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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE SATELLITE TRANSMISSION - SIRIUS / XM
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Figure 5.5. Sirius Ground Track
The decision to use inclined, elliptical orbits rather than geostationary orbits for Sirius was
made approximately one year into the design and manufacturing phase of the project. At
the same time, modifications were made to the payload requirements, affecting
spacecraft configuration and support subsystems. While the majority of the satellite
hardware remained unchanged, a number of modifications were required. Several
design trades and decisions were influenced by the existing state of design and
development. The program was carefully replanned to accommodate late arrival of new
or modified hardware and software, while maintaining the integrity of the overall system
testing. The highest priority was given to quality and reliability of the end product. No
“shortcuts” were taken during the development or qualification of new hardware or
software. The overall success of the program demonstrated the ability to respond quickly
to a change in the implementation plan. The following table summarizes the
modifications made to the 1300 design for the Sirius application.