Payload Trades, Antennas and Communications

Abstract

A satellite is composed of two major subsystems, the payload and the bus. This chapter describes both subsystems with emphasis on the payload because it impacts the quality and the type of services that the satellite can deliver. The communications payload generates the revenue for the satellite operator. As a result, the operator of the satellite usually specifies the payload in detail while the builder of the satellite adopts the specified payload to an existing bus structure. The bus provides the electrical power, thermal stability, pointing (keeping the antennas pointed in the correct direction), station keeping (to keep the satellite from drifting out of its assigned position) and structural integrity. This chapter discusses the major topics associated with payloads used by GMSS satellites and some major bus subsystems.