Abstract: A system for protecting a power unit on a spacecraft may include a ground station. The ground station may include a power unit loading estimation and monitoring module for estimating a power loading level on a power unit of the spacecraft power unit. The ground station may also include a ground station power limiter to regulate a power of a signal for transmission from the ground station to the spacecraft to prevent overloading the spacecraft power unit. The power of the signal for transmission to the spacecraft may be regulated based at least in part on an estimated power loading level on the power unit of the spacecraft.

Abstract: A system for protecting a power unit on a spacecraft may include a ground station. The ground station may include a power unit loading estimation and monitoring module for estimating a power loading level on a power unit of the spacecraft power unit. The ground station may also include a ground station power limiter to regulate a power of a signal for transmission from the ground station to the spacecraft to prevent overloading the spacecraft power unit. The power of the signal for transmission to the spacecraft may be regulated based at least in part on an estimated power loading level on the power unit of the spacecraft.

Abstract: A transponder system that integrates redundancy and beam selection capabilities is disclosed. The transponder system comprises an amplifier network having a plurality of amplifiers; an antenna network, comprising a plurality of antennae; an output switching network, including a first output switching network switch, selectably coupling one of the amplifiers to one of the plurality of antennae at a first output switching network switch first switch state and to a second output switching network switch in a first output switch network switch second switch state, wherein the second output switching network switch is selectably coupled to a second one of the plurality of antennae in a second output switching network switch first switch state and to a third one of the plurality of antennae in a second output switching network switch second switch state.

Abstract: A transponder system that integrates redundancy and beam selection capabilities is disclosed. The transponder system comprises an amplifier network having a plurality of amplifiers; an antenna network, comprising a plurality of antennae; an output switching network, including a first output switching network switch, selectably coupling one of the amplifiers to one of the plurality of antennae at a first output switching network switch first switch state and to a second output switching network switch in a first output switch network switch second switch state, wherein the second output switching network switch is selectably coupled to a second one of the plurality of antennae in a second output switching network switch first switch state and to a third one of the plurality of antennae in a second output switching network switch second switch state.

Abstract: A reconfigurable payload for a satellite having a flexible antenna system, a variable downconverter technology and a filter technology that all work in combination to allow the payload of a satellite to be reconfigured in orbit.