This article presents an overview of the key technologies in the communications payload of broadband LEO satellite communications systems. In recent years, new developments have been realized for LEO satellite communications. SpaceX's Starlink, a tech...
This article presents an overview of the key technologies in the communications payload of broadband LEO satellite communications systems. In recent years, new developments have been realized for LEO satellite communications. SpaceX's Starlink, a technology leader in this field, offers premium services with satellites carrying in-house developed communications payloads. OneWeb, Amazon, Telesat, and Boeing are also developing LEO satellite communications payloads. The communications payload consists of user link antennas, inter-satellite link communications equipment, feeder link antennas, and a digital processor. Highly sophisticated technologies of compact active phased array antennas for generating multiple hopping beams and light laser communication equipment for ultra-high-speed inter-satellite communication will be applied to next- generation payloads.