Effective communications are essential to the success of an effort to conduct scientific investigations over an area of continental size. Communications in the polar regions are difficult because of the often great distances involved, the disturbed ionosphere, and the general inaccessibility of the great bulk of satellite communications resources which are in equatorial orbit. A new class of communication satellites, the relatively small and inexpensive "microsats", will over the next few years provide an alternate method for communicating with equipment and personnel in the field. Interferometrics proposes to conduct research to adapt an existing design for a compact telemetry unit (CTU) to the environment of the polar regions and the needs of polar science. The existing CTU operates autonomously, gathering data as commanded. Command and interrogation is done remotely via a digital packet radio network which can include a data store-and-forward or relay satellite. The same system can be used to exchange message communications. The challenge to be met is to design equipment which will operate reliably in the particularly hostile environment of the polar regions, while providing the required level of service. A simpler, hand-held version of the CTU could be used for personal radiolocation if used with appropriate satellite equipment.
