Abstract: A satellite communication system includes a plurality of spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit, where each spacecraft provides a plurality of beams on the surface of the earth, and a plurality of ground stations individual ones of which are located in one of the beams for transmitting uplink signals to one of the spacecraft. Each spacecraft has a plurality of receivers for receiving a plurality of the uplinked signals from ground stations, a frequency translator for translating the received uplink signals to a transmission frequency of a plurality of downlink signals, and a plurality of transmitters for transmitting the plurality of downlink signals within the same beams as the corresponding uplink signals. In accordance with the invention the beams have at least one of different sizes and shapes, including circular and elliptical, and are non-contiguous over a least a portion of the surface of the earth.

Abstract: A satellite communication system includes at least one spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit for providing a plurality of beams on the surface of the earth, and a plurality of ground stations individual ones of which are located in one of the beams for transmitting uplink signals to the spacecraft. The spacecraft has a plurality of receivers for receiving a plurality of the uplinked signals from ground stations, a frequency translator for translating the received uplink signals to a transmission frequency of a plurality of downlink signals, and a plurality of transmitters for transmitting the plurality of downlink signals within the same beams as the corresponding uplink signals. Each transmitter includes a combiner for combining together a plurality of frequency translated signals and a power amplifier, such as a TWTA, for amplifying the combined plurality of frequency translated signals.

Abstract: A satellite communication system includes a plurality of spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit, where each spacecraft provides a plurality of beams on the surface of the earth, and a plurality of ground stations individual ones of which are located in one of the beams for transmitting uplink signals to one of the spacecraft. Each spacecraft has a plurality of receivers for receiving a plurality of the uplinked signals from ground stations, a frequency translator for translating the received uplink signals to a transmission frequency of a plurality of downlink signals, and a plurality of transmitters for transmitting the plurality of downlink signals within the same beams as the corresponding uplink signals. Each transmitter includes a combiner for combining together a plurality of frequency translated signals and a power amplifier, such as a TWTA, for amplifying the combined plurality of frequency translated signals.