Inside Frequency Control

So much of the focus in SATCOM technology pertains to what goes on in outer space, but what happens down here on earth is just as important. The fact is that every satellite, no matter how advanced, is still only a part of a larger system. Today, you'll learn the important role that satellite ground stations play in making SATCOM possible, and some of the challenges (and possible solutions) for organizations working with LEO satellites on the ground.

The average person probably doesn’t spend any time thinking about satellites unless he or she is specifically entering an address into a GPS device— and even that would be a stretch. Satellite communication has become such a pervasive, omnipresent influence in our lives, our economy, and our government that we simply take it for granted. With the advent of high-throughput satellites (HTS), this trend has only increased. Speeds and data capacities never before dreamed of are becoming commonplace, and dramatically improving SATCOM capabilities in both the public and private sectors. A core technological attribute that is enabling the HTS revolution is a technique called beam hopping.

Satellite communications make it possible for so much of today's technology to function. From GPS and HDTV, to the safety and protection our armed forces provide, there are many uses for satellites. However, different uses require different techniques for transmitting the data back to earth in the most effective way.

So much of what defines our modern lives is made possible through radio wave technology, which has changed the world in ways the first researchers could never have anticipated. But where did anyone get the idea that radio waves existed in the first place, and that they could be harnessed for wireless communication? It’s a fascinating story that continues to unfold to this day. Let’s go back to the beginning to understand how this technology has evolved.

Hurricane season 2017 has been one for the books. This year, North America has experienced some of the biggest and strongest hurricanes EVER in recorded history. Harvey, Irma, and Maria struck back, to back, to back, causing some of the worst destruction the world has ever seen. One thing many of us probably look over during a hurricane is its impact on satellite communications. Environmental factors, such as precipitation from hurricanes, can lead to a challenging phenomenon known as rain fade. 

The international space station (ISS) is traveling in orbit around our earth at about 217 Miles (350 km) above earth’s surface. That’s equal to about 1,148,294 feet (yes, over 1 MILLION feet) or 350,000 meters above you. Those are some crazy heights! The ISS and other satellite communication devices must be able to cover a ton of earth’s surface from there, right?

Maybe. Maybe not. Let’s explore...

The Cassini Spacecraft, 20, of NASA died on Friday, September the 15th of 2017 while passing through Saturn's fierce atmosphere on the way to it's mysterious surface.

The age of space exploration and exploitation is about to enter an exciting new chapter. Once the sole domain of superpower government agencies, there are now over 800 private companies operating in space, as well as many more governments around the world. Innovations in launch technology have made it cheaper than ever to send payloads into orbit, and more parties are active in space than ever before. It’s led to significant changes in the space industry. One of the most important changes is the increased use of smaller constellation satellites.