Earth-Space Propagation Statistics: Alphasat Measurements Collected in Graz and Budapest

The use of higher frequencies for ultra-high throughput satellite (UHTS) communication systems calls for the characterization of the atmospheric propagation effects at these bands (attenuation, signal scintillation and depolarization). The design and employment of fade mitigation techniques (FMT), based on adaptive reallocation of system resources to counteract atmospheric phenomena, require multidimensional channel modelling (i.e. the joint distribution of propagation parameters in space, time and frequency). To study these effects, the Alphasat satellite hosts the Aldo Paraboni Payload transmitting two beacon signals at Ka and Q band (19.7 and 39.4 GHz). The Earth-space radiowave propagation statistics presented in this paper aim to test and develop channel models for Ka- and Q/Vband satellite communications systems.