ARTEMIS is a communication satellite of ESA, developed in the framework of the Data Relay and Technological Mission program (DRTM). ARTEMIS will provide in orbit demonstration of interorbit links at S band, Ka band, and optical frequencies. Moreover, it handles an advanced payload for mobile communication at L band (LLM). This paper concentrates on the LLM payload, reports on its design and performance, and focuses on some key features, such as the use of the multiport amplifier technique and multibeam generation. (Author)
Abstract ARTEMIS is a communication satellite of the European Space Agency (ESA), developed in the frame of the Data Relay and Technological Mission programme (DRTM). Originally conceived as forerunner of the Data Relay System (DRS) infrastructure ([!]), ARTEMIS-will provide in orbit demonstration ofinterorbit links at S band, Ka band and optical frequencies. Moreover it embarks an advanced payload for mobile communication at L band (LLM).A full picture of the communication payloads on ARTEMIS has been already provided in [2], then the scope of this paper is to concentrate on the LLM payload, reporting on the design and performances, and focusing on some key features, as the use of the multipart amplifiers technique and the multibeams generation.