System engineering of a crosslink for geostationary communications satellites

This paper will examine the initial system analysis and system level design for a wideband crosslink between two geostationary satellites. The vehicles will be similar to the Hughes Aircraft Company built IntelSat VI-A in basic configuration for the purposes of this study. The wideband crosslink will carry channelized digital communications to include television signals and duplex voice signals.

The paper itself will follow the rigorous format for systems engineering and analysis laid out by Blanchard and Fabrycky [Blanchard]. The study will begin with a Statement of the Problem and Definition of Need; a set of system requirements will bound the project; and the process will follow through preliminary design and tradeoff analysis.