Overview

The technologies that make it possible to put one or more communications spacecraft into Earth orbit are the result of rocket science and astrodynamics. Fortunately, we do not have to be rocket scientists to understand the use of rocketry and to work with the people and organizations that provide those services to satellite operators. Rather than attempt to cover those specialized fields, we have taken a practical approach in providing a basic understanding. Needless to say, the necessary systems work quite well, and although significant risks are involved, spacecraft have been placed into orbit, have landed on the moon, and are visiting faraway planets. Fifty years of experience with satellite operations have reduced those technologies to commercial practice, although we must never lose sight of the complexities that exist below the surface. For that reason, satellite operators rely heavily on the specialized capabilities of spacecraft manufacturers and the organizations that build and launch the rockets themselves.

In addition to a review of the technologies, this chapter also presents a summary of launch vehicle (LV) systems available at the time of this writing. This chapter should not be taken as the definitive word because the particular set of usable launch vehicles continuously changes in terms of both the particular rockets and their capabilities. Commercial launches were once the exclusive domain of the U.S. rocket manufacturers using the NASA launch facilities at Cape Canaveral, Florida. However, what has evolved is a truly international business, with good capabilities also available from European...