The IRIDIUM system-a revolutionary satellite communications system developed with innovative applications of technology

Author

Sterling, David E. ; Hatlelid, John E.

Author_Institution

Motorola Inc., McLean, VA, USA

fYear

1991

fDate

4-7 Nov 1991

Firstpage

436

Abstract

Motorola will launch a constellation of 77 small, smart, low-Earth-orbiting satellites forming a digitally switched voice and data network. Called the IRIDIUM system, the functional concept is based on a small, portable, cellular-like telephone that will communicate to/from any place on or above the Earth. The IRIDIUM system is composed of three basic segments: the user subscriber units, the satellites, and the Earth station gateways. In addition, a system control segment is needed for state of health, commanding, and anomaly analysis and resolution. The services the IRIDIUM system will offer from a handheld unit include voice, 2.4 kb/s data, position location, paging, and two-way messaging

Keywords

digital radio systems; mobile radio systems; satellite relay systems; Earth station gateways; IRIDIUM constellation; cellular-like telephone; control segment; digital switched voice/data network; low-Earth-orbiting satellites; paging; position location; satellite communications system; two-way messaging; user subscriber units; Artificial satellites; Communication switching; Low earth orbit satellites; Radio transmitters; Satellite broadcasting; Satellite communication; Space technology; Switches; Systems engineering and theory; Telephony;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Military Communications Conference, 1991. MILCOM '91, Conference Record, Military Communications in a Changing World., IEEE

Conference_Location

McLean, VA

Print_ISBN

0-87942-691-8

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/MILCOM.1991.258290

Filename

258290