Systems and Communications Commons^™

The Future Of Satcom In Canada: New Technologies Needed, Virendra Jha

Online Journal of Space Communication

The Government of Canada has a clear goal of making Canada the most connected country in the world. The vast geographic topology and wide population distribution - some in remote communities - raise distinct technical and economic challenges in achieving this goal. In addition, communications are already used in virtually all space projects - either for the command of the Spacecraft, or as the raison d'être of the mission. Undoubtedly, to support the very nature of space projects and to achieve the goal of connecting all Canadians, ever-improved technologies are being sought.

The Future Of Satcom In Canada: Smart Communities, Paul Bush

Online Journal of Space Communication

Telesat has been a pioneer in the development of satellite-based smart communities

The Future Of Satcom In Canada: Schoolnet, Paul Bush

Online Journal of Space Communication

Telesat became involved in the Schoolnet I initiative by providing a satellite solution to facilitate Internet connectivity to approximately 1600 schools located in remote parts of Canada. Approximately 10% of the schools were connected under the Schoolnet I initiative.

The Future Of Satcom In Canada: New Applications/Services, Paul Bush

Online Journal of Space Communication

Telesat is the world's most experienced commercial fixed satellite operator, and a highly respected consultant and partner in satellite ventures around the globe. The Company competes with other top international satellite fleets in providing telecommunications and broadcasting services to more than 275 customers throughout the Americas. With over thirty years of engineering and technical experience, Telesat is a diversified, end-to-end satellite services company with some 500 employees stationed throughout the Americas and on international assignment.

Satcom Today In Canada: Significant Research: Broadband Satellite Communications List Of Citr Related Publications (1998-2003), W.M. (Mac) Evans

Online Journal of Space Communication

Journal Papers

Conference Papers

Contributions to Standards

Canadian Space Agency Recent Publications

Satcom Today In Canada: Significant Research: Overview Of The Cospas-Sarsat Satellite System For Search And Rescue, J. V. King

Online Journal of Space Communication

Cospas-Sarsat, an international satellite system for search and rescue, started operating in 1982 and has been credited with saving thousands of lives since then. Hundreds of thousands of aviators, mariners and land users worldwide are equipped with Cospas-Sarsat distress beacons, which could help save their lives in emergency situations anywhere in the world. This paper outlines the evolution of the system and describes how satellites are constantly circling the globe monitoring for ‘SOS signals’, while tracking stations on six continents receive the satellite signals, compute the locations of the distress events and forward the calls for help to the appropriate …

Satcom Today In Canada: Significant Research: Evolution Of Portable Ka-Band Terminals At Crc, Pierre Tardif

Online Journal of Space Communication

The Satellite Systems Research group (www.crc.ca/rss) of the Communications Research Centre Canada (CRC) conducts research and development on systems, concepts and technologies suitable for future generations of communication and navigation satellites. Over the past decade, R&D has been carried out in portable satellite terminals operating at Ka-Band frequencies (30/20 GHz). This paper presents the evolution and a chronological overview of the terminals’ development. The three generations of prototypes are presented.

Satcom Today In Canada: University Research Programs, Virendra Jha

Online Journal of Space Communication

In order to better support its overriding objective of the Canadian Space Program, which is "to develop and apply space science and technology in order to meet Canadian needs and develop an internationally competitive space industry," the CSA has created a grants and contributions program to support awareness, research and training in space science and technology.

Satcom Today In Canada: Communications Research Centre, Jack Rigley

Online Journal of Space Communication

The Communications Research Centre has been committed to applied and basic research in communications and related technologies since the late 1940s. Over the last 50 years many scientific and engineering milestones have been achieved, contributing to Canada's position as a world leader in wireless and satellite communications and broadcast technologies.

Satcom Today In Canada: Canadian Space Agency, Virendra Jha

Online Journal of Space Communication

Since its creation in 1989, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has set out to ensure that all Canadians learn and benefit from the innovations of space science and technology to the greatest extent possible. Its objectives are to support and promote a highly competitive space industry and address the needs of Canadian society. With almost half of Canada's GDP growth in the knowledge-intensive sectors of the economy, the Canadian Space Program is a key driver behind continued leadership on the world stage, new opportunities for industry and scientists, and long-term social and economic benefits for all Canadians.

Satcom Today In Canada: Current Systems/Customers/Consulting, Paul Bush

Online Journal of Space Communication

Telesat is the world's most experienced commercial fixed satellite operator, and a highly respected consultant and partner in satellite ventures around the globe. The Company competes with other top international satellite fleets in providing telecommunications and broadcasting services to more than 275 customers throughout the Americas.

Historical Development: Anik C Through F Systems (And Nimiq), Paul Bush

Online Journal of Space Communication

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Historical Development: Msat Program, Jack Rigley

Online Journal of Space Communication

As early as 1967, Canadian researchers had been involved in trials with the U.S. on the use of UHF satellites for mobile services primarily for defence operations. The use of UHF frequencies, with satellites such as LES-5, LES-6 and TACSAT offered the possibility of small lightweight mobile or transportable terminals, and several demonstrations were carried out in the land, maritime, and aeronautical environment. The world's first direct aircraft-to-aircraft voice communications via satellite was carried out May16, 1970 between two Canadian DND aircraft.

Historical Development: Hermes Satellite, Jack Rigley

Online Journal of Space Communication

In the early 1960's, international communication satellites using the 6/4 GHz bands and positioned in the geostationary satellite orbit were found to be capable of providing high quality telecommunications services. Domestic satellite communications systems were planned and were implemented, beginning in 1972, with the Telesat Canada ANIK-A System.

Historical Development: Anik B Hybrid Systems, Jack Rigley

Online Journal of Space Communication

Because of the success of the Hermes program and under an arrangement between Telesat Canada and the federal government, the next satellite commissioned by Telesat-Anik B-was equipped with 4 experimental 14/12 GHz transponders in addition to 12 commercial radio frequency channels in the 6/4 GHz band used by the earlier Anik A satellites. Spacecraft construction was awarded to RCA Astro-Electronics Division.

Historical Development: Anik A Series, Jack Rigley

Online Journal of Space Communication

The Department of Communications of the Federal Government ran a competition across Canada to name Telesat's first series of satellites. In November 1969, the winner of the contest was announced. A St. Leonard, Quebec, supermarket employee, Mary Frances Czapla suggested ANIK which means "brother" in the language of the Inuit. It was selected as the winning entry by a panel of judges which included Marshall McLuhan.

Historical Development: The Creation Of Telesat Canada, Paul Bush

Online Journal of Space Communication

On March 28th, 1968, the Government's White Paper entitled A Domestic Satellite Communications System for Canada, concluded that in view of Canada's particular geographic, economic and social features, "...a domestic satellite communications system is of vital importance for the growth, prosperity and unity of Canada, and should be established as a matter of priority."

Historical Development: The Alouette Program, Jack Rigley

Online Journal of Space Communication

In the 1950's at the height of the Cold War, Defence Research Bureau (DRB) laboratories, located in Ottawa, were involved in research and development to keep Canadians abreast of leading edge technology and ensure that Canadian forces were adequately equipped for their defence role.

Historical Development: Preface, Paul Bush

Online Journal of Space Communication

Unique Canadian Needs for Communications Services

Issue 4: From The Guest Editor: Satellite Communication In Canada, W.M. (Mac) Evans

Online Journal of Space Communication

Welcome to the 4th edition of the Online Journal of Space Communications. This issue focuses on Satellite Communications in Canada, one of the leading countries in the development and use of Satellite Communications. In this issue you will discover why Satellite Communications is so important to Canada, what its major programs are, who the main players are and what the future directions are likely to be.

The Memoirs Of A Retooled Geoscientist Or How I Came To Know And Love Remote Sensing, Nicholas M. Short

Online Journal of Space Communication

Dr. Nicholas M. Short is a former employee at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and is the author of numerous books touching on the subject of remote sensing. He gained his B.S. from St. Louis University, an M.A. from Washington University, and received his PhD in 1958 from MIT.

Multispectral Imagery And Higher Level Products Available From The Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center, U.S. Geological Survey Eros Data Center, Paula F. Smit, Calli B. Jenkerson, Bhaskar Ramachandran

Online Journal of Space Communication

There are many types of multispectral imagery and higher level products available from the Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center at the U.S. Geological Survey EROS Data Center, including data produced from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on the Terra and Aqua satellites, the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus on Landsat 7, and the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer on Terra. Information on these various instruments and their respective data products is available on the World Wide Web. The data products can be obtained by using the NASA EOS Data Gateway.

Astronaut-Acquired Photography Of Earth: Its History And Continued Applicability In Quantitative Analyses, Jennifer Gebelein

Online Journal of Space Communication

Aerial and satellite photography has been used extensively in many different research efforts, for example, atmospheric studies, vegetation analysis, and change detection. Archives of historical aerial and satellite photography are a valuable resource to the science community.

There is currently an archive of over 450,000 photographs of Earth taken by United States astronauts dating back to the early 1960's. This archive covers the majority of the Earth's surface and offers imagery taken by a variety of camera configurations including film and digital, various lenses, different look angles, and changing solar illuminance. There is extensive repeat coverage over many regions of …

Pattern Of Forest Regeneration In Celaque National Park, Honduras, Alexis Aguilar

Online Journal of Space Communication

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Web-Based Remote Sensing Applications And Java Tools For Environmental Monitoring, M. H. Tsou, L. Guo, D. Stow

Online Journal of Space Communication

This paper introduces a web-based remote sensing application which can provide advanced image comparison and processing functions for natural habitat conservation and environmental monitoring. This project is one of several NASA Affiliated Research Center (ARC) projects being developed at San Diego State University in response to NASA's Earth Science Enterprise (ESE) Focus Area program. This project utilized Java programming and commercial Internet Map Server technology to provide integrated web-based analytical capabilities to regional government agencies and park services.

A prototype website (http://map.sdsu.edu/arc) was established to demonstrate the on-line analytical functions and potential operational applications for environmental monitoring and …

Managing Protein In Spring Wheat With Aerial And Satellite Imagery, Dennis L. Wright Jr., Glen Ritchie, V. Philip Rasmussen, R. Douglas Ramsey, Doran Baker

Online Journal of Space Communication

Nitrogen fertilizer application can help wheat growers increase crop value and marketability by increasing grain quality. Nitrogen (N) is often applied at heading as a method of increasing protein content and therefore quality of wheat. Our objectives were to obtain spectral signatures of wheat under various N rates (0, 72, 180, 234 kg N ha-1), test various spectral methods of identifying crop stress, and observe the grain protein response to a midseason N application. Spectral data from satellite and aerial platforms were compared to preseason N treatments and flag-leaf tissue samples. Spectral data correlated well with preseason and flag leaf …

A Gis/Gps Approach For The Abondoned Mine Inventory Of The Monongahela National Forest Using Space Borne And Aerial Images For Basemap Selection, John R. Ferguson Ii, James O. Brumfield, Joseph Langdon

Online Journal of Space Communication

The Monongahela National Forest spans 10 counties in eastern central West Virginia. It has been an area of high mining and timbering activities throughout much of the early to mid twentieth century. As a result, the United States Forest Service (USFS) has focused reclamation and remediation efforts on the abandoned mine land areas. Much of the area has been subjected to mining after effects such as acid mine drainage, structural remains, gob/spoil piles, garbage piles, mine portals, and highwalls. In 1998 the USFS contracted with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to provide a detailed georeferenced inventory with a …

Scientific Visualization Production For The Media, Gregory Shirah

Online Journal of Space Communication

Code 935's Scientific Visualization Studio (SVS) at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center is a leader in the NASA community at producing scientific visualizations of Earth and space science results based on NASA research. The SVS specializes in using science data to produce visualizations for viewing by the public primarily through television. The SVS also produces visualization software systems; however, the focus of this section is on visualization productions.

Hierarchical Image Segmentation, James Tilton

Online Journal of Space Communication

Segmentation, the partitioning of image data into related sections or regions, is a key first step in a number of approaches to data analysis and compression. In image analysis, the group of image data points contained in each region provides a statistical sampling of image data values for more reliable labeling based on image feature values. In addition, the region shape can be analyzed as an additional clue for the appropriate labeling of the region. In data compression, the regions form a basis for compact representation of the image data. The quality of the prerequisite image segmentation is a key …

Optical Systems Characterization And Analysis Research Project, Richard G. Lyon

Online Journal of Space Communication

The Optical Systems Characterization and Analysis Research (OSCAR) project was formed in 1994 to look at advanced optical modeling methods, utilizing phase retrieval, to model the optical point spread function of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). OSCAR developed these techniques and accurately modeled the HST response and further developed maximum entropy deconvolution algorithms and mined the database and published seminal scientific manuscripts. OSCAR subsequently got involved in the Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST), now the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and in JWST testbed development. OSCAR has further expanded to include interferometric and coronagraphic systems such as the Stellar Imager …