A satellite-based position location system for global data collection and messaging

A recent reduction in defense expenditures has prompted a renewed interest in using commercial, off-the-shelf technology for military applications. The authors introduce two such systems. The ARGOS system, in use since 1978, relays geo-location and low rate, one-way telemetry data back to several collection centers. This system primarily supports several environmental applications which are deployed on maritime, terrestrial and airborne platforms. A new generation system, called STARSYS, being readied for operation in the mid-1990s, will be capable of supporting millions of users with low cost geo-location and two-way data communications. In addition, a precursor to STARSYS called the STARSYS Early-Entry Program, which provides potential users with an opportunity to develop and refine system requirements, will be discussed together with the system performance characteristics of both systems