​The WSCE presents a multitude of technical challenges.  This proposal highlights seven pertinent areas for review. 

The physical channel environment is an obvious target of attention.  The concern is that as higher frequency bands have been explored, new behaviors have become manifest.  This argues for an Experiment Plan that is flexible, as well as procedurally sound. 

The current and developing physical propagation models are of vital concern, given the stated objective of the solicitation: “to statistically characterize and model V-band propagation phenomena . . . and correlate to atmospheric and meteorological parameters.”  Various models are detailed, along with their limitations in the Q/V-band.

Space-time channel models provide the foundation for applying information about the channel to significantly improve performance.  These models have found ready application in Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) techniques that can enhance satellite communication.

Antenna technology has developed rapidly and active integrated antennas (AIA) have enabled a host of new applications.  The necessity for agile spot beams on the WSCE satellite is argued.
Error Coding and Modulation are fundamental to digital communications, but find rich application in the satellite realm.  A host of modulation and error coding techniques that the ASI and ESA have experimented with are discussed.

Fade Mitigation Techniques are the core palliative for the challenges presented by physical channel in the Q/V-band.  They will play a significant role in the communications Experiment Plan.

Finally hardware issues, both on the satellite and in the ground stations, are of fundamental concern – especially at these frequency bands and power levels.

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Before outlining these technology areas, the required list of deliverables and associated schedule is presented:

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The Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) for this effort is: