Mobile and personal satellite communications experiments with Japan's experimental satellite COMETS

In the early 21st century, the demand for fixed and mobile satellite communications for personal communications will increase rapidly. The Communications Research Laboratory plans to study an advanced mobile satellite communication system in the Ka-band and millimeter wave band by using the experimental satellite COMETS (Communications and Broadcasting Engineering test Satellite). The satellite has been developed in conjunction with NASDA and will be launched in the summer of 1997. This paper describes the outline of the COMETS project and the experimental system for the advanced mobile satellite communication mission.