Accession Number:

ADA326969

Title:

The Use of Commercial Low Earth Orbit Satellite Systems to Support DOD Communications.

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis,

Corporate Author:

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA

Personal Author(s):

• Stelianos, Haralambos

Report Date:

1996-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

112.0

Abstract:

Within the next five years there will be a proliferation of commercial Low Earth Orbit LEO satellite systems providing voicedata services to anywhere in the world. Instead of investing heavily in new satellite systems, the military services can use these forthcoming commercial satellite shyster to enhance their existing satellite-based systems. An in-depth study and detailed summary is provided in this thesis for each of the following four commercial LEO satellite systems Iridium, Teledesic, Odyssey, and Globalstar. Then, a comparison of these systems is performed from the military point of view by using criteria such as antijam protection, security, mobility, flexibility, interoperability, coverage, and capacity. It is shown that an architecture consisting of Globalstar and Odyssey has the potential to provide communications support for DoDs less critical needs which include administration, logistics, and other support functions. Finally , other military applications of these systems are given.

Descriptors:

• *EARTH ORBITS
• *LOW ORBIT TRAJECTORIES
• *ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES
• *MILITARY APPLICATIONS
• *SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
• *COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT
• DATA PROCESSING
• MILITARY FORCES(UNITED STATES)
• INTEROPERABILITY
• THESES
• PROTECTION
• LOGISTICS
• ANTIJAMMING
• VOICE COMMUNICATIONS
• IRIDIUM

Subject Categories:

• Defense Systems
• Unmanned Spacecraft
• Radio Communications

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE