This handbook provides a general introduction to communications satellite technologies, describing the capabilities and limitations of current satellites. It addresses all important aspects of the subject, including traffic, multiple-access techniques, link budgets, the spacecraft bus, and the geostationary orbit.

Explains the reasons, limitations and trade-offs inherent to communications satellites. The first half deals with link power budgets as well as communications hardware and examples of complete link budgets. Spacecraft technology and a description of the objectives and basic operating methods of each of the major supporting subsystems are covered in the last half. Contains end-of-chapter exercises and solutions.

An Instructor's Manual presenting detailed solutions to all the problems in the book is available from the Wiley editorial department.