Committee on Radio Astronomy Frequencies

The Committee on Radio Astronomy Frequencies (CRAF) is a committee of the European Science Foundation (ESF).

Challenging Space Systems:

This table gives a summary of different space systems which have or may have impact on operations of the Radio Astronomy Service in Europe. The challenge for both the space system and radio astronomy is to avoid harmful interference from the active to the passive radio application. The following situations are observed:

a space system in which protection of passive radio usage has been or will be implemented (e.g. Cloud radar)

a space system which is improved to protect passive radio usage (e.g. GLONASS)

a space system in which by design no protection of other radiocommunication services has been built in (e.g. Iridium)

a space system which causes harmful interference to passive services because of malfunctioning of system components (e.g. TEX, ASTRA 1-D)

For more complete information, the reader is referred to Lloyd Wood's satellite constellations information.

Note: when an asterisk (*) is given, the comprehensive information of the system relevant for radio astronomy is explained after click on the system name.

space system number of satellites altitude (km) inclination (^o) EIRP (W) frequency band (Earth-to-space) frequency band (space-to-Earth) frequency band intersatellite link modulation multiplexing
FAISAT 26 (32) 1000 66, 83 149 MHz 137 MHz, 400 MHz TDMA
LEO-One 48 950 50 - 149 MHz 137 MHz, 400 MHz FDMA, TDMA
METEOR 1200 83 138 MHz, 467 MHz
ORBCOMM 36 775, 825 70, 108, 45 18 149 MHz 137 MHz CDMA,FDMA
E-Sat 6 894 99 2.4 149 MHz 137 MHz CDMA
Nadezhda 1000 83 - 140 MHz, 400 MHz
TEX (*) 1 690 90 2 328.25 MHz digital
GONETS (*) 18 (36) 1500 83 2 313 MHz, 1.6 GHz 390 MHz, 1.5 GHz GMSK
IRIS 835 99 2 388 MHz 400 MHz CDMA
SAFIR 700, 850 99 40 400 MHz 401 MHz TDMA
Worldspace 3 36000 76000 7025-7075 MHz 1452-1492 MHz
GPS (*) 24 20200 55 50 1575.42 MHz, 1227.60 MHz, 1381.05 MHz CDMA
GLONASS (*) 7 (24) 19000 65 50 1.6 GHz FDMA
IRIDIUM (*) 66 780 86 1400 1.6 GHz 1.6 GHz 23 GHz TDMA
Thuraya (*) 2 36000 6 1.6 GHz 1.5 GHz FDMA
Constellation 46 2000 - 1.6 GHz 2.5 GHz CDMA
ECO-8 2000 0 1.6 GHz 2.5 GHz CDMA
Ellipso Borealis 14 633 - 7605 117 - 1.6 GHz 2.5 GHz - CDMA
Ellipso Concordia 3 8040 0 - 1.6 GHz 2.5 GHz - CDMA
Globalstar 48 1380 52 1000 1.6 GHz 2.5 GHz CDMA
Courier 800 76 - 1.6 GHz 2.5 GHz 19 GHz, 29 GHz CDMA
ICO 10 10390 45 2500 2.0 GHz 2.2 GHz TDMA
Inmarsat 36000 3800 1.6 GHz, 6 GHz 1.5 GHz, 4 GHz - TDMA, FDMA
ADEOS 1 800 98.6 8 - 40 8.2 8.3 GHz 26 GHz -
ASTRA (*) 12 36000 12.0 GHz, 12.5 GHz 10.7 GHz, 12.5 GHz
EUTELSAT 18 36000 12000 - 200000 12 GHz, 14 GHz, 29 GHz 11 GHz, 18 GHz
Skybridge 80 1469 53 2500 13.5 GHz 11.5 GHz 68 GHz
Virtual Geostationary Satellite 15 517 - 27388 km 63.4 14 GHz 12 GHz
WEST 36000, 20270 -, 75 240, 1900 30 GHz 20 GHz TDMA, FDMA
ARCS 36000 - - 30 GHz 23 GHz, 32.5 GHz, 56 GHz, 62 GHz FDMA, TDMA
EuroSkyWay 36000 30 GHz 20 GHz 56 GHz, 62 GHz TDMA
Spaceway 36000, 10350 -, 55 61 30 GHz 18 GHz 23 GHz, 32.5 GHz, 56 GHz, 62 GHz FDMA, TDMA
Astrolink 36000 - 30 GHz 20 GHz FDMA, TDMA
Orblink 7 9000 48 GHz 38 GHz 68 GHz
Cloud radar (*) 1 400 - 600 - 1000 94 GHz -

High Altitude Platforms:

space system altitude (km) inclination (^o) EIRP (W) frequency band up frequency band down frequency band intersat modulation multiplexing
HALO 15 - 18 28 GHz 28 GHz
Sky Station (*) 20 - 30 76 48 GHz 47 GHz

Last modified: September 22, 2003

space system	number of satellites	altitude (km)	inclination (^o)	EIRP (W)	frequency band (Earth-to-space)	frequency band (space-to-Earth)	frequency band intersatellite link	modulation multiplexing
FAISAT	26 (32)	1000	66, 83		149 MHz	137 MHz, 400 MHz		TDMA
LEO-One	48	950	50	-	149 MHz	137 MHz, 400 MHz		FDMA, TDMA
METEOR		1200	83			138 MHz, 467 MHz
ORBCOMM	36	775, 825	70, 108, 45	18	149 MHz	137 MHz		CDMA,FDMA
E-Sat	6	894	99	2.4	149 MHz	137 MHz		CDMA
Nadezhda		1000	83	-		140 MHz, 400 MHz
TEX (*)	1	690	90	2		328.25 MHz		digital
GONETS (*)	18 (36)	1500	83	2	313 MHz, 1.6 GHz	390 MHz, 1.5 GHz		GMSK
IRIS		835	99	2	388 MHz	400 MHz		CDMA
SAFIR		700, 850	99	40	400 MHz	401 MHz		TDMA
Worldspace	3	36000		76000	7025-7075 MHz	1452-1492 MHz
GPS (*)	24	20200	55	50		1575.42 MHz, 1227.60 MHz, 1381.05 MHz		CDMA
GLONASS (*)	7 (24)	19000	65	50		1.6 GHz		FDMA
IRIDIUM (*)	66	780	86	1400	1.6 GHz	1.6 GHz	23 GHz	TDMA
Thuraya (*)	2	36000	6		1.6 GHz	1.5 GHz		FDMA
Constellation	46	2000	-		1.6 GHz	2.5 GHz		CDMA
ECO-8		2000	0		1.6 GHz	2.5 GHz		CDMA
Ellipso Borealis	14	633 - 7605	117	-	1.6 GHz	2.5 GHz	-	CDMA
Ellipso Concordia	3	8040	0	-	1.6 GHz	2.5 GHz	-	CDMA
Globalstar	48	1380	52	1000	1.6 GHz	2.5 GHz		CDMA
Courier		800	76	-	1.6 GHz	2.5 GHz	19 GHz, 29 GHz	CDMA
ICO	10	10390	45	2500	2.0 GHz	2.2 GHz		TDMA
Inmarsat		36000		3800	1.6 GHz, 6 GHz	1.5 GHz, 4 GHz	-	TDMA, FDMA
ADEOS	1	800	98.6	8 - 40	8.2	8.3 GHz	26 GHz	-
ASTRA (*)	12	36000			12.0 GHz, 12.5 GHz	10.7 GHz, 12.5 GHz
EUTELSAT	18	36000		12000 - 200000	12 GHz, 14 GHz, 29 GHz	11 GHz, 18 GHz
Skybridge	80	1469	53	2500	13.5 GHz	11.5 GHz	68 GHz
Virtual Geostationary Satellite	15	517 - 27388 km	63.4		14 GHz	12 GHz
WEST		36000, 20270	-, 75	240, 1900	30 GHz	20 GHz		TDMA, FDMA
ARCS		36000	-	-	30 GHz		23 GHz, 32.5 GHz, 56 GHz, 62 GHz	FDMA, TDMA
EuroSkyWay		36000			30 GHz	20 GHz	56 GHz, 62 GHz	TDMA
Spaceway		36000, 10350	-, 55	61	30 GHz	18 GHz	23 GHz, 32.5 GHz, 56 GHz, 62 GHz	FDMA, TDMA
Astrolink		36000		-	30 GHz	20 GHz		FDMA, TDMA
Orblink	7	9000			48 GHz	38 GHz	68 GHz
Cloud radar (*)	1	400 - 600	-	1000		94 GHz		-