A Phased-Array Ground Terminal for Satellite Communications

This paper describes an electronically-steerable antenna suitable for the ground terminal of an active medium-orbit satellite communications system. A unique phased array antenna design permits the implementation of a practical ground terminal with components that are well within the state-of-the-art. The array terminal is capable of performing the functions of acquiring and tracking a number of satellites simultaneously, for establishing simultaneous and practically uninterrupted communications with a number of other ground terminals, and it is suitable for portable ground or shipborne terminals.