Abstract After NASA demonstrated the advantages of the high-capacity Ka-Band with its Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) in 1993, companies sought licences from the US Federal Communications Commission to operate satellites offering global communications to mobile systems and to fixed sites in developing countries that lacked a conventional communications infrastructure.1, 2, 3 The Commission required that any company granted a licence must start the construction of its first two satellites within one year of the licence being granted, finish them within four years, and have the entire constellation operating within six years. In January 1995 the Commission issued licences to Motorola-led Iridium, Loral-led GlobalStar and TRW-led Odyssey.4, 5 In contrast to the established practice of operating geostationary communications relays, all of these proposals were for constellations in non-geostationary orbits.
Boom and bust
2005-01-01
21 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English
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