S-band mobile satellite communications and multimedia broadcasting onboardequipment for ETS-VIII

To realize S-band mobile satellite communications and broadcasting systems, the onboard mission system and equipment were designed for the Japanese En gineering Test Satellite VIII. The system performs voice communications usi ng handheld terminals, highspeed data communications, and multimedia broadc asting through a geostationary satellite. To enhance system efficiency and flexibility, the onboard mission system features phased-array-fed reflector antennas with large antenna diameter and baseband switching through onboar d processors. Configurations and performance of the subsystems and key onbo ard equipment, large deployable reflectors, feed arrays, beam forming netwo rks and onboard processors, are presented. The S-band mobile systems and on board equipment will be verified through in-orbit experiments scheduled for 2002.