Telemetry Architectures for Future Earth Observation Missions: Over 1 Gbit/s in X-Band

Abstract

High data rate payload telemetry of Earth Observation missions is classically done in the Earth Exploration Satellite (EES) X-band (8025-8400 MHz) with current max data rates about 600 Mbit/s. While higher frequency bands are often considered to offer higher data rates, this paper deals with on-board architectures that would allow data transmission at more than 1 Gbit/s in X-Band. It presents these new architectures based on spectrally efficient transmission systems and on simultaneous bipolarization transmission, their designs and their performances. Variable Coding and Modulation techniques are described. Interference between channels in cross-polarization is also evaluated.