The Large Geostationary Platform and the Real World

Abstract

The Space Shuttle will make it possible to place large complicated structures in orbit. The large geostationary platform is a prime candidate for Shuttle launch. A single communications platform placed in geostationary orbit over the United States could alleviate the growing problems of orbit and spectrum congestion by providing communications capacity equal to a large number of conventional satellites at substantially lower cost. A variety of nontechnical and institutional problems such as platform ownership and control, user participation, financial support, and political acceptance must be resolved along with the technical issues of platform/payload design, fabrication, and integration. This paper discusses the institutional aspects of large geostationary platform implementation; presents important economic and political tradeoffs; and identifies potential legal and social problems likely to influence acceptance of the multi-payload, multi-mission concept.