Satellite communications using spread signals

A system for satellite communications, comprising:

• a transmitter configured to transmit a composite signal and comprising:
• a plurality of component spreaders, wherein each component spreader of the plurality of component spreaders is configured to apply a respective spreading code of a plurality of spreading codes to a common data symbol of a modulated signal to obtain a plurality of spread data symbols, and
• a plurality of antenna elements coupled with the plurality of component spreaders, wherein each antenna of the plurality of antenna elements is configured to obtain one or more spread data symbols of the plurality of spread data symbols and emit an element signal comprising the one or more spread data symbols, the composite signal comprising the element signals emitted from the plurality of antenna elements;
• and
• a receiver configured to receive the composite signal and comprising:
• a plurality of component despreaders, wherein each component despreader of the plurality of component despreaders is configured to apply a despreading code of a plurality of despreading codes to the composite signal to obtain a plurality of despread data symbols,
• a plurality of signal component estimators coupled with the plurality of component despreaders, wherein each signal component estimator of the plurality of signal component estimators is configured to estimate one or more coefficients for respective despread data symbols of the plurality of despread data symbols, and
• a summing circuit coupled with the plurality of signal component estimators, wherein the summing circuit is configured to combine the plurality of despread data symbols based at least in part on the one or more coefficients estimated for the plurality of despread data symbols to obtain a combined data symbol corresponding to the common data symbol.