Satellite communications system

A satellite communication system comprising:

• a row-summing transmit-receive phased array antenna including an N×N array of active elements with N rows and N columns, where N is a positive integer;
• each active element having a horizontally polarized sub-element and a vertically polarized sub-element;
• each of the N rows having a vertical row summation circuit configured to a form or deliver a single analog vertical sum signal across the N vertically polarized sub-elements of the row, wherein, all of the N vertically polarized sub-elements are in phase with one-another, and a horizontal row summation circuit configured to form or deliver a single analog horizontal sum signal across the N horizontally polarized sub-elements of the row wherein, all of the N horizontally polarized sub-elements are in phase with one-another;
• the analog vertical and horizontal sum signals each being converted from analog to digital with an analog to digital converter (ADC) to produce digital vertical and digital horizontal sum signals in a receive mode;
• the digital vertical and horizontal sum signals each being converted from digital to analog with a digital to analog converter (DAC) to produce analog vertical and horizontal sum signals in a transmit mode;
• the digital vertical and horizontal sum signals each connected to digital amplitude and phase changing circuits, wherein, both horizontal and vertical amplitude and phase is determined for each row of the N rows upon command from a processor;
• wherein, said digital amplitude and phase-delay changing circuits determine both a beam elevation scan angle and a beam polarization;
• and
• said N×N array being mounted on a rotatable mechanical pedestal with a changeable angular position constructed to determine an azmuthal tracking angle.