multiple-access service

multiple-access service

[‚məl·tə·pəl ′ak‚ses ‚sər·vəs]

(communications)

One of the services of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System, which provides simultaneous return-link service from as many as 20 low-earth-orbiting user spacecraft, with data rates up to 3 megabits per second for each user, and a time-shared forward-link service to the user spacecraft with a maximum data rate of 300 kilobits per second, one user at a time. Abbreviated MA service.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.