The place of highly elliptical orbit satellites in future systems

Following the evolution of satellite communication systems towards increasingly sophisticated applications all over the world and in view of harmonizing and expanding the studies carried out in Europe on advanced systems using highly elliptical orbits, ESA has elaborated a comprehensive programme named Archimedes to experiment and demonstrate in orbit, with one or two satellites in highly inclined orbit possibly of the Tundra type, land mobile applications for voice communication in Europe with low cost terminals, sound broadcasting and navigation. This programme is part of the ESA PSDE overall programme and at the same time, is the fourth step of a scheme for introducing an expanding land mobile satellite system in Europe.<>