Design of a Satellite Time-Division Multiple-Access Burst Synchronizer

The design, development, and testing of a burst synchronizer suitable for use in satellite time-division multipleaccess (TDMA) communication systems have been completed. It has been shown that submicrosecond guard times between bursts transmitted from different earth stations are practicable using state-of-the-art techniques. This paper presents theoretical analyses, descriptions of operation, and results of laboratory and field testing for the experimental burst synchronizer. Also presented are operational guard times for satellites in a variety of orbits.