Satellite communication was developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s to move information beyond the limits of ground networks and radio line of sight. The goal was to provide dependable long‑distance and over‑the‑horizon links for telephony, television, and critical communications at sea and in the air.

For decades, geostationary (GEO) satellites carried most services, offering wide coverage with higher latency. Medium Earth orbit (MEO) and low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations later emerged to reduce delay and increase throughput. Today, multi‑orbit networks and electronically steered antennas enable real-time IP connectivity for airborne operations. This article traces that evolution and explains how a Starlink-powered solution, like FlightSat, strengthens connectivity for public safety aviation.

A short history of satellite communication

Satellites were developed to overcome distance and terrain, carrying information beyond line of sight when ground networks could not. From Arthur C. Clarke’s 1945 concept through early geostationary missions and global operators such as Intelsat and Inmarsat, to today’s LOE broadband constellations, each step reduced latency and expanded capacity for use in flight.

• 1945: Arthur C. Clarke (United Kingdom), a science-fiction writer and former RAF radar officer, proposed using three geostationary satellites as radio relays to provide global coverage and reliable long‑distance links.
• 1958–1962: Early communications satellites moved from experiment to service. SCORE Signal Communications by Orbiting Relay Equipment (United States, U.S. Army, 1958) was a military demonstration that relayed a recorded presidential message. Echo 1 (United States, NASA, 1960) reflected radio signals across the continent. Telstar 1 (United States with European partners, 1962) enabled the first live transatlantic television.
• 1962–1964 (commercial framework): The U.S. Satellite Communications Act of 1962 created the legal basis for commercial space communications in the United States. Intelsat International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (global intergovernmental consortium, headquartered in the United States, 1964) formed to provide worldwide civilian services.
• 1963–1964 (GEO proven): Syncom 2 (United States, NASA, 1963, geosynchronous) and Syncom 3 (United States, NASA, 1964, geostationary) demonstrated continuous coverage from a fixed point over the equator, supporting broadcast TV and long‑distance telephony.
• 1960s–1990s (military and civil in parallel): Governments built secure SATCOM for strategic and mobile users. The United States fielded IDCSP Initial Defense Communications Satellite Program and DSCS Defense Satellite Communications System for high‑capacity links, FLTSATCOM Fleet Satellite Communications and AFSATCOM Air Force Satellite Communications for ultra-high frequency (UHF) mobile links to ships and aircraft, and later Milstar for protected, anti‑jam communications. These investments accelerated smaller terminals, mobile user links, network management and Ku/Ka‑band adoption that informed civilian systems and airline connectivity.
• 1964–1979 (global civil scale): Intelsat expanded global fixed services. Inmarsat International Maritime Satellite Organization (intergovernmental, headquartered in the United Kingdom, 1979) was created for maritime safety and routine communications, later extending to aviation.
• 1970s–1990s (other national and regional systems): Intersputnik (multinational, led by the USSR, 1971) coordinated services across Eastern Europe and allied states. Molniya/Orbita (USSR/Russia, from 1965) used highly elliptical orbits to cover high latitudes. Telesat Anik (Canada, 1972) established one of the first domestic GEO networks. Eutelsat (Europe, intergovernmental, formed 1977) enabled regional services. AUSSAT later Optus (Australia, mid‑1980s) provided national coverage. INSAT (India, 1980s) supported national communications and meteorology. JCSAT (Japan, late 1980s) expanded commercial services in Asia.
• Late 1980s–early 2000s (civil aeronautical SATCOM): Inmarsat Aero brought voice and data to aircraft beyond VHF and HF. Low Earth orbit systems such as Globalstar (United States) and Iridium (United States) and launched, offering low‑latency voice and short data.
• 2010s to today: Multi‑orbit networks and electronically steered antennas matured. O3b (Luxembourg, MEO), OneWeb (United Kingdom and India, LEO) and Starlink (United States, LEO) reduced latency and increased throughput, making real‑time applications practical in flight.

How SATCOM Works

Satellite communication works as a chain. A user terminal (on a vehicle, vessel, aircraft, or at a fixed site) talks to a satellite. The satellite links the signal to a ground gateway, which then connects it to the internet or a private network. Some modern systems also route traffic between satellites, which can reduce the path length.

A ground gateway is a land‑based station with satellite antennas, modems and network equipment. It turns the radio link from the satellite into standard IP traffic and routes it to the public internet or to private networks over secure links. Gateways also handle authentication, traffic prioritisation and redundancy. Large constellations use many gateways so traffic exits the space segment close to its destination, which helps reduce delay.

Orbit height sets the delay:

• GEO (geostationary, about 35,786 km): appears fixed in the sky, simple coverage planning, higher latency (often ~500–650 ms round trip).
• MEO (medium Earth orbit, about 2,000–20,000 km): fewer satellites than LEO, medium latency (about ~120–200 ms).
• LEO (low Earth orbit, about 300–1,200 km): many fast‑moving satellites hand off the link as you move, low-latency (about ~25–70 ms).

Antennas matter. Mechanically steered dishes physically point at one satellite. Electronically steered phased‑array antennas steer the beam without moving parts, which suits mobile users and LEO constellations.

Spectrum matters too. Common SATCOM bands include L, S, C, X, Ku and Ka. Higher bands (Ku/Ka) can deliver more capacity but are more sensitive to heavy rain. Networks manage this with adaptive coding, power control and routing through multiple gateways.

SATCOM and Aircraft

Aircraft lose mobile coverage within minutes of take‑off. VHF and HF radios keep crews in touch with air traffic control. These air‑ground radio communications remain the certified channel for Air Traffic Control (ATC) and are separate from IP data links. They are not designed to carry two-way IP data streams with the low latency, sustained throughput, and prioritisation needed for real-time mission operations. SATCOM provides an internet link in the sky, allowing crews to share plans and updates, send forms and reports, access weather and maps, and, in public safety flights, consult specialists and exchange mission-critical, real-time data securely.

An aircraft requires certified hardware for its airframe (for example, an STC [Supplemental Type Certificate] or equivalent approval) and an antenna with a clear sky view, typically located on the upper fuselage or tail boom. Equipment must meet power and weight limits and be rated for heat, cold, vibration and humidity. The cabin or avionics bay requires a modem and router, with cabin Wi‑Fi or Ethernet for crew devices and onboard systems. Cybersecurity and privacy controls should be in place (VPN, network segmentation, access controls and audit logging).

Heavy rain can reduce performance on higher‑frequency links. Networks use adaptive coding, power control and multiple gateways to manage this. Gateway location also affects performance. Performance can be optimised by data rules to decide what must go live and what can sync after landing.

Rotary-Wing Aircraft

Helicopters face extra SATCOM challenges: rotor‑blade shadowing, airframe masking in turns, and blockage or multipath when hovering near obstacles. Vibration and electrical noise require robust mounting, cabling and electromagnetic interference (EMI) control, and tighter power and weight margins influence equipment selection and certification by airframe. FlightSat includes a rotary‑wing capability designed to maintain connectivity. Please contact us to discuss configurations and approvals for your aircraft.

FlightSat for Public Safety Aviation

FlightSat uses a low Earth orbit network designed for high throughput and low latency. For public safety operators, this supports responsive voice and data, steady streaming when required, and coverage that extends well beyond terrestrial networks. Session persistence reduces re‑logins and reconnects, which lowers workload in flight and during handovers.

Across rural and remote regions, these traits improve the timeliness and completeness of information. Teams can consult specialists, pre‑alert receiving services, share location and telemetry, and keep dispatch and ground units aligned during fast‑moving operations. FlightSat complements certified air‑ground radio communications. It carries IP data, including mission‑critical, real‑time traffic, and does not change radio procedures.

For more information on how FlightSat can help public safety aviation stay connected, contact us:

FlightSat@firehawkservices.com.au

FlightSat brought to you by Fire Hawk Services

Stay connected wherever the mission takes you

Publication Note: AI tools were used to assist with researching, structuring and editing for clarity. All views expressed are those of the author(s).