The continuously increasing need for capacity and flexibility results in a wide range of new developments for satellite communication. Components and equipment for higher frequencies, for example Q- and V-band have been developed as higher frequency bands provide a wider bandwidth and so data capacity can be increased. Additionally to RF performance, mass and cost are of increasing importance. Therefore also new manufacturing methods for cheap and lightweight waveguide components and antennas are required. Power handling and thermal aspects have to be considered, too. The equipment must be safe against multipaction and corona, but in space also the dissipation power is a challenging task. To minimize the dissipation power, amplifiers with a high efficiency are needed.

Both, telecommunication satellites and data downlink systems for observation satellites, have to deal with very high capacity needs. In order to use the available frequency spectrum as efficient as possible, new technologies like flexible antennas,flexible payload, on-board data processing or MIMO have to be used. Antennas, payload and data processing cannot be considered separately from each other. For the new requirements integrated solutions are necessary. Of course not only thespace segment but also ground stations and user terminals have to be adapted to these new needs. Especially for nomad or mobile users, satellite communication is of high importance.

Objective of this workshop is to address this wide range of modern concepts and hardware for satellite communication.