SUMMARY CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 SATELLITE
This document contains information on the mission, communications features, coverages, frequency plan andimplementation of the ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 satellite.
The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 Satellite
THE ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 SATELLITE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 SATELLITE.........................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................................3COMMUNICATIONS FEATURES ............................................................................................................................3BEACONS ............................................................................................................................................................5SATELLITE IMPLEMENTATION.............................................................................................................................6
TABLE OF FIGURES
FIGURE 1 - ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 FREQUENCY PLAN (CENTRE FREQUENCIES IN MHZ)............................................................ 7FIGURE 2 - EUROPEAN RECEIVE COVERAGE FOR ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 AT 12.5° WEST........................................................... 8FIGURE 3 - EUROPEAN TRANSMIT COVERAGE FOR ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 AT 12.5° WEST ........................................................ 9FIGURE 4 - NORTH AMERICAN RECEIVE COVERAGE FOR ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 AT 12.5° WEST (SINGLE BEAM G/T) ............ 10FIGURE 5 - NORTH AMERICAN TRANSMIT COVERAGE FOR ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 AT 12.5° WEST (SINGLE BEAM EIRP)........ 11FIGURE 6 - SOUTH AMERICAN RECEIVE COVERAGE FOR ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 AT 12.5° WEST (SINGLE BEAM G/T) ............. 12FIGURE 7 - SOUTH AMERICAN TRANSMIT COVERAGE FOR ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 AT 12.5° WEST (SINGLE BEAM EIRP) ........ 13FIGURE 8 - COMBINED NORTH + SOUTH AMERICAN RECEIVE COVERAGE FOR ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 AT 12.5° WEST ............ 14FIGURE 9 - COMBINED NORTH + SOUTH AMERICAN TRANSMIT COVERAGE FOR ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 AT 12.5° WEST.......... 15FIGURE 10 – RECEIVE COVERAGES FOR ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 AT 12.5° WEST...................................................................... 16FIGURE 11 - TRANSMIT COVERAGES FOR ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 AT 12.5° WEST.................................................................... 17FIGURE 12 - THE ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 SATELLITE IN-ORBIT................................................................................................. 18
The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 Satellite
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The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 Satellite
Introduction
In 1999, EUTELSAT initiated a project for a satellite named ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 to be manufactured by an
international consortium headed by Alenia Aerospazio to provide telecommunications services primarily
between Europe and the Americas.
ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 is designed to provide 24 channels with a minimum operational lifetime of 15 years. The
satellite will be launched in the second half of 2002.
ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 will be deployed at 12.5° W. The satellite will provide service continuity to the
EUTELSAT II satellites in operations since 1998 at one of the “Atlantic Gate” orbital positions providing a
range of services between Europe and North America.
ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 is suited to provide a wide range of telecommunications services, such as business
services, Internet backbone connections, satellite news gathering, television and radio programmes, etc…
The main characteristics of the ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 satellite are given below.
Communications Features
ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 is designed to provide 24 transponders for a minimum operational lifetime of 15 years in
geostationary orbit. The satellite carries transponders with a usable bandwidth of 72, 54 and 36 MHz.
The frequency plan in Figure 1 shows the uplink frequency bands, downlink frequency bands and
uplink/downlink connections. There are 12 channels implemented on each polarization on both uplink and
downlink. The channel frequencies are re-used with the aid of linear orthogonal polarization.
Figures 2 and 3 show the European receive and transmit coverages.
Figures 4 and 5 show the North American receive and transmit coverages.
Figures 6 and 7 show the South American receive and transmit coverages.
Figures 8 and 9 show the Combined North + South American receive and transmit coverages.
Figures 10 and 11 show simultaneously the European and American receive and transmit coverages.
The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 Satellite
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The six B channels in the 14.25-14.50 / 10.95-11.20 GHz bands (each one with a 72 MHz bandwidth) can be
connected on the uplink to either the American or the European coverages. On the downlink, all of them are
connected to the European coverage, and B4 and B6 can also be connected to the American coverage.
The six C channels in the 13.75-14.00 / 11.20-11.45 GHz bands (each one with a 36 MHz bandwidth) are
connected on the uplink and the downlink to the European coverage.
The four D channels in the 14.00-14.25 / 11.45-11.70 GHz bands (each one with a 54 MHz bandwidth) are
connected on the uplink and the downlink to the American coverage.
The eight F channels in the 14.00-14.25 / 12.50-12.75 GHz bands (each one with a 54 MHz bandwidth) are
connected on the uplink and the downlink to the European coverage.
The four D channels along with four of the F channels reuse the frequency on the uplink by employing spatial
isolation between the European and the American coverage.
It is possible to receive from either the American Service Area or the European Service Area, or simultaneously
from both service areas, for the following channel pairs: F5-D5, F6-D6, F7-D7 and F8-D8, in order to achieve
the network facility. This gives that for each channel pair, uplinking from and downlinking to either or both the
American Service Area and the European Service Area is possible, thus providing full connectivity and full
flexibility between these two service areas.
The eight channels with cross-connection capability are identified in Figure 1. The following operational
possibilities are provided for all eight channels:
• A signal received from each coverage can be transmitted to the other coverage. For example, the channel
pair D5 and F5 could be used to provide bi-directional communication between the European and the
American coverages.
• A signal received from any given coverage can be simultaneously transmitted to both coverages. For
example, the channel pair D5 and F5 could be used to “broadcast” the same signal received from one
coverage to both the American and the European coverages simultaneously.
• In addition it is possible to receive signals from both coverages and to transmit them either to one of the two
coverages or to both. In this case, discrimination between uplink carriers must be ensured through FDMA
(i.e. the spectra of the carriers must not overlap).
The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 Satellite
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For example, the lower half of the 54 MHz bandwidth occupied by the channel pair D5/F5 could be used to
receive traffic from the European coverage whilst the upper half could be used to receive traffic from the
American coverage. The combined traffic could then be transmitted to the American coverage via Channel D5
and simultaneously to the European coverage via Channel F5. This type of networking between two different
coverages can offer attractive mission features for certain types of services, particularly suited for networks
distributed over the two continents.
The simple connection of the uplink and the downlink on the same coverage through a single channel is also
possible.
The American coverages shown in Figures 4 to 9 are provided by two antennas. One antenna provides the
receive/transmit North American beam (Figures 4 & 5) and the other antenna provides the receive/transmit
South American beam (Figures 6 & 7). Both beams can be independently switched on/off on a polarization
basis.
When both North and South American beams are connected simultaneously in uplink, the G/T will be reduced
by about 3.5 dB over North America and by about 2.5 dB over South America compared to single beam
operation, as illustrated in Figure 8.
When both North and South American beams are connected simultaneously in downlink, the EIRP will be
reduced by about 3 dB over North and South America compared to single beam operation, as illustrated in
Figure 9.
Beacons
The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 satellite carries two tracking beacons, designated B1 and B2. B1 uses the tracking
and ranging carrier, which offers a European coverage, while B2 is independent and offers a global coverage.
Nominally, all beacons operate in X polarization.
The beacon frequencies are given in the following table:
ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1
Beacon B1/(TM+RG)* (MHz) - European 11 703.40 or 11 704.60
Beacon B2* (MHz) - global 12 500.15 or 12 749.85
* Frequency selectable by ground command.
The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 Satellite
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Satellite Implementation
The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 satellite is built by an international consortium led by Alenia Aerospazio of Italy as
the prime contractor and includes DASA, Fokker, Dornier and Bosch of Germany as the main subcontractors.
Alenia Aerospazio provides various platform subsystems as well as satellite integration and test and launch site
activities. Fokker manufactures the solar array and DASA manufactures the propulsion subsystems. Alenia
Aerospazio provides the communications repeater, the attitude control subsystem, the communication antennas
and the TCR subsystem. Within the communications repeater, the power amplifier is provided by Dornier and
Bosch provides the payload filters.
The satellite design is compatible with a number of launcher families, in particular: Long March launched from
China, Proton launched from Baïkonur and with the Ariane 4/5 family launched from Kourou.
The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 satellite is based on the three axes stabilized ITALSAT-type platform. ATLANTIC
BIRDTM 1 is shown in Figure 12 in its in-orbit configuration with solar panels and side mounted
communications antennas deployed. These 1.8 m diameter antennas, one for receive and the other for transmit,
are of Gregorian type and shaped, and provide the European coverage. The two, top-mounted transmit/receive
antennas, provide the North and South American coverages. These single offset antennas have shaped main
reflectors.
The satellite is modular in concept with the service module housing the platform subsystems and the central
cylinder accommodating the propellant tanks. The North/South walls and the earth-facing panel house the
communications equipment. The attitude and orbit control subsystem supports inclined orbit operation,
extending the satellite lifetime.
The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 Satellite
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B5EB6E/A
F1E
UPLINK
DOWNLINK
11.20 GHz 11.45 GHz 11.70 GHz10.95 GHz 12.50 GHz 12.75
P
P
B1E
B3E
B2E
B4E/A
Pol. X
Pol. Y
14.00 GHz 14.25 GHz 14.50 GHz13.75 GHz
B2E/A
B4E/A
B6E/A
B1E/A
B3E/A
B5E/A
F3E
F5E
F7E
F2E
F4E
F6E
F8E
D6A
D8A
D5A
D7A
F2E
F4E
F6E
F8E
F1E
F3E
F5E
F7E
C11E
C9E
C7E
C10E
C8E
C6E
D5A
D7A
D6A
D8A
13874.50
13916.00
13957.50
14031.25
14093.75
14156.25
14218.75
14291.67
14375.00
14458.3312531.25
12593.75
12656.25
12718.75
11345.25
11386.75
11428.25
11606.25
11668.75
10991.67
11075.00
11158.33
11324.50
11366.00
11407.50
4 Networking Couples: D5 - F5, D6 - F6 D7 - F7, D8 - F8
: Europe and/or America Coverage (uplink selectivity)
: European Coverage: American CoverageA
E
13895.25
13936.75
13978.25
2.55 GHz
2.55 GHz
1.50 GHz
3.30 GHz
C7E
C9E
C11E
C6E
C8E
C10E
Figure 1 - ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 Frequency Plan (Centre Frequencies in MHz)
The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 Satellite
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5°10°15°20° 0°
- 6 dB/K
- 4 dB/K
- 2 dB/K
0 dB/K + 2 dB/K + 4 dB/K + 6 dB/K
+ 7 dB/K
+ 8 dB/K
Figure 2 - European Receive Coverage for ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 at 12.5° West
The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 Satellite
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5°10°15°20° 0°
38 dBW 40 dBW 42 dBW
44 dBW
46 dBW 48 dBW
49 dBW 50 dBW 51 dBW
42 dBW
Figure 3 - European Transmit Coverage for ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 at 12.5° West
The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 Satellite
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20°15°10°5°0°
- 4 dB/K
- 2 dB/K
0 dB/K + 2 dB/K
+ 2 dB/K
+ 4 dB/K + 6 dB/K
+ 8 dB/K + 9 dB/K
+ 10 dB/K
+ 12 dB/K
Figure 4 - North American Receive Coverage for ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 at 12.5° West (Single Beam G/T)
The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 Satellite
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20°15°10°5°0°
38 dBW
36 dBW
40 dBW
40 dBW 42 dBW
44 dBW 46 dBW
48 dBW
50 dBW
51 dBW
52 dBW
Figure 5 - North American Transmit Coverage for ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 at 12.5° West (Single Beam EIRP)
The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 Satellite
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20°15°10°5°0°
- 10 dB/K - 4 dB/K
- 2 dB/K
0 dB/K
+ 2 dB/K
+ 4 dB/K
+ 5 dB/K
+ 6 dB/K
+ 4 dB/K
+ 5 dB/K
- 8 dB/K
- 6 dB/K
Figure 6 - South American Receive Coverage for ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 at 12.5° West (Single Beam G/T)
The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 Satellite
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20°15°10°5°0°
36 dBW 38 dBW
40 dBW 42 dBW
44 dBW
46 dBW
47 dBW
48 dBW
Figure 7 - South American Transmit Coverage for ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 at 12.5° West (Single Beam EIRP)
The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 Satellite
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20°
15°
10°
5°
- 10 dB/K + 4 dB/K + 6 dB/K
+ 8 dB/K
- 8 dB/K - 6 dB/K
- 4 dB/K - 2 dB/K 0 dB/K
+ 2 dB/K
- 8 dB/K - 6 dB/K
- 4 dB/K
- 2 dB/K
0 dB/K
+ 2 dB/K - 10 dB/K
+ 2 dB/K
- 2 dB/K
+ 4 dB/K
Figure 8 - Combined North + South American Receive Coverage for ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 at 12.5° West
The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 Satellite
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20°
15°
10°
5°
36 dBW 38 dBW
40 dBW 42 dBW
44 dBW
44 dBW
44 dBW
44 dBW
44 dBW
46 dBW 48 dBW
49 dBW
36 dBW
38 dBW
42 dBW 40 dBW
Figure 9 - Combined North + South American Transmit Coverage for ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 at 12.5° West
The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 Satellite
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5°10°15°20° 0°
Figure 10 – Receive Coverages for ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 at 12.5° West
(-6, -4, -2, 0, +2, +4, +6, +7 & +8 dB/K for Europe / -4, -2, 0, +2, +4, +6, +8, +9, +10 & +12 dB/K for Single Beam North America / -10, -8, -6, -4, -2, 0, +2, +4, +5 & +6 dB/K for Single Beam South America)
The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 Satellite
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5°10°15°20° 0°
Figure 11 - Transmit Coverages for ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 at 12.5° West
(38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 49, 50 & 51 dBW for Europe / 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 51 & 52 dBW for Single Beam North America / 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 47 & 48 dBW for Single Beam South America)
The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 Satellite
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Figure 12 - The ATLANTIC BIRDTM 1 Satellite in-orbit
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