Introduction to Satellite Communications

Engr. Cyrill O. Escolano Contract of Service Instructor College of Engineering Southern Luzon State University

Satellite
The word satellite is defined as a physical object that orbits or revolve around another physical body.

Types of Satellites
Natural Satellite Artificial Satellite

Basics: How do Satellites Work

Two Stations on Earth want to communicate through radio broadcast but are too far away to use conventional means. The two stations can use a satellite as a relay station for their communication One Earth Station sends a transmission to the satellite. This is called a Uplink. The satellite Transponder converts the signal and sends it down to the second earth station. This is called a Downlink.

Basics: Advantages of Satellites

The advantages of satellite communication over terrestrial communication are:

The coverage area of a satellite greatly exceeds that of a terrestrial system. Transmission cost of a satellite is independent of the distance from the center of the coverage area. Satellite to Satellite communication is very precise. Higher Bandwidths are available for use.

Basics: Disadvantages of Satellites

The disadvantages of satellite communication:

Launching satellites into orbit is costly. Satellite bandwidth is gradually becoming used up. There is a larger propagation delay in satellite communication than in terrestrial communication.

Satellite Applications
Once placed into its intended orbit, a satellite can be used for the following applications:

Communications Spying Weather Space exploration Scientific research Search and rescue operation Navigation

Communications Satellite
A spacecraft placed in orbit around Earth that carries onboard transmitting and receiving equipments capable of relaying signals back to Earth.

The Components of the Satellite

A satellite system basically consists of the following components: Space Segment

Ground Segment

Space Segment
Contains the satellite and all terrestrial facilities for the control and monitoring of the satellite.

Satellite Payload Platform

Electric power supply tracking and telemetry command (TT&C) equipments temperature control Altitude and orbit control

Ground Segment

Consists of all the Erath station that are most often connected to the end-users equipment by a terrestrial network.

Brief Historical Account

1945 1955 1957 1960 :Arthur C. Clarke Article: Extra-Terrestrial Relays. :John R. Pierce Article: Orbital Radio Relays :Sputnik: Russia launches the first Earth satellite :AT&T applies to FCC for experimental satellite communications license :Formal start of TELSTAR, RELAY, and SYNCOM Programs :Communications Satellite Act (US) :SYNCOM was launched :INTELSAT was formed

1961 1962 1963 1964

Brief Historical Account

1965 1972 1974 1975 1975 :INTELSAT-III series provides global coverage :ANIK 1st Domestic Communications Satellite (Canada) :WESTAR 1st U.S. Domestic Communications Satellite :INTELSAT-IVA 1st use of dual-polarization :RCA SATCOM 1st operational body-stabilized communications satellite

Brief Historical Account

1976 1976 1979 1997 :MARISAT 1st mobile communications satellite :PALAPA 3rd country to launch domestic satellite :INMARSAT formed :AGILA 2 Satellite Launched Philippines

 SCORE
(Signal Communications by Orbiting Relay Equipment ) December 18, 1958

 Project Echo

Echo 1 (May 13, 1960) Echo 2 (January 25, 1964)

 SYNCOM 3 (August 19, 1964)

AGILA 2

How satellites are classified?

Types of Service Offered

Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) Mobile Service Broadcast Services

Orbital Locations (Satellite Elevation Category

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite

Orbit height :100 300 mi Orbital Velocity (ave) :17,500 mph Orbital Time (period) :1.5 hours Satellite Availability :15 min per orbit Typical operating frequency:1 GHz 2.5 GHz

Leo: Advantages
Advantages
A LEO satellites proximity to earth compared to a GEO satellite gives it a better signal strength and less of a time delay, which makes it better for point to point communication. A LEO satellites smaller area of coverage is less of a waste of bandwidth.

Leo: Disadvantages
Disadvantages
A network of LEO satellites is needed, which can be costly LEO satellites have to compensate for Doppler shifts cause by their relative movement.

International Space Station

Crew Launch 6 1998 2012

Mass Length
Width Height Volume

approximately 450,000 kg (990,000 lb) 51 m (167.3 ft)

109 m (357.5 ft) 20 m (66 ft) 837 m3 (29,600 cu ft)

Perigee Apogee
Orbital Inclination Average Speed Orbital Period

352 km (190 nmi) 355 km (192 nmi)

51.6 degrees 7,706.6 m/s 91 minutes

No. of Orbits

73789

Orbital Locations (Satellite Elevation Category

Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) Satellite

Orbit height :6,000 12,000 mi Orbital Velocity (ave) :9,580 mph Orbital Time (period) :5 to 12 hours Satellite Availability :2 to 4 hours per orbit Typical operating frequency:1.2 GHz 1.66 GHz

Meo: (cont..)
Advantage
A MEO satellites longer duration of visibility and wider footprint means fewer satellites are needed in a MEO network than a LEO network.

Disadvantage
A MEO satellites distance gives it a longer time delay and weaker signal than a LEO satellite, though not as bad as a GEO satellite.

Orbital Locations (Satellite Elevation Category Geostationary or Geosynchronous (GEO) Satellite

Orbit height

:22,300 mi (within 19,000 25,000 mi) Orbital Velocity (ave) :6,879 mph Orbital Time (period) :24 hours Satellite Availability :24 hours per orbit Typical operating frequency:2 GHz 18 GHz

Geo: Advantages
Advantages
A GEO satellites distance from earth gives it a large coverage area, almost a fourth of the earths surface. GEO satellites have a 24 hour view of a particular area. These factors make it ideal for satellite broadcast and other multipoint applications.

Geo: Disadvantage
Disadvantages
A GEO satellites distance also cause it to have both a comparatively weak signal and a time delay in the signal, which is bad for point to point communication. GEO satellites, centered above the equator, have difficulty broadcasting signals to near polar regions

Satellite Classification
Territorial Coverage

Global Satellite System Regional Satellite System National or Domestic Satellite System

Satellite Footprints
Spot Beam Zonal Beam Earth coverage

The Orbital Pattern

Equatorial Orbit Polar Orbit Inclined Orbit

Equatorial Orbit

Polar Orbit

Inclined Orbit

Molniya Orbit

The Orbital Direction

Prograde or Posigrade Orbit Retrograde Orbit

Size, Mass and Cost of Satellites: An Estimate

Size Large Satellites Small Satellites Mini Satellites Micro Satellites Nano Satellites

Mass (kg) >1,000

Cost (Millions) >$100

500 1,000 100 500

10 100 <10

$500 1,000 $5 20
$2 3 <$1

The Orbital Dynamics

The Keplers Law
First Law A satellite will orbit around a primary body like Earth following an elliptical path.

The Orbital Dynamics

The Keplers Law
Second Law For equal intervals of time, a satellite will sweep out equal areas in the orbital plane, focused at the barycentre. This is known as the law of areas.

The Orbital Dynamics

The Keplers Law
Third Law The square of the periodic time of orbit is proportional to the cube of the mean distance between the primary and the satellite. This is known as the harmonic law.

The Orbital Dynamics

The Keplers Law
Third Law

= semi-major axis (km) A = constant (unitless) = 42242.0979 for Earth P = mean solar Earth days [ratio of the time of one sidereal day (23 hours 56 minutes and 4.091 seconds) to the time of one revolution of Earth (24 hours)] = 0.9972

Forces that keep satellite in orbit

Every point mass attracts every single other point mass by a force pointing along the line intersecting both points. The force is proportional to the product of the two masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them:

Satellite Orbit

Forces that keep the satellite in orbit

ms = mass of the satellite me= mass of Earth (5.98 x 1024kg) v = satellite velocity in orbit R = Earths radius (3960 mi or 6371 km) G = Gravitational constant (6.674 x 10-11 N-m2/kg2)

Forces that keep the satellite in orbit

The Satellite Velocity in Orbit

The Satellite Height

T = satellite period (hrs) g = gravitational acceleration (9.81 x 10-3 km/s2) R = Earths radius (km) H = satellite height (km)

Example
In a satellite communications, what is the height of a satellite from the Earths surface if the sidereal period is 20 hours?

Example
Find the gravitational force exerted by a 800-kg geostationary satellite orbiting the Earth.

Find the orbital period of a satellite in a circular orbit 600 km above the surface of the Earth.