CONTENTS

1.     Background – propagation effects
2.     Technical and operational considerations
        2.1     Mission frequency support requirements
                  2.1.1     Telecommand and maintenance telemetering
                  2.1.2     Mission telemetry
                  2.1.3     Tracking
        2.2     Equipment factors
3.     Link performance
        3.1     Calculation of link performance as a function of frequency
        3.2     Application to near-Earth space research missions
4.     Discussion and conclusions