A new opportunity for EHF propagation experiments: the EXPRESS campaign with the satellite STENTOR

Abstract

Abstract STENTOR is a collaborative programme between CNES, France Telecom, Alcatel Space and Astrium Space. The STENTOR satellite is planned to be launched in the autumn of 2001. Apart from the Ku‐band telecommunication payload designed to test active antennas and digital transponders, an EHF payload funded by DGA (Délégation Générale pour l'Armement=French Ministry of Defence) will be devoted to propagation and transmission experiments. The transmission mission uses a 44/20 GHz transparent repeater and is aimed to test new signal processing methods in the context of future military satellite telecommunication systems. The propagation mission will consist of two high‐frequency beacons, the first one at 20.7 GHz and the second one at 41.4 GHz with a European and an Equatorial coverage. The propagation experiment called EXperimentation of PRopagation in the EHF‐band from STENTOR Satellite (EXPRESS) will be devoted to the evaluation of the influence of propagation impairments on future satellite communication systems and will provide a new opportunity for EHF experimenters. The objective of this paper is to give the information available on this project. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.