Satellite constellations for mobile telephony have taken the satellite world by storm and, by the year 2000, three separate competing systems - Iridium, Globalstar and ICO - should be in operation. Does this mean the end of the geostationary satellite, to which we have become accustomed? Do satellite constellations represent a revolution in communications or is it just hype? And is the concept of the constellation actually new? This lecture attempts to answer these and other questions. Mark Williamson summarises the concepts, the orbits and the technology of satellite constellations and discusses the commercial viability of this new phase in satellite communications. Whether you choose to invest in a satellite phone now, or wait for the inevitable 'shake out' in the industry, there can be no doubt that we have entered a new era in satellite communications.
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Mark Williamson is an independent Space Technology Consultant, advising the space industry and space insurance community, and has been involved in satellite communications engineering and consultancy for almost 20 years. He is also the author of two student texts, European Correspondent for "Satellite Communications" magazine, and has written some 250 articles and papers on various aspects of space technology.
No Tickets Required and Visitors Welcome
This Lecture has been organised by the Royal Aeronautical Society's Space Group.
The Lecture will be held in the Society's Lecture Theatre commencing at 18:00 hrs. Contact: Conference Department, RAeS, 4 Hamilton Place, London, W1V 0BQ.
Tel: 0171 499 3515 Fax: 0171 670 4349 Email: space@aerosociety.com