This report contains the results of an NTIA study concerning the use of the Earth exploration-satellite service (EESS) in the frequency range 8025-8400 MHz for Government, non-Government and international operations. The intent of this report was to compile the current and proposed, national and international, spectrum usage in the 8025-8400 MHz frequency range (including the lower adjacent-band, 7900-8025 MHz, and the upper adjacent- band, 8400-8450 MHz), to identify potential sharing issues, and summarize some options available to alleviate the interference interaction that might occur. This report is intended to be a resource document for examining specific EESS issues within the frequency range of 8025-8400 MHz.
Copies of this report may be obtained from the author, Phil Gawthrop, at (202)482-3203, or pgawthrop@ntia.doc.gov or write:
Phillip Gawthrop
NTIA, Room 6725
1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20230
NTIA TM 97-339
ASSESSMENT OF THE EXPANSION OF THE EARTH
EXPLORATION-SATELLITE SERVICE
IN THE 8025-8400 MHz RANGE
Philip E. Gawthrop
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
William M. Daley, Secretary
Larry Irving, Assistant Secretary
for Communications and Information, and
Administrator, National Telecommunications
and Information Administration
June 1997
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report contains the results of an NTIA study concerning the use of the Earth exploration-satellite service (EESS) in the frequency range 8025-8400 MHz for Government, non-Government and international operations. The intent of this report was to compile the current and proposed, national and international, spectrum usage in the 8025-8400 MHz frequency range (including the lower adjacent-band, 7900-8025 MHz, and the upper adjacent- band, 8400-8450 MHz), to identify potential sharing issues, and summarize some options available to alleviate the interference interaction that might occur. This report is intended to be a resource document for examining specific EESS issues within the frequency range of 8025-8400 MHz.
The EESS in the 8025-8400 MHz frequency range is expected to increase dramatically in the near future with the increased spectrum requirements of the LANDSAT satellite system, the NASA Earth Observing System (EOS), and systems proposed by four U.S. commercial entities (the AstroVision Incorporated, the Space Imaging LP, the Orbital Sciences Corporation, and the EarthWatch Incorporated). Other Administrations (e.g., France, Japan, Canada, India, Russia, South Africa, and the Ukraine) have or plan to have EESS systems that operate in the 8025-8400 MHz frequency range. Another anticipated change in use of the 8025-8400 MHz range is a result of the reallocation study [Spectrum Reallocation, 95] completed in February 1995. This reallocation study will necessitate moving of certain Government fixed services from the 2 GHz range into the 7/8 GHz range.
United States Government and numerous non-Government entities will launch EESS systems operating in the 8025-8400 MHz frequency range based on the policy directive on remote sensing space capabilities signed by the President (see Appendix¾A for the news release from the Commerce News). With the introduction of new and increased use of the EESS systems in that range, harmful interference among the various users of these and adjacent bands may occur. Nine potential interference scenarios involving combinations of EESS earth and space stations, MSS aircraft and FSS earth stations, fixed stations, space research earth stations, and future meteorological-satellite (MetSat) earth and space stations have surfaced. If existing standards and limits are adhered to, the majority of the interactions dealing with known Government services should be manageable.
The planned MetSat use of the 8025-8400 MHz frequency range may require further electromagnetic compatibility analyses between this service and existing services. Further analysis may also be necessary based on the reallocation study of 1995. The use of 30 cm diameter earth stations in the EESS or a large number of relatively small diameter EESS earth stations is a significant sharing issue with respect to terrestrial and other space services. These relatively inexpensive earth station antennas are being investigated for worldwide dissemination and will likely require further study. The 30 cm proposal will not be addressed in this report.
ABSTRACT
This report assesses the expansion of the Earth exploration-satellite service in the 8025-8400 MHZ frequency range. The report identifies allocations, standards, regulations and current and planned spectrum usage applicable to this range for Government, non-Government, and international operations. In addition, various potential interference scenarios among the EESS systems and the various other services (operating in this range) are identified.
U.S. Government and non-Government entities will launch Earth exploration-satellite service (EESS) systems in the 8025-8400 MHZ frequency range based on the policy directive on remote sensing space capabilities signed by President Clinton (attached in Appendix¾A; this policy is dictated by public law, Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992). With the introduction of new and increased use of the EESS systems in that range, the potential for harmful interference exists among the various users of these and adjacent bands. NASA, among other Government agencies, is concerned by Earth exploration-satellite service use in the 8025-8400 MHZ frequency range in today's as well as future markets. One method of monitoring the use of the 8025-8400 MHZ frequency range by Earth exploration-satellite services is the Space Frequency Coordination Group (SFCG), (September 1994) of which NASA and NOAA are members.
KEY WORDS
8025-8400 MHz BAND
FIXED-SATELLITE SERVICE (FSS)
MOBILE-SATELLITE SERVICE (MSS)
EARTH EXPLORATION-SATELLITE SERVICE (EESS)
METEOROLOGICAL-SATELLITE SERVICE (MetSat)
FIXED SERVICE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
NTIA acknowledges the support and cooperation of the NASA X-Band Workshops, specifically the two Co-Chairmen, Mr. Joseph Deskevich and Mr. David Struba. NTIA also appreciates the efforts of several key manufacturers in providing the domestic satellite system information contained herein: AstroVision Incorporated, Space Imaging LP, Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC), Resource 21, and EarthWatch Incorporated. Their technical expertise was helpful in gaining an understanding of these satellite system operations.
GLOSSARY of TERMS and ACRONYMS
ADEOS Japanese satellite AF Air Force AR Army ARTCC Air Route Traffic Control Centers ATC Air Traffic Control AVSAT-1 Geostationary satellite of AstroVision BPSK Bi-Phase Shift Keying BW Authorized Bandwidth bins Example: 10 MHz Bins = a list of frequencies 7910-7920, 7920-7930 MHz, etc. CG Coast Guard CDMA Code Division Multiple Access CRSS Commercial Remote Sensing System satellite of the Space Imaging LP dBi decibels relative to an isotropic antenna dBm decibels relative to a milliwatt dBW decibels relative to a Watt dBW/Hz decibels relative to a Watt per Hertz dB(W/m2) decibels relative to Watts per meter squared DISA Defense Information System Agency DOC or C Department of Commerce (defined as C in the GMF) DoD Department of Defense DOE Department of Energy DOI or I Department of Interior (defined as I in the GMF) DOJ or J Department of Justice (defined as J in the GMF) DOT or T Department of Treasury (defined as T in the GMF) DSCS Defense Satellite Communications System satellite DSN Deep Space Network Early Bird An EarthWatch satellite(s) EESS Earth exploration-satellite service EIRP equivalent isotropically-radiated power EOS Earth Observing System EOS AM series EOS satellite crossing the equator southbound at 10:30 am EOS PM series EOS satellite crossing the equator northbound at 1:30 pm EOS CHEM series EOS satellite named for its measurement of atmospheric chemistry ENVISAT-1 French satellite ERS-1, -2 French satellites ESA European Space Agency EYEGLASS Orbital Science Corp. satellites FAA Federal Aviation Administration FCC Federal Communications Commission fd Displacement Frequency FDM Frequency Division Multiplex FDMA Frequency Division Multiple Access FDM/FM Frequency Division Multiplex/Frequency Modulation FLTSATCOM Fleet Satellite Communications FSS/MSS Fixed-Satellite Service/Mobile-Satellite Service GEO satellite Geostationary satellite GMF Government Master File GREENSAT-1 South African satellite GREENSENSE South African satellite IDCSP Initial Defense Communications Satellite Program I/N Interference-to-Noise Ratio IPO Integrated Program Office IRAC Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee IRS-1A, 1B, 1C India satellites ITU International Telecommunication Union ITU-R International Telecommunication Union-Radiocommunications Sector ITU-R IS.### ITU-R Inter-Service Sharing and Compatibility Series ITU-R SA.### ITU-R Space Applications Series JERS-1 Japanese satellite JPL Jet Propulsion Laboratory LEASAT low Earth satellite system owned by DOC/NOAA LEO satellite Low Earth Orbiting satellite LANDSAT-4,-5,-6 DOC/NOAA satellites LANDSAT-7 NOAA/NASA/AF satellite LOS Line Of Sight Mbps Megabits per second METOP Meteorological Operational Satellite MetSat Meteorological-Satellite Mchip Megachip MOS-1, 1B Japanese satellites MSS Mobile-Satellite Service N Navy NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration NATO North American Treaty Organization NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NPOES National Polar Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite NSF National Science Foundation NTIA National Telecommunications and Information Administration OQPSK Off-set Quadrature-Phase Shift Keying OSC Orbital Sciences Corporation PFD Power Flux Density POEM 1 French satellite ppm Parts per million PSK Phase Shift Keying QPSK Quadrature-Phase Shift Keying RADARSAT-1A Canadian satellite RCL Radar Communications Link REC Recommendation associated with SFCG RF Radio frequency RR Radio Regulations SFCG Space Frequency Coordination Group SITCH Ukrainian satellite SQPSK Staggered Quadrature-Phase Shift Keying SPEKTR-R Russian satellite SPD Spectral Power Density SPOT 1-6 French satellites SPS Spectrum Planning Subcommittee SRA Spectrum Resource Assessments SRV Spectrum Resource file SSIPR Russian satellites SSMA Spread Spectrum Multiple Access TDRSS Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System TT & C Tracking, Telemetery and Control TVA Tennessee Valley Authority US & P United States and Possessions VA Department of Veterans Affairs WARC World Administrative Radio Conference WRC World Radiocommunication Conference X-Band bands of 8,000-12,000 Mhz XXM French/European Space Agency satellite