SATELLITE HISTORY - Episode 5 — Syncom 1 to 3
by Donald Martin, Paul Anderson and Lucy Bartamian
In the early 1960s, both medium and synchronous altitude communication satellites were of interest to planners. NASA conducted experiments at both altitudes using the Relay and Syncom satellites. The Syncom program [1-12] had three major objectives:
To place a satellite in synchronous orbit
To demonstrate on-orbit station keeping
To make engineering measurements on a synchronous altitude communication link
Syncom satellite
The Syncom satellite had a short cylindrical body that was spun about its axis to provide stabilization in orbit. The antennas were mounted beyond one end of the body and were collinear with the satellite axis. All the satellite equipment was contained within the body. This design formed the basis for several later synchronous altitude satellites. The communication subsystem had two receivers and two transmitters for redundancy; either receiver could be operated with either transmitter. The channelization was similar to Relay, with two 500 kHz channels for NB two-way communications and one 5 MHz channel for one-way WB transmissions. (These capabilities could not be used simultaneously.)
The satellite details are as follow...
Satellite
Cylinder, 28 in. diameter 15 in. height
78 lb. in orbit
Solar cells and NiCd batteries, 28 W initially, 19 W minimum after 1 year
Spin-stabilized
Solid rocket motor for apogee maneuver, cold gas propulsion for on-orbit use
Syncom satellite detail
Configuration
Syncom 1, 2: two 500 kHz bandwidth double-conversion repeaters or one 5 MHz bandwidth double conversion repeater
Syncom 3: one 5 MHz bandwidth and one switchable (50 kHz or 10 MHz) bandwidth double-conversion repeater (some references say 13 MHz instead of 10 MHz)
Capacity
Several two-way voice circuits or one TV channel
Transmitter
1815 MHz
Two TWTs (one on, one standby)
2 W output
Receiver
7363 MHz
10 dB noise figure
Antenna
Transmit: three-element collinear slotted array, 6 dB gain, 23 x 360 deg beam
Receive: slotted dipole, 2 dB gain
Syncom communication system
Telemetry and command
Telemetry: 136 MHz, via four monopole antennas
Beacon: 1820 MHz
Command: 148 MHz, via four monopole antennas
Orbit
Syncom 1, 2: synchronous altitude, approximately 32° inclination
Syncom 3: synchronous equatorial
Orbital history
Syncom 1: launched 13 February 1963, all communications failed during orbital insertion
Syncom 2: launched 26 July 1963, operated through 1966, final turn off April 1969
Syncom 3: launched 19 August 1964, operated through 1966, final turn off April 1969
Delta launch vehicle
Management
Developed by Hughes Aircraft Company for NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Syncom 1 was launched in February 1963. The intended orbit was at synchronous altitude with a 33° inclination. The satellite operated properly during the ascent, but all communication was lost when the apogee motor fired to inject the satellite into its final orbit. The cause of the failure was the rupturing of a tank of nitrogen that was part of the on-orbit control subsystem.
Syncom 2 was successfully launched in July 1963. Like Syncom 1, it was not intended to achieve a stationary synchronous orbit because of the extra propellant weight and control complexity required to attain 0° inclination. NASA conducted a number of tests using this satellite, including voice, teletype, and facsimile. During its first year, in addition to engineering tests, 110 public demonstrations were conducted. Their purpose was to acquaint the public with communication satellites and to gain a broader-based, subjective appraisal of system performance.
Syncom 3 was launched in August 1964. By this time, launch vehicle technology had progressed to the point where a true synchronous equatorial (inclination <1°) orbit was possible. The only major change in the communication equipment was a channel, with greater bandwidth than Syncom 2, to be used for television transmissions.
(Historic photos courtesy of Boeing)
Syncom satellite
image courtesy of Boeing
The Department of Defense (DOD) also conducted a number of tests using Syncom 2 and 3. During 1965 and 1966, both were used extensively. Five ground stations and one shipborne terminal were in regular system use. Also, tests with aircraft terminals were conducted using the very high frequency (VHF) command and telemetry links. By February 1966, the Syncom 2 and 3 repeaters had a cumulative operational time of 27,000 hours, DOD use of Syncom diminished when the Initial Defense Communication Satellite Program (IDCSP) satellites became operational.
While the Syncom satellites were being developed and tested, an Advanced Syncom study was also being conducted. The Advanced Syncom program was sometimes called Syncom II, which, in some references, is difficult to distinguish from the second satellite of the original Syncom program (Syncom 2 in this report). The conceptual satellite was larger than Syncom, generated more prime power, capable of higher antenna gain, and had repeaters of two different designs. This program grew beyond an advanced communications experiment and became the Applications Technology Satellite (ATS) program.
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References
Space Communications and Navigation 1958—1964, NASA SP-93 (1966).
L. Jaffe, “The NASA Communications Satellite Program Results and Status,” Proceedings of the 15th International Astronautical Congress (1964), Vol. 2: Satellite Systems (1965).
C. G. Murphy, “The Hughes Aircraft Company’s Syncom Satellite Program,” Paper 2619-62, ARS 17th Annual Meeting and Space Flight Exposition (November 1962).
R. M. Bentley and A. T. Owens, “Syncom Satellite Program,” Journal of Spacecraft, Vol. 1, No. 4 (July—August 1964).
P. E. Norsell, “Syncom,” Astronautics and Aerospace Engineering, Vol. 1, No. 8 (September 1963).
W.H. Edwards and J. S. Smith, “Experience of the Defense Communications
Agency in Operating Pilot Satellite Communications,” Paper 66-268, AIAA Communications Satellite System Conference (May 1966). Reprinted in Communication Satellite Systems Technology, Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics, Vol. 19, R. B. Marsten, ed. (1966).
F. P. Alder, “Syncom,” Proceedings of the 14th International Astronautical Congress (1963), Vol. 2: Satellite and Spacecraft (1965).
C. G. Murphy, “A Syncom Satellite Program,” Paper 63-264, AIAA Summer Meeting (June 1963).
D. D. Williams, “Synchronous Satellite Communication Systems,” Advances in Communication Systems, Vol. 2, A. V. Balakrishnan, ed. (1966).
D. R. Glover, “NASA Experimental Communications Satellites,” http://sulu.lerc.nasa.gov/dglover/satcom2.html (9 June 1999).
D. R. Glover, “NASA Experimental Communications Satellites, 1958—1995,” in Beyond the Ionosphere: Fifty Years of Satellite Communication, A. J. Butrica, ed., NASA History Office, Washington, D.C. (1997), ch. 2.
Syncom, HSC 98035/500/7-98, Communications and Customer Relations, Hughes Space and Communications Company (July 1998), available at http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/bss/factsheets/376/syncom/syncom. (25 October 2004).
