Advanced communications technology satellite (ACTS) applications and experiments

The ACTS satellite was designed to provide demand assigned multiple access (DAMA) digital communications with a minimum switchable circuit bandwidth of 64 kbps, and a maximum channel bandwidth of 900 MHz. It can, therefore, provide service to thin routes as well as connect fiber backbones in supercomputer networks, across oceans, or to restore full communications in the event of national or manmade disasters. Service can also be provided to terrestrial and airborne mobile users. The ACTS satellite has met its design requirements and its architecture has been verified by the experiments completed so far. ACTS has paved the way for the use of hopping spot beams, the use of demand assigned on-board switching, the use of Ka band, and the introduction of high bandwidth channels. These features will result in lower cost and wider availability, especially in isolated areas