Broadband payloads for the emerging Ka-band market

In response to the demands for broadband satellite systems and services, TRW initiated the Gen*Star processing payload in 1995. The Gen*Star system objectives of profitable broadband connectivity with seamless interfaces to a terrestrial infrastructure imply highly reliable network nodes in space. To achieve these objectives, robust communications links and sophisticated onboard signal and data processing are required. The Gen*Star satellite payload provides those communication links and processing functions in a package suitable for launch into space, using technologies designed to operate for years in space. The TRW Gen*Star payload development incorporated business analysis, network simulation and analysis, payload technologies, network operations, and terminal concepts. Since initiating the effort, TRW has completed simulations, a functional hardware prototype of the payload, and a complete engineering model payload. The end-to-end engineering model of a broadband payload operating at Ka-band features engineering model hardware built to flight production standards and tested to flight environmental conditions. This presentation and paper will summarize features and capabilities of the TRW broadband engineering model payload and the payload test results.