Multimedia Asia (M2A) satellite antennas

The latest generation of high power communication and direct broadcast satellites often require the antenna subsystem to create several simultaneous isolated antenna beams. One such satellite with this requirement, currently under development at Space Systems/Loral, is termed the Multimedia Asia (M²A) satellite. The M²A spacecraft communications subsystem includes all the necessary antennas and repeaters to provide voice, fax, data, and Internet service simultaneously to the home. This service is scheduled to start at the end of 1999 in the defined coverage areas. The extended C-band coverage (3.4-3.7 GHz transmit, 6.425-6.725 GHz receive) will provide Asia beams and seven spot beams. The X-band feeder link (7.25-7.75 GHz transmit, 7.9-8.4 GHz receive) will provide additional Asia coverage. The standard C-band coverage (3.7-4.2 GHz transmit, 5.9-6.4 GHz receive) provides added coverage to Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Hong Kong. The paper illustrates the M²A Communication Subsystem beams, their geographical coverage and downlink polarizations. The uplink polarizations are orthogonal to the downlink polarizations