News Office
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

July 28, 2008

Lincoln Lab successfully tests new satellite communications system
Barbra Gottschalk, MIT Lincoln Laboratory Communications Office

The enhanced capabilities of a new global satellite communications (SATCOM)
system were successfully tested recently by MIT Lincoln Laboratory,
representing a major step forward in improving communications among U.S.
Department of Defense commands around the world.

In March, Lincoln Laboratory completed its portion of the on-orbit testing
of the first Wideband Global Satellite (WGS) communications system, a
constellation of geosynchronous satellites orbiting 22,300 miles above the
equator. The system provides worldwide high-capacity military satellite
communication capabilities. 

The WGS system improves upon the X-band capability (between 7 and 9 GHz) of
the current Defense Satellite Communications system to include "Ka-band"
service (30 GHz ground to satellite, 20 GHz satellite to ground.)

These sophisticated new broadcast capabilities were tested in orbit by a
ground-based Large Aperture Ka-Band Test Terminal (LAKaTT), developed by
Lincoln Laboratory.

The terminal and its 20-foot antenna, which can transmit up to six carriers
simultaneously, were created by the Lincoln Laboratory team out of a
refurbished surplus satellite communications terminal. The heavily
instrumented terminal can operate under remote computer control.

Just before the launch of the first WGS satellite in October 2007, the
LAKaTT was deployed to Dublin, Calif., to test the expanded two-way Ka-band
capability of the WGS system.

"The launch and on-orbit testing activities have been superb and we're
really excited about having this capability in the hands of our military
personnel," said Col. Don Robbins, Wideband SATCOM Group Commander.

IMAGE CAPTION:
[http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/wgs-enlarged.html]
MIT Lincoln Laboratory's LAKaTT satellite terminal, utilized for testing
communications over WGS satellites Photo courtesy: MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Communications Office
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