Project Science Equipment

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Satellite, Communications: A communication satellite is a solar-powered orbital receiver and re-transmitter of tight beam or broadcast communication in a stationary equatorial orbit. Each provides 20-percent coverage of a world, so five satellites evenly spaced in the same orbit will provide 100-percent coverage. Weight: 200kg.

Satellite Down-Link Receiver: A down-link navigation receiver is a portable unit used by ground parties to receive broadcasts from satellites. This is built-in to most Link phones as well, though some reprogramming may be necessary to get them to receive signals from a private satellite. Weight: 1kg.

Satellite Navigation: A solar-powered orbital broadcast transmitter. Five satellites are required to provide full coverage of a planetary surface. Each satellite continuously broadcasts its identification code and current position. A down-link receiver is able to establishes its own correct surface location to within 1.0 meters. Weight: 200kg.

Satellite Surveillance: A surveillance satellite is a solar-powered, low-orbit satellite. Each satellite will orbit an earth-sized planet roughly three times a day and scan the area directly below and 50 kilometers to either side. This satellite has an optical resolution of 0.2 centimeters on a clear day. Weight: 250kg.

Satellite, Weather: A solar-powered satellite intended to provide detailed meteorological information for the world below. Purpose-built for weather monitoring, it lacks the resolution required for surface mapping. On occasion, however, these satellites have been rigged for such duties, often through software tricks to use it as a make-shift optical interferometry telescope. It usually inhabits a low polar orbit passing over the entire globe in the course of many orbits. Weight: 220kg.