bent pipe), or controlled steering
l Launch Z-folded or in rolls of 1000 ThinSats (<100 kg/strip) - Compatible with standard ELV’s (and with rail/gas guns)
l Deploying/Stiffening by gravity gradient and electrostatic - Shaping by electrostatic or piezo-electric (thin film)
l Attitude Determination and Control (ADCS) - Ground beacon, ISL’s, GPS - Magnetic torqueing (switched power routing), solar pressure, piezo-electric
l Stationkeeping and Formationkeeping Propulsion - using magnetic orbit pumping or solar pressure (solar sailing)
l RF Payload: 250 W RF per each 1 km strip - 1/4 Watt RF per 1 m x 1 m ThinSat unit
l Inter-satellite Links (ISL’s) provide virtual satellite capabilities (1/4 l) - through edge polymer lasers, surface RF or through ground bounce
l Virtual 10 km diameter ThinSat swarm can provide new capabilities - Communications (terrestrial micro-spots => spectrum reuse, data relay) - Power beaming (space => space, space => earth) - Non-lethal weapon (S-Band, 95 GHz short pulse trains, etc.) - Remote sensing (terrestrial, planetary)
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Future Trends and Next Big Things
l Access and Bandwidth Become Even More Addictive
l Spectrum Will Remain the Critical Path • Drive to maximize frequency reuse • More innovative methods for sharing of (new) bands
l Extraordinary Evolution of GSO’s (past 30 years) Will Continue
l Each System Will Dominate in Different Wireless Service/Markets • GSO’s, MEO’s, LEO’s, stratospheric platforms, terrestrial towers
l New Hybrid, Interconnected Constellations and Networks Will Emerge • Seamless Inter-network access and connectivity • ‘3-D’ multi-shell, multi-function, multi-band constellations
l Stratospheric Platforms • Multi-payload, multi-service platforms • Stratospheric platforms will emerge in networks
l Virtual Distributed Satellites • Crosslinked clusters of specialized nodes • Rapid deployments and short lifetimes • Distributed aperture satellites
l ‘Thin Satellite’ Swarms (ThinSats) • Large 2D dimensions (m’s), minimum 1D dimension (mm’s) • Low mass, solid state, mass-produced, MEMS/film satellites • Distributed, interconnected, large swarms
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Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#› CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Future Trends and Next Big Things (cont’d)
l Revolution in Thin Film (Plastic) electronics
l Myriad of New Wireless LAN’s and PAN’s • Bluetooth, 802.11x, Time Domain UWB, etc. • Magic Bubble (www.magicbubble.com)
l Embedded Processors in EVERYTHING ! • Interconnected into wireless LAN’s and PAN’s • Interconnected into wired and wireless WAN’s - Satellite and terrestrial WAN’s
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Future Trends and Next Big Things (cont’d)
l Continued space industry consolidation • Major consolidations and strategic alliances - Satellite manufacturing - Launch providers - Global satellite network operators - Content providers and distribution channels
l New Breeds of Architects (General Designers) - Space system+network design (combined) architects • Distributed, adaptable, hybrid networks and systems - Process architects for space systems production/manufacturing
- Technologies + Insights = Breakthroughs
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Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#› CO SGC Space Research Symposium: Technologies for Tomorrow NEXT GENERATION SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Author Biography:
l Dr. James R. Stuart is an independent, internationally recognized consultant specializing in the development of new technologies, advanced systems and commercial businesses. He has consulted to over 85 companies in the past 25 years. He is currently a Board Director of 5 entrepreneurial, high-technology companies involved with wireless telecommunications, digital rights management, satellite communications, launchers, and space propulsion. . He has been a Director on the Boards of 23 companies during the past 25 years. He is concurrently active, on part-time bases, as the Chief Technology Officer for Kitcomm Satellite Communications Ltd. (a global tracking and data collection satellite constellation), and as the Chief Strategy Officer for Pioneer Rocketplane (a manned reusable launcher).
l Dr. Stuart has held positions as the CEO of SkyVault Secure Digital Distribution, Inc. in Carmel, CA, the CEO and President of Kitcomm Satellite Communications Ltd. in Hamilton, Bermuda, the Vice President and Chief Architect of Teledesic Corp. in Bellevue, WA., and the Chief Scientist and Chief Engineer of Ball Aerospace in Boulder, CO. He was previously the founding Chief Engineer of Orbital Sciences Corporation (ORB: NYSE), the Assistant Laboratory Director of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, and the Mars Observer Project Manager at the NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
l Dr. Stuart was a member of three graduate engineering faculties of the University of Colorado at Boulder for 19 years, in the Electrical Engineering, the Telecommunications and the Aerospace Engineering Sciences Departments. He has been a regular lecturer at various universities, including the Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and the Naval Postgraduate School. He received his Ph.D. in Systems Engineering (1979), M.S. in Operations Research (1977), and M.S. in Electrical Engineering (1974) from the University of Southern California, and his B.S. in Physics (1968) from the University of Washington.
l Dr. Stuart has received numerous professional awards, including NASA's Exceptional Service Medal for his project management of the Solar Mesosphere Explorer Project. He has been listed in Via Satellite's "Top 100 Executives in the Satellite Communications Industry". Dr. Stuart holds 9 patents in satellite, wireless communications and network designs. He was the author of a graduate engineering, two-volume text entitled Satellite Communication Systems, co- author of Telecommunications: An Interdisciplinary Text, and has published over 150 professional papers.
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Dr. James R. Stuart Page ‹#›