A method for hosted payload operations comprises transmitting, by a hosted payload (HoP) operation center (HOC), encrypted hosted commands to a host spacecraft operations center (SOC). The method further comprises transmitting, by the host SOC, encrypted host commands and the encrypted hosted commands to a vehicle. Also, the method comprises reconfiguring a host payload according to unencrypted host commands, and reconfiguring a hosted payload according to unencrypted hosted commands. Additionally, the method comprises transmitting host payload data to a host receiving antenna. Also, the method comprises transmitting hosted payload data to a hosted receiving antenna and/or the host receiving antenna. Additionally, the method comprises transmitting, by a host telemetry transmitter, encrypted host telemetry to the host SOC; and transmitting, by a hosted telemetry transmitter, encrypted hosted telemetry to the host SOC. Further, the method comprises transmitting, by the host SOC, the encrypted hosted telemetry to the HOC.

A method for hosted payload operations comprises transmitting, by a hosted payload (HoP) operation center (HOC), encrypted hosted commands to a host spacecraft operations center (SOC). The method further comprises transmitting, by the host SOC, encrypted host commands and the encrypted hosted commands to a vehicle. Also, the method comprises reconfiguring a host payload according to unencrypted host commands, and reconfiguring a hosted payload according to unencrypted hosted commands. Additionally, the method comprises transmitting host payload data to a host receiving antenna. Also, the method comprises transmitting hosted payload data to a hosted receiving antenna and/or the host receiving antenna. Additionally, the method comprises transmitting, by a host telemetry transmitter, encrypted host telemetry to the host SOC; and transmitting, by a hosted telemetry transmitter, encrypted hosted telemetry to the host SOC. Further, the method comprises transmitting, by the host SOC, the encrypted hosted telemetry to the HOC.

A satellite communication system leverages the carrier offset detection capability of the demodulator contained in an on-board modem of M&C channel. The modem detects the frequency error Δf, introduced in the signal path from the output of the base station at ground to the output of baseband conversion on the satellite, by analyzing the baseband signal at the baseband conversion to estimate the received carrier f′c and subtracting it the from the expected frequency (fc).

An aircraft based satellite communication (SATCOM) terminal includes a broadband aperture configured to communicate through non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellites for broadband communications, a management aperture configured to receive NGSO satellite management information from a geostationary orbit (GSO) satellite, and at least one processor that performs operations. The operations receive the NGSO satellite management information from the GSO satellite, where the NGSO satellite management information indicates positions and associated time of a set of the NGSO satellites. The operations acquire a second communication link with a second NGSO satellite among the set using the NGSO satellite management information during handoff switching from using a first communication link that was previously acquired with a first NGSO satellite to using the second communication link being acquired with the second NGSO satellite. The operations then perform broadband communications through the broadband aperture and the second communication link with the second NGSO satellite. Related ground-based control centers are disclosed.

Methods and transceivers transmit communication frames that comprise a sequence of N symbols, ensuing payload header symbols, and ensuing payload message symbols. The sequence of N symbols encodes information according to signal-to-noise ratio associated with the communication frame.

A system and method are disclosed for synchronizing timing for a terminal in a satellite communication system. Upon detecting a service interruption, first timing markers are extrapolated from timing information received prior to the service interruption. Second timing markers are also extrapolated from timing information received subsequent to the service interruption. Timing for the terminal is then synchronized with the gateway based on a timing difference between the first timing markers and the second timing markers.

A multiple-access transceiver handles communications with mobile stations in environments that exceed mobile station design assumptions without necessarily requiring modifications to the mobile stations. One such environment is in Earth orbit. The multiple-access transceiver is adapted to close communications with mobile stations while exceeding mobile station design assumptions, such as greater distance, greater relative motion and/or other conditions commonly found where functionality of a terrestrial transceiver is to be performed by an orbital transceiver. The orbital transceiver might include a data parser that parses a frame data structure, a signal timing module that adjusts timing based on orbit to terrestrial propagation delays, frequency shifters and a programmable radio capable of communicating from the Earth orbit that uses a multiple-access protocol such that the communication is compatible with, or appears to the terrestrial mobile station to be, communication between a terrestrial cellular base station and the terrestrial mobile station.

A method for suppressing a parasite signal received with a useful signal by a network of elementary antennas of a payload of a satellite. The suppression method includes an analogue formation step for forming analog beams and a digital formation step for forming a digital beam. The analog formation step includes forming of an useful analog beam in which the parasite signal is attenuated with respect to the useful signal and of an auxiliary analog beam in which the useful signal is attenuated with respect to the parasite signal. The digital formation step includes forming of a digital beam in which the parasite signal has been suppressed, by combining the signals obtained by digitizing the auxiliary beam and the useful beam.

A method includes, in a transceiver (24), receiving from a repeater (32) a received signal, which includes a desired signal for reception and an undesired replica of a transmitted signal that was transmitted from the transceiver and retransmitted by the repeater. A local copy of the transmitted signal is generated in the transceiver. A filter response that, when applied to the transmitted signal before transmission, compensates for a difference in spectral response between the local copy and the undesired replica, is estimated in the transceiver. The undesired replica of the transmitted signal, which is received in the received signal, is matched with the local copy of the transmitted signal, by at least pre-filtering the transmitted signal before transmission with the estimated filter response. Interference caused by the undesired replica to the desired signal is canceled, by combining the local copy and the received signal.

Antennas used aboard aircraft to communicate with satellites or ground stations may have complex antenna patterns, which may vary as the aircraft moves throughout a given coverage area. Techniques are disclosed for dynamically adjusting the instantaneous power fed to an antenna system to ensure that the antenna transmits at the regulatory or coordinated effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) spectral limit. The antenna may transmit, in accordance with aircraft location and attitude, steerable beam patterns at different scan and skew angle combinations, causing variations in antenna gain and fluctuations in the transmitted EIRP. Using on-board navigational data, an antenna gain and ESD limit may be calculated for a particular scan and skew angle, which may be used to adjust power fed to the antenna such that the antenna transmits substantially at maximum allowable EIRP as the steerable beam pattern is adjusted.