COMMStellation
Encyclopedia
COMMStellation is a network of 78 microsatellites with an additional six microsatellites
to be used as spares. The constellation
will be situated in a low Earth orbit
and the satellites will travel on 6 orbital planes separated by 30 degrees of longitude. Each plane will contain 14 satellites which include one spare. The constellation is designed to provide backhaul capacity across the globe and help connect the non-Web-wired regions of the earth by 2015. The COMMStellation network will link ISPs and telecommunications companies to the global fibre infrastructure.
COMMStellation will be situated at 1,000 km from the surface of the Earth and will be connected to the Internet trunk via 20 ground stations
located across the globe. Each of the microsatellites will have a data-transfer capacity of 12 gigabits per second.
COMMStellation is scheduled to launch into its 1,000 km orbit via 6 rockets in 2015
The Microsatellites for COMMStellation will be manufactured by Microsat Systems Canada, Inc., a small spacecraft systems manufacturer.
COMMStellation will provide 100% global coverage reaching areas of the world where equatorial orbiting constellations are ineffective, providing access to bandwidth
to the entire population of the Earth. COMMStellation is able to provide 100% global coverage by deploying the appropriate number of satellites into space. Two major factors enable the business case to deploy so many microsatellites. Due to the low Earth orbit, the microsatellites can use commercial-grade parts that are not affected by temperature and radiation which impact satellites that orbit the earth above 5,000 km. At 14 microsatellites per rocket
, the entire constellation can be launched into space by using only six launchers.
COMMStellation was founded and is currently owned and operated by David R. Cooper, President and Chief Executive Officer.
Miniaturized satellite
Miniaturized satellites or small satellites are artificial satellites of unusually low weights and small sizes, usually under . While all such satellites can be referred to as small satellites, different classifications are used to categorize them based on mass .One reason for miniaturizing...
to be used as spares. The constellation
Satellite constellation
A group of artificial satellites working in concert is known as a satellite constellation. Such a constellation can be considered to be a number of satellites with coordinated ground coverage, operating together under shared control, synchronised so that they overlap well in coverage and...
will be situated in a low Earth orbit
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
and the satellites will travel on 6 orbital planes separated by 30 degrees of longitude. Each plane will contain 14 satellites which include one spare. The constellation is designed to provide backhaul capacity across the globe and help connect the non-Web-wired regions of the earth by 2015. The COMMStellation network will link ISPs and telecommunications companies to the global fibre infrastructure.
COMMStellation will be situated at 1,000 km from the surface of the Earth and will be connected to the Internet trunk via 20 ground stations
Earth station
A ground station, earth station, or earth terminal is a terrestrial terminal station designed for extraplanetary telecommunication with spacecraft, and/or reception of radio waves from an astronomical radio source. Ground stations are located either on the surface of the Earth, or within Earth's...
located across the globe. Each of the microsatellites will have a data-transfer capacity of 12 gigabits per second.
COMMStellation is scheduled to launch into its 1,000 km orbit via 6 rockets in 2015
The Microsatellites for COMMStellation will be manufactured by Microsat Systems Canada, Inc., a small spacecraft systems manufacturer.
COMMStellation will provide 100% global coverage reaching areas of the world where equatorial orbiting constellations are ineffective, providing access to bandwidth
Bandwidth (computing)
In computer networking and computer science, bandwidth, network bandwidth, data bandwidth, or digital bandwidth is a measure of available or consumed data communication resources expressed in bits/second or multiples of it .Note that in textbooks on wireless communications, modem data transmission,...
to the entire population of the Earth. COMMStellation is able to provide 100% global coverage by deploying the appropriate number of satellites into space. Two major factors enable the business case to deploy so many microsatellites. Due to the low Earth orbit, the microsatellites can use commercial-grade parts that are not affected by temperature and radiation which impact satellites that orbit the earth above 5,000 km. At 14 microsatellites per rocket
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
, the entire constellation can be launched into space by using only six launchers.
COMMStellation was founded and is currently owned and operated by David R. Cooper, President and Chief Executive Officer.