The Impact of WARC-79 on Space Applications

Prior to the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC-79), no frequency bands were allocated for remotesensing measurements. Actions taken by the WARC insure that frequencies will be available for such use, and that operations can be conducted without harmful interference on a worldwide basis for the benefit of all nations. Allocations employed for transfer of scientific data from spacecraft in all regions of space from near-Earth orbit to deep-space planetary ranges were significantly improved. New global allocations for Earth exploration-satellites will permit worldwide acquisition of Earth exploration data both via direct transmission and via relay satellites. New allocations for meteorological satellite data transmission will permit wide-band applications such as direct reception of high-resolution picture data by users. Satellite-aided search and rescue systems will benefit from WARC decisions to allocate frequencies exclusively for emergency radiobeacon systems using space techniques. Bands to provide links between the satellite and Earth were designated for distress and safety operations. Time and frequency services with accuracies in the 10-to 50-ps range, needed to meet future system requirements for precise time and frequency information, will be possible because of WARC actions to allocate frequency bands with suitable bandwidth for these services. The search for communications from extraterrestrial intelligence was afforded a degree of protection near several spectral lines of basic physical interest.