I. Introduction
Satellite system design, taken as a whole, presents numerous engineering challenges because of the multitude of constraints, which often interact in complex ways. In the planning and design phases, tradeoff studies enable mission planners to understand and prioritize design parameters. Many aerospace organizations, including NASA, have placed emphasis on the need for modular, lighter, and less expensive satellite systems with more capabilities packed into smaller volumes [1]. At the same time, demands on the communication systems have increased, including higher data rates, lower power budgets, reduced mass and volume, and smaller link margins.