|WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION INTERGOVERNMENTAL OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISSION (OF UNESCO) _____________ ___________ DATA BUOY COOPERATION PANEL DBCP-XXII/Doc. 8.4 (13.X.2006) TWENTY SECOND SESSION ITEM: 8.4 LA JOLLA, USA 16-20 OCTOBER 2006 ENGLISH ONLY DEVELOPMENTS IN SATELLITE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS (Submitted by David Meldrum, DBCP chair) Summary and purpose of document This document, prepared by David Meldrum and Pushkar Wadke (Scottish Association for Marine Science) provides an overview of the current status of mobile satellite systems, as well as their actual or potential application to data buoy operations and data collection, updated in October 2006. ACTION PROPOSED The panel is invited to: (a) Note and comment on the information as appropriate; (b) Make recommendations regarding the use of mobile satellite systems for buoy data collection applications; (c) Request a further update of the document to be prepared for DBCP-XXIII. ______________________ Appendices: A. Overview of mobile satellite systems with possible data buoy applications - update 2006 DBCP-XX/Doc. 8.4, p. 2 1. INTRODUCTION Mobile satellite systems (MSS) may be classified according to orbit altitude as follows: GEO - geostationary earth orbit, approx altitude: 35 000 km MEO - mid-altitude earth orbit, approx altitude: 10 000 km LEO - low earth orbit, approx altitude: <1 000 km LEOs can be further sub-divided into Big LEO and Little LEO categories. Big LEOs will offer voice, fax, telex, paging and data capability, whereas little LEOs will offer data capability only, either on a real-time direct readout ('bent pipe') basis, or as a store-and-forward service. Since the satellite footprint decreases in size as the orbit gets lower, LEO and MEO systems require larger constellations than GEO satellites in order to achieve global coverage and avoid data delays. Less energy is, however, generally required for LEO and MEO satellite communication because of the shorter average distance between transmitter and satellite. Some systems implement several high-gain antennas to generate ‘spot beams’ and so reduce the requirement of the mobile to have a complex antenna and/or high output power. Another trend is towards much smaller cheaper satellites. After minisats and microsats, now there is talk about nanosats, picosats and even femptosats — credit-card-size satellites. Because of the commercial forces which are driving the implementation of the new systems, many will primarily focus on land masses and centres of population, and will not offer truly global or polar coverage. These systems will not in general be acceptable for global ocean monitoring. Furthermore, while the technical capabilities for the new MSS do currently exist, delays are inevitable due to problems with spectrum allocation, licensing (in each country where the service will be offered), company financing, and availability of launch vehicles and ground stations. It is unlikely that all of the planned systems will overcome all of these hurdles. Indeed, major financial difficulties have hit a number of systems, Iridium having collapsed (and been relaunched), and Orbcomm, Globalstar and New ICO having been in and out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US. Mergers are becoming increasingly common, as market reality forces system planners to cut their losses and pool resources. From a technical point of view, some systems do offer significantly enhanced capabilities compared to existing methods. Potential advantages include two-way communication, more timely observations, and greater data rates and volumes. Some systems may also prove to be considerably less expensive than existing channels.. However, dangers will exist for data buoy users of most MSS, in that they will generally be small minority users of the system, with consequent lack of influence in regard to pricing. The arrangements for data distribution are also unlikely to be tailored towards data buoy applications, in particular those that require data insertion on the GTS. 2. DESCRIPTION OF CANDIDATE SATELLITE SYSTEMS The following paragraphs describe the salient features of those systems that might have a data buoy application. In many cases systems are at an early planning stage, and reliable technical information on which to base an evaluation is unavailable. This section is summarised in tabular form in the Annex of the document. Systems which are deemed to have failed have been removed from the main text, but remain in the summary table. DBCP-XX/Doc. 8.4, p. 3 2.1 Little LEOs 2.1.1 Argos Argos has been used by the oceanographic community for more than two decades, and is a dependable, true polar, operational data collection and platform location system. Traditionally, communication is one-way only, at 400 baud, with practicable data rates of the order of 1 kbyte per day. Transmissions by the mobile in this mode are unacknowledged by the system and therefore have to incorporate redundancy if data transfer is to be assured. The system enjoys a particularly clean part of the spectrum (401.65 MHz), with minimal interference from other users. Until now, Argos has flown as an attached payload on the NOAA ‘TIROS’ weather satellites, but also flew on board the short-lived Japanese ADEOS-II vehicle. Projected launches on board the European METOP and future US NPOESS platforms mark an important diversification of service provision. Current enhancements to the Argos on board equipment (‘Argos-2’) include increased receiver bandwidth and sensitivity, allowing low power transmitter frequencies to be segregated from higher power transmissions. Next generation Argos equipment (‘Argos 3’) will fly on the three MetOp satellites, with MetOp-1 due to be launched during this session. Future launches are planned for 2010 and 2014. Argos-3 features two-way communication with Platform Messaging Transceivers (PMTs), and offers uplink data rates of up to 4.8 kbits/ s. The downlink feature allows the Argos-3 instrument to send an acknowledgement signal to the PMT once the data are received error-free, thus permitting the PMT to avoid unnecessary repetition of the same message. Platform remote control and programming is also possible as users have the opportunity to send short messages (up to 128 bits) to their platforms via the Downlink Message Management Centre (DMMC). The system is one of the few that offers true global coverage, and currently has no commercial requirement to recover the cost of the launch or space segment equipment. The first of the Argos-2 satellites was launched in May 1998, and has been followed in September 2000 by NOAA-L (NOAA-16), NOAA-M (NOAA17) in June 2002, and NOAA-N (NOAA-18) in May 2005. NOAA-N’ will follow in 2009. The current operational constellation consists of NOAA-17 and NOAA-18, although data from up to three other satellites continues to be collected. New direct readout stations continue to be commissioned bringing the current total to 49. Recent additions have included stations Cape Ferguson (Australia, NOAA), Seoul (Korea, Korean Meteorological Agency), Taiwan (National Taiwan Ocean University), Rothera (Antarctica, British Antarctic Survey), Lima (Peru, CLS Peru) and Miami (USA, NOAA). This continues the programme of improving data timeliness by exploiting use of Argos in 'bent-pipe' mode. 2.1.2 Orbcomm This company was awarded the first FCC Little-LEO licence in late 1994. Satellites consist of discs about one metre in diameter prior to deployment of solar panels and antenna. Two satellites were launched into polar orbit during 1995, using a Pegasus rocket piggy-backed on to a Lockheed L-1011 aircraft. After a prolonged period of launcher problems, 35 satellites are now in orbit, making up the complete constellation – although Orbcomm have been awarded a licence for an expansion to a 48 satellite constellation. Of these satellites, 30 are currently operational. The A, B, C and D planes are at 45° inclination and therefore have poor coverage at high latitudes: only two satellites, in the F and G planes (70°), offer a near-polar service, and these have proved to be unreliable. In Mar 2005 the company announced a new launch programme that would carry an Automatic Identification System (AIS) payload, transmitting ship identification and position for use by the US Coast Guard. In July 2006, Orbcomm ordered 6 satellites from OHB System AG. The satellite buses and launch procedures are to be handled by Omsk, Russia, with Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) providing the communication payloads and AIS processing. The system offers both bent-pipe and store-and-forward two-way messaging capabilities, operating in the VHF (138-148 MHz) band. User terminals are known as ‘Subscriber DBCP-XX/Doc. 8.4, p. 4 Communicators’ (SCs). Early results with the system were quite encouraging, although data buoy implementations seem to have decreased in favour of increased usage of Iridium for higher bandwidth applications. The message structure currently consists of packets transmitted at 2400 bps (scheduled to rise to 4800 bps), and coverage is now global and near-continuous between the polar circles. Messages are acknowledged by the system when correctly received and delivered to a user- nominated mailbox. The platform position is determined, if required, using propagation delay data and doppler shift, or by an on-board GPS receiver. Position accuracy without GPS is similar to that offered by Argos, i.e. km-scale. The limitations on the store-and-forward mode messages (known as globalgrams) have become apparent, with SC originated messages limited to 229 bytes and SC terminated messages limited to 182 bytes. Each SC can theoretically have a maximum of 16 globalgrams stored on each satellite. Currently, satellites will not accept or process globalgrams when in view of a ground (‘gateway’) station. As messages have to be designated as globalgrams or bent-pipe by the SC at the moment of origination, this presently limits the flexibility of the system to adapt to different coverage situations. Work-arounds do, however, exist, and it is expected that the next generation of SCs will be able to adapt more readily to changes in satellite communications mode. Authorised transceiver manufacturers include Elisra (Stellar), Quake and MobiApps. All manufacturers offer units with integral GPS. Quake sell a fully integrated unit which features a built-in antenna as well as GPS. Prices of most units are falling, with models now available for around $500 and less. The ground segment has continued to expand, and there are now active stations in Italy, Morocco, Argentina, Brazil, Curacao, Japan, Malaysia and Korea in addition to the four in the US. However the Japanese station is not available for international registrations. Further potential sites have been identified in Russia, Ukraine, Philippines, Botswana, Australia and Oman, though these have yet to be implemented. 16 international service distribution partners have been licensed. Non-US customers have faced considerable difficulties because of the absence of ground stations, lack of spectrum licensing and the presence of other in-band users. However the situation is improving. Orbcomm has suffered financial difficulties, and filed for ‘Chapter 11’ bankruptcy protection in September 2000. The parent company, Orbital Sciences Corporation, has put together a new consortium to run Orbcomm. The outstanding debts are believed to stem largely from the system rollout phase, with net running costs being of much smaller concern. Industry confidence in Orbcomm continues to grow, largely because of the commitment of many third-party equipment and system manufacturers to the success of the system, and evidence of increasing service take-up by a diverse range of customers. Lately, the USCG has awarded Orbcomm a contract within their automatic ship identification (AIS) programme. 2.1.3 Vitasat/Gemnet This was a 36 + 2 satellite constellation proposed by CTA Commercial systems. Their experimental satellite was the failed Vitasat launch in 1995. CTA is reported to have been taken over by Orbital Science Corporation, the parent organisation of Orbcomm, and the 36-satellite Gemnet component has been cancelled. However, the volunteer VITA organisation still exists and currently has one satellite in orbit, with plans to rent bandwidth on two other existing satellites, HealthSat-2 and UoSat-12. This proposal received FCC clearance in December 2000, and the company have now brought HealthSat-2 on line. The main mission is to offer low-cost messaging services to developing countries. 2.1.4 Faisat The Final Analysis company have planned this 32 (+ 6 spare) satellite constellation to provide data messaging services, principally aimed at small messages (~ 100 bytes), but with support for larger messages as well. It will operate in both bent-pipe and store-and-forward modes. The first DBCP-XX/Doc. 8.4, p. 5 satellite launch, on the Russian Cosmos vehicle, was scheduled for early 2000, but nothing has been reported. Further launches were to have occurred roughly twice a year. The system received FCC authorisation in April 1998. A test satellite (also part of the Vitasat system) was launched in 1997. Despite the apparent lack of activity, the website continues to be updated. Moreover, the assets and license of the company were sold to New York Satellite Industries LLC in 2002 as Final Analysis Inc was terminated in bankruptcy. 2.1.5 Gonets Two GONETS LEO messaging systems have been proposed by the former Soviet Union, using both UHF and L/S-band communications channels. Both will offer true global coverage from high inclination 1400 km orbits. One system, GONETS-D already has 8 satellites in orbit with a further 36 planned. No operational experience has been reported to date. Further, series of GONETS-D1 (1to 6, 12 to 14) satellites were launched to provide UHF and L/S-band communications channels. As per the latest update another satellite GONETS-D1M1 was launched in December 2005. This is first of a fleet of 12 satellites in 4 planes to provide Russian agencies with mobile email and short messages. 2.1.6 AprizeSat Formerly known as LatinSat, this recent store-and-forward system uses low power ‘nanosatellites’ (20 cm cubes) in polar orbits to communicate with small user terminals. The satellites employ passive attitude stabilization and are said to be relatively inexpensive to construct and launch. Mobiles establish 2-way communication with the satellites at 402 MHz, message traffic currently being downloaded to a single ground station in Bermuda. LatinSat-A & B were launched in Dec 2002 and LatinSat-C& D in June 2004 and were targeted at asset tracking Plans include a 48-satellite constellation and a more extensive ground station network. Little further is known at present. 2.2 Big and Broadband LEOs 2.2.1 Iridium Iridium filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August 1999, and underwent financial restructuring. Financial difficulties continued and the system ceased operation in April 2000. At that time, Iridium had its complete constellation of 66 satellites plus spares in orbit, and offered a true global service through a network of ground stations backed up by inter-satellite links. The system has since been rescued from planned de-orbiting and resurrected by the US Department of Defense. A commercial service has also been relaunched. Most Iridium phones are data capable and will communicate with a standard modem. Throughput is about 2400bps. The component parts of some phones are now being repackaged as stand-alone modems. A short burst data (SBD) service (~1900 bytes max per message) was introduced in late 2002, as well as a dropout-tolerant direct Internet connection at up to 10kbps. Of particular interest to data buoy operators in the early days of Iridium was the Motorola L-band transceiver module, which was designed to be easily integrated with sensor electronics via a standard serial interface. This product has now reappeared as the Motorola 9522 modem, and is capable of both dial-up and data-only modes of operation. The SBD service offers an easily implemented solution for the transfer of a few kbytes of data per day, transactions taking place as conventional e-mails and attachments. The system is bi- directional and messages may also be queued for the mobile. The cost is currently ~$1.50/kbyte, plus a monthly fee. The new 9601 SBD modem offers simple interfacing, compact size and modest prices (about $400), and has a recently upgraded maximum message size of 340 bytes. Dial-up remains the better option for larger volumes of data, with costs capable of falling below $0.1/kbyte. Energy costs are also low for both modes of access (~20J/kbyte), largely because of DBCP-XX/Doc. 8.4, p. 6 continuous satellite availability and the implementation of spotbeams to reduce the mobile transmitter power requirement. A new ‘near broadband’ product has also been announced, expected to offer transfer rates of about 100kbps at an undisclosed cost. Discussions are also underway regarding special tariffs for scientific and environmental users, and CLS have entered the arena as potential service providers (Value Added Resellers) for this category of use. 2.2.2 Globalstar Globalstar was Iridium’s main competitor in the mobile satellite telephony market. The company's voice and data products include mobile and fixed satellite units, simplex and duplex satellite data modems and flexible service packages. After a bad start in September 1998 when 12 satellites were lost in a single launch failure, Globalstar now has its complete 48 satellite constellation in space, and commenced a limited commercial service in the US in October 1999. Service has since been expanding to other regions and was available in the UK in mid 2000. Globalstar differs significantly from Iridium in that for a call to be made the user must be in the same satellite footprint as a gateway station. There is no inter-satellite relay capability as in Iridium. This means that coverage will not be truly global, especially in the short term as far fewer gateways have been built than originally planned. Although Globalstar was currently in a much stronger financial position than any of its competitors, only 55,000 subscribers had been signed by late 2001 and the company laid off half of its work force in August 2001. Globalstar subsequently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2002. The company has now been taken over by Thermo Capital Partners LLC. Recently in March 2006 Globalstar announced to have 200,000 customers using their satellite voice and data services. Moreover, Globalstar has also announced an agreement with Qualcomm to manufacture its current and next generation handset, plus it has signed agreements with two prospective launch providers to launch its eight spare satellites, planned for early 2007. Data services at 9600 bps are now available, using a dedicated modem. Moreover, Globalstar announced that it has partnered with satellite communications ocean software and hardware company, OCENS, to launch a comprehensive suite of data services. This would now improve data compression rates with effective data transfer speeds of up to 56 kbps. Globalstar also has a second generation system planned, said to involve 56 LEO satellites and 5 GEO satellites. Launch was planned to begin in 2006 but little else is known about the planned enhancements of this system. 2.3 MEOs 2.3.1 New ICO New ICO (formerly ICO Global Communications) was the third of the three main players in the global satellite telephony market. However it also has suffered severe financial difficulties and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August 1999, just two weeks after Iridium. The system, formerly known as Inmarsat-P but now fully autonomous, will use a constellation of 12 MEO satellites backed by a 12-station ground segment to provide a truly global voice, fax, data and messaging service. The aim is to complement and be inter-operable with existing digital cellular telephone networks. Prior to filing for bankruptcy protection, the first launch was planned for late 1999 with commercial service roll out scheduled for the third quarter of 2000. The company emerged from Chapter 11 protection in May 2000, and the first satellite was launched in June 2001, referred to as "F2," which currently provides data gathering services. ICO is currently using one gateway ground station equipped with five antennas, located in the United States, to monitor F2. They also own a facility in Itaborai, Brazil, at which certain gateway equipment for the MEO system is located. In addition, they have ten MEO satellites in storage under an agreement with Boeing Satellite Systems International, Inc., most of which were in advanced stages of completion prior to the termination of work under the satellite agreements. No further information about their launch schedule is available at present. DBCP-XX/Doc. 8.4, p. 7 When the complete constellation is in service two satellites will always be visible from any point on the earth's surface. Data rate will be 9600 bps. Many large manufacturers were engaged in developing dual mode ICO/cellphone handsets. An ICO ‘engine’, was also to be defined for the benefit of third-party equipment manufacturers (OEMs). In particular New ICO is now putting a far greater emphasis on next-generation mobile satellite service (MSS) and recently authorized to offer MSS services throughout the United States using a geostationary earth orbit. This is discussed later in this report. 2.4 GEOS 2.4.1. Inmarsat D+ This is an extension of the Inmarsat D service using the new (spot-beam) Inmarsat Phase 3 satellites and small, low-power user terminals. The system was initially designed as a global pager or data broadcast service, with the return path from the mobile used only as an acknowledgement. D+ permits greater flexibility, but the uplink packets are still limited to 128 bits. The first ground station has been implemented in the Netherlands by the existing Inmarsat service provider (Station 12), but useful technical information has been difficult to obtain. The only remaining manufacturer of D+ transceiver seems to be Skywave. The Skywave unit includes an integral antenna and is specifically designed for low power applications. The service may prove particularly attractive to national meteorological services as protocols already exist with Inmarsat service providers for the free transmission of observational data to meteorological centres for quality control and insertion on to the GTS. Inmarsat, given its assured multinational backing and established infrastructure, is also extremely unlikely to disappear. 2.4.2 Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) offers a mobile communication service which provides both voice and broadband data simultaneously through a portable device, on a near- global basis. BGAN service is accessible via a range of small, lightweight satellite terminals with an option of single user or a small team. The terminals may be connected to a laptop through wired or wireless connections including BlueTooth and WiFi. BGAN delivers Internet and intranet content and solutions, video-on-demand, videoconferencing, fax e-mail, phone and LAN access at speeds of up to 492 kbps. Moreover, it supports both circuit-switched and packet-switched voice and data services. It uses the new (spot-beam) Inmarsat-4 (I-4) satellites which were launched in late 2005.The first two of three I-4 satellites are commercially operational in Inmarsat’s Indian and Atlantic ocean regions, with coverage extending across North and South America, Europe, Africa and the Far East. The third launch of the Inmarsat-4 has yet to be determined. There are many different airtime price plans available with the BGAN service, some of them cost less then a dollar for a low-cost voice call for a minute, combined with high-speed data and Internet connectivity, in a 'go anywhere' satellite terminal. The service is distributed by some of the leading distributors such as BT, UK, France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications, France, Stratos, USA, Telenor Satellite services, Norway and USA etc. 2.4.3 New ICO (MSS/ATC service) On May 24, 2005 the FCC granted New ICO a request to modify their reservation of spectrum for the provision of MSS services in the United States using a GEO satellite system, rather than a MEO satellite system. Their MSS/ATC System infrastructure is expected to include one orbiting GEO satellite, which will utilize a "bent pipe" architecture, a ground-based beam forming (GBBF) equipment that is expected to be located at the gateway ground station, a land-based transmitting/receiving station, a core switching/routing segment, an ancillary terrestrial DBCP-XX/Doc. 8.4, p. 8 component and finally end-user equipment capable of supporting satellite-only and dual-mode (satellite/terrestrial) services. Initial steps have been taken wherein New ICO has entered into a contract with Loral for construction of GEO in Jan 2005. Loral has completed the satellite critical design review in May 2005, and physical construction of the satellite is currently underway. The launch for the same is planned for July 2007. The GEO satellite is designed to provide continuous service coverage primarily in all 50 states in the United States, as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. If appropriate regulatory approval is granted by other countries, the GEO satellite is also capable of providing service outside of the United States, throughout many parts of North America. 2.4.4 GOES, METEOSAT, etc These GEOs exist primarily to collect and disseminate weather imagery, but do also support low- rate data collection systems. Access to the satellites is controlled by pre-allocated time-slots, and the service is largely free. The requirement for significant transmitter powers and/or directional antennae has tended to restrict applications to larger data buoys, although some success has been reported with lower power installations. MTSAT 1R, MTSAT 2 METEOSAT 9, GOES-13 were the satellites launched in the year 2005 & 06 for meteorological studies. 2.4.5 Inmarsat Mini-M, , Inmarsat C & Mini-C, Thuraya, ACes, AMSC, etc These advanced GEOs offer voice-band communications using compact handsets or laptops by implementing high gain steerable spot beams to achieve sufficient link margin. Data services may available using a modem connection on the handset. Coverage is generally regional and not advertised for oceanic areas. 5. USEFUL WEB SITES 5.1 General information Little LEO status, launch dates http://centaur.sstl.co.uk/SSHP/const_list.html Constellation overview http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/L.Wood/constellations/ The Satellite Encyclopaedia http://www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/ General satellite news/gossip http://www.hearsat.org/ Satellite news http://www.spacedaily.com/ General space news http://www.space.com/spacenews/ 5.2 Specific operators AprizeSat http://www.aprizesat.com Argos http://www.cls.fr/ http://www.argosinc.com/ Final Analysis http://www.finalanalysis.com/ Globalstar http://www.globalstar.com/ GOES http://www.goes.noaa.gov/ Inmarsat http://www.inmarsat.com/ Inmarsat BGAN http://broadband.inmarsat.com/ Iridium http://www.iridium.com/ LEO SAT Courier http://www.satcon-de.com/ METEOSAT http://www.esa.int/specials/ESOC/mso/meteosat.html ICO http://www.ico.com/ Orbcomm http://www.orbcomm.com/ Ocean DataLink (ODL) http://www.viasat.com/ Thuraya http://www.thuraya.com/ DBCP-XX/Doc. 8.4, p. 9 DBCP-XX/Doc. 8.4, APPENDIX A Overview of mobile satellite systems with possible data buoy applications - update 2006 * System Status Date (if Orbit Buoy Message type Terminal Power Comments known) type position size (W) APRIZESAT Operational Little GPS data: TBD Handheld 7 4 nanosatellites in orbit, 2-way comms, LEO required directed at asset tracking ARGOS Operational Little Doppler data: 32 bytes Handheld 1 Various enhancements, incl 2-way LEO Shift messaging with PMTs, are scheduled under Argos 3. Launch of MetOp-A scheduled in Oct 06. ECCO (CCI Global) Cancelled (pre-op) LEO GPS voice/data Handheld TBD 12 equatorial satellites planned by 2003. required Status questionable – merged with ICO- Teledesic Global ELLIPSO Cancelled Big GPS voice/data Handheld TBD 17 satellites in highly elliptical orbits, serving LEO required major land masses. Status questionable – merged with ICO-Teledesic Global EYESAT Experimental Little GPS data: 60 bytes Handheld 5 1 satellite 1995, principally for radio LEO required amateurs E-SAT Little GPS data: TBD TBD 6 satellites for utility metering (aimed at LEO required Continental US only initially) FAISAT Cancelled 2002 Little GPS data: 128 bytes Handheld 10 38 satellites 2000+ Test satellite launched LEO required 1997. Final Analysis Inc is terminated in bankruptcy.and assets sold to New York Satellite Industries LLC. GEMNET Cancelled (pre-op) Little GPS data: no Laptop 10 1st satellite 1995 - launch failure LEO required maximum 36 satellites by ??? Globalstar Operational 1999 Big GPS voice/data: Handheld 1 48 satellites + spares (constellation LEO required no maximum complete) . 2nd generation system comprising of 56 LEO satellites and 5 GEO satellites. Planned launch from 2006 onwards. Launch of their eight spare satellites, planned for early 2007.Financial difficulties. DBCP-XX/Doc. 8.4, APPENDIX A, p. 2 GOES, Meteosat, Operational GEO GPS data: various Laptop 10 5 satellites; directional antenna desirable GMS required options NOAA / ESA / Japanese met satellites. GONETS-D Pre-operational. On- Little GPS/ Data Handheld TBD 8 satellites in orbit, 36 more planned. Most hold LEO Glonass probably test satellites. GONETS-D1 Operational Little GPS/ Data Handheld TBD 9 satellites in orbit. LEO Glonass Little GPS/ Launched in Dec 05. First of a fleet of 12 Operational Data Handheld TBD GONETS-D1M1 LEO Glonass satellites in 4 planes. GONETS-R Cancelled (pre-op) Little GPS/ Data Handheld TBD 48 satellites planned. Lack of commercial LEO Glonass interest. INMARSAT-C Operational GEO GPS data: no 5.5 kg 15 Steered antenna not required required maximum INMARSAT-D+ Operational GEO GPS data: 128bytes Handheld 1 Global pager using existing Inmarsat-3 required uplink, 8 bytes satellites Note very oriented to downlink downlink INMARSAT-Mini-M Operational GEO GPS voice/data: Laptop 1 Mobile phone using regional spot-beams required no maximum INMARSAT-Mini-C Operational GEO Built-in email data Handheld 1 Steered antenna not required. Typicaly used GPS/ in remote monitoring and, in combination with web-based tracking. ICO (New ICO) 20 MHz Licensed Dec MEO GPS voice/data: Handheld 1 Global voice and packet data services. 12 allotted 2005 required no maximum satellites planned, only one launched so far.They have 10 satellites in advanced stages of completion. ICO (New ICO) Planned May 2005 GEO GPS voice/data: Handheld TBD One GEO orbiting satellite to be launched required no maximum in July 2007. Intially would cover US states. Iridium Revived July 2005 Big GPS voice/data: Handheld 1 66 satellites plus 7 backup and had 11 LEO preferred no maximum orbital storage. IRIS/LLMS Experimental Little Doppler + data: up to few Handheld 1 1 satellite in orbit. Belgian messaging On hold LEO Ranging kbytes system part of an ESA research prog. DBCP-XX/Doc. 8.4, APPENDIX A, p. 3 LEO One Licensed Service Little GPS data: uplink Handheld Max 7 48 satellite constellation, store and forward + On hold mid 2003 LEO required 9600bps, 8 spares. No polar sats downlink 2400bps LEO SAT Courier Planned Service Big GPS Data / voice Handheld 1-5 72 satellites On hold? 2003+ LEO required OCEAN-NET Experimental GEO Moored no maximum Large uses moored buoys + Intelsat Ocean DataLink Experimental GEO GPS no maximum Handheld TBD uses Intelsat (ODL) On hold? Odyssey Cancelled (pre-op) MEO GPS voice/data: Handheld 1 12 satellites were planned required no maximum Orbcomm Operational 1998 Little Doppler data: no Handheld 5 35 satellites in orbit, 30 operational, LEO or GPS maximum expansion to 48 sats licensed. 6 satellites from OHB System AG. SAFIR Pre-operational Little Doppler data: no Laptop 5 2 satellites in orbit On hold LEO or GPS maximum Signal Planned Big voice/data 48 satellites planned On hold? LEO SkyBridge Cancelled (pre-op) Service Big GPS Broadband Larger 80 satellites planned, recycling GEO 2002+ LEO required than spectrum allocations handheld Starsys Cancelled (pre-op) Little Doppler + data: 27 bytes Handheld 2 12 satellites 1998+ LEO ranging multiple msgs 24 satellites 2000+ Cancelled (pre-op) Teledesic Service Big GPS Broadband Late 2004 LEO required Temisat Experimental Little Data 7 satellites planned for environmental data LEO relay. 1 satellite launched 1993. DBCP-XX/Doc. 8.4, APPENDIX A, p. 4 Thuraya Operational GEO Integral Voice/data Handheld Thuraya 1 & 2 with multiple spot beam GPS satellite in orbit (over Middle East), Thuraya 3 planned. Vitasat Pre-operational, on- Little GPS Data 2 satellites in orbit, hold LEO required 2 more planned WEST Planned Service MEO GPS Broadband 9 satellites planned On hold 2003+ required * Status of systems is categorized according to seven groups: Planned: Little is known about the system except a name, notional type, and services to be offered. Mostly not licensed, although some may be. Licensed: System has been licensed by a national or international regulatory agency (in most cases the FCC), but no satellites have been launched. Experimental: System has one or more satellites in orbit for experimental purposes (not usually part of the final constellation). Includes new systems planning to use existing satellites. Pre-operational: System is in process of launching, or has launched, its constellation but is not yet offering full services. Some limited evaluation service may be available. Operational: System has full or nearly full constellation in place and is offering readily available service to external users (not necessarily commercial). Cancelled: System has been cancelled, either before satellites launched (pre-op) or after (post-op). On hold: No progress reported or scheduled.