Electronics and Telecommunications Trends (전자통신동향분석)

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (한국전자통신연구원)
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Technology Trends in Communication Payload for the Broadband LEO Satellite Constellation

저궤도 군집 통신위성 탑재체 기술 동향

  • Published : 2022.06.02
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Abstract

This article presents an overview of the key technologies in the communications payload of broadband LEO satellite communications systems. In recent years, new developments have been realized for LEO satellite communications. SpaceX's Starlink, a technology leader in this field, offers premium services with satellites carrying in-house developed communications payloads. OneWeb, Amazon, Telesat, and Boeing are also developing LEO satellite communications payloads. The communications payload consists of user link antennas, inter-satellite link communications equipment, feeder link antennas, and a digital processor. Highly sophisticated technologies of compact active phased array antennas for generating multiple hopping beams and light laser communication equipment for ultra-high-speed inter-satellite communication will be applied to next- generation payloads.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by Institute for Information & communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP) grant funded by the Korean Government (MSIP) [No. 2018-0-00190, Development of Core Technology for Satellite Payload].

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