In this paper, functional blocks of a generic on-board processing payload are identified, and some key technology implementation issues for on-board RF andlor baseband switching, signal regeneration and processing are addressed. The design and performance characteristics of a microwave switch matrix and a 120 Mb/s coherent quadrature phase shift keying demodulator for satellite applications are presented. This hardware is realized with monolithic microwave integration technology. Significant performance improvement and reduction in size and weight, as well as enhanced subsystem reliability, have been demonstrated, making these technologies attractive for flexible communications satellite payload architectures of the future. Transmission analysis is performed to quantify link budget advantages that could be obtained by using on-board regeneration.
KEY WORDS On-board regeneration On-board processing Satellite switching SS-TDMA Baseband switching