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Implications of ACTS Technology on the
Requirements of Rain Attenuation Modeling for
Communication System Specification and Analysis at
the Ka-Band and Beyond
With the advent of the use of the Ka-band for space communications, coupled with the
introduction of digital modulation techniques as well as multiple-beam methodology for
satellites, the NASA Lewis Research Center has deemed it necessary to reassess the plethora of
rain attenuation prediction models in use (computer models that predict the attenuation of signals
by rain). The Advanced Communication Technology Satellite (ACTS) project, undertaken by
NASA in 1983, offered such challenges to rain attenuation prediction modeling. An examination
of the work done in this area shows that, up to 1983, no such single modeling formalism existed
that could fulfill the requirements of the ACTS specifications. Not even the work done by the
NASA Propagation Experimenters Group had envisioned such requirements, so no dynamic
Ka-band data existed from which one could draw conclusions.
In response to this need, Lewis developed the ACTS Rain Attenuation Prediction Model. A
detailed discussion of the derivation of the model's basic relations can be found in reference 1.
The model as well as its software implementation won the Space Act Award for 1992. In
addition to the review of the model, a recommendation is given in reference 2 for a new
evaluation of the performance of satellite communication systems, in particular, for those to be
operating within the Ka-band and above. These systems will necessarily employ some type of
dynamic rain-fade mitigation procedure.
References
- Manning, R.M.: A Unified Statistical Rain-Attenuation Model for Communication Link Fade
Predictions and Optimal Stochastic Fade Control Design Using a Location-Dependent
Rain-Statistics Database. Int. J. Satellite Comm., vol. 8, 1990, pp. 11-30.
- Manning, R.M.: The Implications of ACTS Technology on the Requirements of Rain
Attenuation Modeling for Communication System Specification and Analysis at 30/20 GHz and
Beyond. ACTS Results Conference, Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 11-13, 1995.
Find out more about ACTS.
Lewis contact: Dr. Robert M. Manning, (216) 433-6750
Headquarters program office: OSAT
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