Payload for medium altitude global mobile satellite system

ESA is currently studying mobile satellite systems based on MEO (medium altitude Earth orbits) for global personal communications. As a result of this study a 14-satellites constellation in circular orbits at a height of 10355 km has been chosen as the baseline. The authors present basic trade-offs of the payload design, as well as payload mass and power budgets. The selected payload makes use of SAW filters and an analog switch matrix and beam forming network, and active L and S-band antennas. >