Path Length Variation in a Synchronous Satellite Communications Link

The path length and path length rate variations in a communications link connecting earth stations on the East and West coasts of the continental United States by means of an equatorial synchronous satellite are investigated numerically and shown to be less than 50,000 feet and 5 feet per second for periods of at least a day (and likely for a week or more) with no stationkeeping during the periods of interest.