S@tMax - A Space-Based System Enabling Mobile IP Applications in Vehicles

Paper number

IAC-06-B3.6.10

Author

Mr. Marco Arcioni, European Space Agency (ESA)/ESTEC, The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mrs. Wencke van der Meulen, The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Robert Mueller, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Kennedy Space Center, United States

Year

2006

Abstract

As personal mobility increases, the people spend more time in their vehicles. Furthermore, a large segment of today’s workforce is part of a growing mobile service industry. This mobile society creates opportunities to increase productivity which doe not yet exist.
Today’s commuting time could be better utilized and mobile business transactions could be more efficiently conducted, by integrating mobile wireless services (such as VoIP, WAN extension to business networks, credit card transactions, billing, invoicing, navigation and general Internet access) in vehicles.
By means of a direct to mobile user Internet access, and total IP services, integrated into automobiles, S@tMax services can empower the mobile business movement improving productivity.
This paper presents a commercial system architecture that will deliver an optimized solution for direct to mobile user internet access, through an integration of a ground based network infrastructure, use of existing communications satellites and the development of a proprietary satellite system. As a result of a detailed systems engineering process, the space segment architecture of the mobile direct to user system will be presented with a focus on the design of the spacecraft communication payload. Here, special attention has been given to frequency and modulation schemes and spread spectrum, which allows interoperability and avoids interference with other communication systems. Furthermore the benefits of an on-orbit servicing are also evaluated both from technical and business points of view.
The presented approach is considered as an important step towards enforcing main roadway IP coverage for continuous (quasi-continuous) communications and services.

Abstract document

IAC-06-B3.6.10.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-B3.6.10.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.