The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences. Vol. XXXVII. Part B4. Beijing 2008 
More detailed information about Alice-SC ground station can be 
found at: www.scanex.com/en/stations 
stationntenna type 
axially symmetric 
solid reflector 
Type of positioner 
2-axis (X-Y) 
Antenna tracking control 
step-type 
Antenna reflector 
diameter, m 
1.2 
Polarisation 
right circular 
Working frequency band, 
MHz 
1,670 ... 1,710 
Digital data rate, Mbps 
0.25 ... 2 (BPSK) 
0.5 ... 4(QPSK) 
Modulation type 
BPSK, QPSK 
Noise temperature of the 
low-noise amplifier- 
converter, K 
65 
Rotation range for tilt 
(Y), deg. 
-80...+90 
Rotation range for 
elevation (X), deg. 
0 ... 170 
Antenna system working 
temperature range, 0 C 
-40 ... +50 
Wind speed, m/s: 
working 
survival 
20 
30 
Main specifications of the Alice-SC 
Figure 1 Antenna system of Alice-SC ground 
station 
Amount 
Growth of Alice-SC™ amount 
Figure 2 Growth of Alice-SC™ ground stations amount 
The UniScan ground station is designed for receiving and 
processing images transmitted from low-orbiting Earth satellites 
in X-band with data rates up to 170 Mbps in one channel. Such 
data rate allows to transmit detailed images with the spatial 
resolution better than 1 meter. At present the UniScan™ station 
provides for reception and processing of data from Terra, Aqua, 
Resurs-DKl, IRS-P5, IRS-P6, SPOT 4, Landsat 5, EROS A, 
EROS B and RADARSAT-1, ENVISAT-1 satellites. 
Main specifications of the UniScan™ station 
UniScan™ hardware is universal and programmable. It provides 
for reception of information in any format, whose parameters 
are within the following limits: 
Parameter 
Range 
Carrier, MHz 
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Rate of information 
transmission, Mbps 
7.5 ... 170 (QPSK) 
3.75... 85 (BPSK) 
Modulation 
BPSK, QPSK, SQPSK 
The users would not need any hardware modifications to adapt 
the station for a new satellite and format, only some additional 
software will be required provided that: 
format parameters are within the limits indicated above; 
power of the satellite transmission is sufficient to be received by 
the particular antenna system. 
SPOT 5, RADARSAT-2, NPP, NPOESS satellites and many 
others transmit (or will transmit) information within the 
UniScan™ range of parameters. 
UniScan™ is manufactured in two configurations: 
solid-reflector antenna, 3.1 m in diameter with a 3-axis 
positioner (UniScan™-36); 
solid-reflector antenna, 2.4 m in diameter with a 2-axis "X - Y" 
rotating support (UniScan™-24) 
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