HIGHER GROUND LLC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: SOCOM212-001

Description

In response to SOCOM212-001, Higher Ground proposes to develop a man-portable battery powered Starlink user terminal. Convenient handheld terminals connecting to a very large network of LEO satellites (such as Starlink) could provide the necessary ‘always-on’ reliability that one expects from using GEO satellites along with an additional advantage that we refer to as ‘The LEO Advantage’. The LEO Advantage comes from the near-earth proximity of LEO satellites as compared to GEO satellites. This signal level advantage could improve the data rate and/or substantially improve the Low Probability of Interception/Detection (LPI/LPD) of the soldier’s handheld. However, there are also some disadvantages of LEOs: (i.e., spectral priority, scale required for coverage, multiple gateways, antenna tracking requirement) which also must go into the decision of which constellation to use. We will suggest using our COTS SatPaq satellite handheld (which connects to GEO satellites on the same Ku band as Starlink satellites) to help study and possibly implement a multi-orbit handheld solution. A handheld-sized, multi-orbit product would provide the flexibility to select the appropriate orbit option [GEO, MEO or LEO] based on the needs and circumstances of the soldier in the field.