The Orbital Transfer of TV Satellites by Ion Propulsion

Extract

Geostationary communications satellites relaying television pictures around the world have now become an accepted part of everyday life. The present type of system uses low power satellites in orbit transmitting to large earth receiving stations, the signal then being reformed and transmitted onward to the domestic television set through the existing network of ground transmission and repeater stations. It must be remembered that these existing satellites are primarily telephone links and that the ground receiving stations are operated by the national post office or telephone company who let circuits to the television companies. This system is viable where a network of repeater stations exists, but in very remote and mountainous areas the cost of providing enough repeater stations is prohibitive.