The Potentiality of Commercial Satellite-Based Communication Networks for Telemetry and Commanding of Small Satellites

Within the next few years the emergence of satellite-based personal communication networks operating from small low earth orbits to geostationary orbits offers viable solutions for contacts between two points on Earth. The idea is to use the same networks for communications links between small satellites and their ground stations. Will it be possible to call a satellite from a PC, e.g., like an answering machine from a phone? The paper presents concepts for the transfer of data between ground stations and low Earth orbiting small (scientific) satellites via a) commercial satellite-based communication networks, e.g. IRIDIUM, ORBCOMM, GLOBAL STAR, SIGNAL and b) geostationary communication satellites, e.g. INMARSAT. The potentialities which lie in these concepts will be discussed. Operational and technical constraints will be pointed out. The results are the outputs of a study sponsored by the German Space Agency DARA to analyze the potential of cost reduction in mission operations for small satellites as part of its effort to reduce the overall mission cost.