Satellite Orbits for Communications Satellites

Abstract

One of the key elements of a communications satellite service is the ability to launch satellites into precisely defined orbits and to maintain them in the desired orbit throughout the lifetime of the satellite. The system control and oversight of satellite orbits both require not only the technical ability to launch and maintain the orbit, but the ability to attain the proper legal authority, at the national and international level, to transmit and/or receive radio signals from these orbits. This regulatory process means a number of specific steps associated with registering for the allocated frequencies from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)through a national governmental administration, obtaining assignments of those frequencies in the required orbits in accord with national licensing procedures, and coordination of the use of the specific frequencies through intersystem coordination procedures.