ATM packet switching for airborne/space payloads

Systems and Processes Engineering Corporation (SPEC) under contract with the US Air Force's Rome Laboratory has designed, built, and tested a 9/spl times/9 prototype fast packet satellite switch (FPSS) which has basic asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) packet compatibility and a port speed of 155 Mbps. An operational FPSS will ultimately support multiplexed high-speed traffic which is transmitted from a DoD gateway, demultiplexed on-board a satellite, and downlinked to individual tactical users on a packet by packet basis. FPSS provides multiple connectivity among military users through satellite virtual packets (SVPs), which enclose and transport ATM packets. ATM compatibility minimizes delay and wasted capacity for channel allocation, and utilizes a minimum of space segment resources with its inherent bandwidth-on-demand characteristics. The next phase of this program will be aimed at reducing the digital circuit power requirements for future military airborne/space payloads.