Abstract: Satellite communication methods and payloads are described. The payload and methods are designed to enable effective use of carrier signals in the guard band region of a channelized band of spectrum. An on-board digital channelizer may implement a band edge power monitor for measuring power spectral density in the band edges of a channel and, if it exceeds a preset threshold level, downscaling the signal amplitude in the band edges to prevent hardware damage to the payload. The channelizer may further implement a band edge gain adjustment filter for shaping the overall frequency response to flatten the response across adjacent channels, including through the guard band region between the passbands of the adjacent channels.

Abstract: A high throughput satellite (HTS) and a method of operating the HTS for relaying data between a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a target ground station, where the HTS provides spot beams for a spot beam coverage area. The method of operating the HTS includes: determining an estimated trajectory of an orbiting LEO satellite; assigning a plurality of assigned spot beams having a matching color re-use polarization; and transmitting assignments of the plurality of assigned spot beams to the high throughput satellite to cause the high throughput satellite to maintain the inter-satellite link via a first spot beam and one or more assigned subsequent spot beams having the matching color re-use polarization.

Abstract: A geolocation method and system for locating the source of interference to a high throughput satellite. The method involves determining relative power level differences between interference signals received by the victim spot beam and co-colored nearby spot beams on the same satellite. Using beam pattern data, the relative power levels for a pair of beams determines contour lines of possible location the correspond to the relative power difference in the signals received by the two beams in the pair. A point of intersection of contour lines from multiple pairs of spot beams indicates the location of the source of interference.

Abstract: Dual-band satellite communication systems and methods are described. A dual-band satellite communication system is described with an array of feeds. The array includes single band feeds and one or more multi-band feeds. The multi-band feeds provide dual-band spot beams. Dual-band spot beams include a first frequency band spot beam and a second frequency band spot beam. A spot beam layout may be provided when a shared reflector for the array of feeds is provided. The first frequency band beamwidth may be smaller than a second frequency band beamwidth and the number of multi-band feeds in the array of feeds may be less than the number of single band feeds.

Abstract: A high throughput satellite and a method of operating a high throughput satellite. The satellite has multiple modes of operation and transitions between them in response to the spectrum fill rate. Modes of operation may include altering color re-use patterns to increase or reduce number of colors, using intra-beam geographic sub-division, or precoding downlink signals.

Abstract: A high throughput satellite (HTS) and a method of operating the HTS for relaying data between a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a target ground station, where the HTS provides spot beams for a spot beam coverage area. The method of operating the HTS includes: determining an estimated trajectory of an orbiting LEO satellite; assigning a plurality of assigned spot beams having a matching color re-use polarization; and transmitting assignments of the plurality of assigned spot beams to the high throughput satellite to cause the high throughput satellite to maintain the inter-satellite link via a first spot beam and one or more assigned subsequent spot beams having the matching color re-use polarization.

Abstract: A high throughput satellite and a method of operating a high throughput satellite. The satellite has multiple modes of operation and transitions between them in response to the spectrum fill rate. Modes of operation may include altering color re-use patterns to increase or reduce number of colors, using intra-beam geographic sub-division, or precoding downlink signals.

Abstract: Dual-band satellite communication systems and methods are described. A dual-band satellite communication system is described with an array of feeds. The array includes single band feeds and one or more multi-band feeds. The multi-band feeds provide dual-band spot beams. Dual-band spot beams include a first frequency band spot beam and a second frequency band spot beam. A spot beam layout may be provided when a shared reflector for the array of feeds is provided. The first frequency band beamwidth may be smaller than a second frequency band beamwidth and the number of multi-band feeds in the array of feeds may be less than the number of single band feeds.

Abstract: Satellite communication methods and payloads are described. An imbalance in uplink and downlink availability may be mitigated through digitizing uplink spectrum, extracting guard band channels, and grouping the guard band channels to create a composite channel. The composite channel is converted to analog and RF up-converted, amplified, and multiplexed with other downlink analog channels before being transmitted to Earth. The guard bands may be from the same band of spectrum or different bands of spectrum, such as C band, Ka band, Ku band, etc. A satellite payload is described with dual output multiplexers having partially overlapping channels and a dual feed configuration. In one downlink implementation, unused regional band spectrum may be dynamically allocated to a spot beam. In one uplink implementation, regional band spectrum may be shared by a spot beam using spatial separation of the regional uplink location from the spot beam coverage area and digital cancellation techniques.

Abstract: Methods for providing high-speed connectivity to an aircraft in flight from a satellite. Example methods include transmitting first radio frequency signals from a wide-beam antenna at the satellite at a beamwidth of at least 6 degrees orbital arc to provide a wide coverage area. The first radio frequency signals are transmitted at a first frequency of at least 10 gigahertz and at a low equivalent isotropic radiated power. The method also includes receiving second radio frequency signals from a mobile antenna located on the aircraft, wherein the second radio frequency signals are received at a second frequency of at least 13.75 gigahertz, and the second frequency is different than the first frequency.