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Satellite Communication - An Introduction

The document provides an introduction to satellite communication from the University of Zimbabwe. It outlines expectations for students to understand fundamentals, orbital mechanics, link design, multiple access systems, earth stations, navigation, and packet communications. Key areas to be covered include communication satellites, sub-systems, propagation effects, technologies, and recommended reading materials. The origin and concept of satellite communications is discussed, along with the development of important enabling technologies. The basic concepts of active communication satellites are introduced, including how they receive, amplify, and transmit signals via a space and ground segment.

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Thembelanienkosini Chikhambi
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© © All Rights Reserved
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113 views

Satellite Communication - An Introduction

The document provides an introduction to satellite communication from the University of Zimbabwe. It outlines expectations for students to understand fundamentals, orbital mechanics, link design, multiple access systems, earth stations, navigation, and packet communications. Key areas to be covered include communication satellites, sub-systems, propagation effects, technologies, and recommended reading materials. The origin and concept of satellite communications is discussed, along with the development of important enabling technologies. The basic concepts of active communication satellites are introduced, including how they receive, amplify, and transmit signals via a space and ground segment.

Uploaded by

Thembelanienkosini Chikhambi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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University of Zimbabwe

Department of Space Science and Applied Physics

SATELLITE COMMUNICATION: HETT404

Introduction to Satellite Communication


by
Dr. E. Matandirotya
Expectations

By the end of the module, students should;


• be able to appreciate satellite communication fundamentals
• Acquire a solid foundation in orbital mechanics and launches
for the satellite communication
• Appreciate link design of satellite satellite communication
• Appreciate multiple access systems and earth station
technology
• Understand the satellite navigation and GPS & and satellite
packet communications
Areas to be Covered
• Communication Satellite
• Satellite Sub-Systems
• Propagation effects
• Multiple Access Technologies
• Earth Station Technology
• Satellite Navigation and Global Positioning Systems
• Satellite Packet Communications
Reccommended Reading Material
• Satellite Communications —Timothy Pratt, Charles Bostian,
Jeremy Allnutt, 2nd Edition, 2003, John Wiley & Sons.
• Satellite Communications Engineering — Wilbur, L. Pritchand,
Robert A. Nelson and Heuri G. Suyderhoud, 2nd Ed., Pearson
Publications.
• Digital Satellite Communications..Trj–Ha 2nd Edition, 1990,
Mc.Graw Hill.
Many more relevant books
ORIGIN OF SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
• As an offshoot of ideas for space travel
• 1869-70: Brick Moon_Science Fiction
Concept of Satellite Communications
• Russian scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (1857-1935)_ the first
to study space travel.
– 1879_formulated his Rocket Equation
– First theoretical description of a man- made satellite
– Existence of a geosynchronous orbit.
Important Factors
• Development of high power rocket technology and
propulsion systems capable of delivering satellites in high
altitude orbits
•  Scientific and military interests in Space Research
•  Development of Transistors and miniaturization of
electronic circuitry.
•  Development of Solar Cells for providing sustained
energy source for the satellite.
• 
• Development of high-speed computers for calculating and
tracking orbits.
• Government support in large-scale financial commitment to
Space Technology
• Development for Military, Scientific Experiments and
Civilian Applications.
Basic Concepts of a Communication satellite
• A communication satellite is an orbiting artificial earth
satellite that
– receives a communications signal from a transmitting ground station,
– amplifies and possibly processes it,
– then transmits it back to the earth for reception by one or more receiving
ground stations.
• Communications information neither originates nor terminates at
the satellite itself.
• The satellite is an active transmission relay, similar in function to
relay towers used in terrestrial microwave communications.
• Discuss the current commercial satellite communications industry
Passive and Active Satellites
• During early 1950s, both passive and active satellites
were considered for the purpose of communications over
a large distance.

• Active satellites have completely replaced the passive
satellites technology
Passive Satellites
• A satellite that only reflects signals from one Earth station to
another or from several Earth stations to several others.

• It reflects the incident electromagnetic radiation without any


modification or amplification.

• It can't generate power, they simply reflect the incident power.


• [https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_559.html]
Disadvantages of Passive Satellites
• Earth Stations required high power to transmit signals.
• Large Earth Stations with tracking facilities were expensive.
• A global system would have required a large number of passive
satellites accessed randomly by different users.
• Control of satellites not possible from ground.
• The large attenuation of the signal while traveling the large
distance between the transmitter and the receiver via the
satellite was one of the most serious problems.
Active satellites
• Satellites amplifies or modifies and retransmits the signal
received from the earth.
• Satellites which can transmit power are called active satellite.
• Have several advantages over the passive satellites.
• Require lower power earth station.
• Not open to random use.
• Directly controlled by operators from ground.
Disadvantages
• Requirement of larger and powerful rockets to launch heavier
satellites in orbit.
• Requirement of on-board power supply.
• Interruption of service due to failure of electronics components
SIMPLE COMMUNICATION STRUCTURE

Space Segment
Ground Segment
Space Segment
• Includes satellite (or satellites) in orbit in the system, and the
ground station that provides the operational control of the
satellite(s) in orbit.
• Ground Station
– Tracking, Telemetry, Command (TT&C)
or
– Tracking, Telemetry, Command and Monitoring (TTC&M)
Ground segment:
• The earth surface area based terminals that utilize the
communications capabilities of the Space Segment.
– fixed (in-place) terminals;
– transportable terminals;
– mobile terminals.

[Describe each one of these terminals, give examples]


Satellite Control Centre
• Tracking of the satellite
• Receiving data
• Eclipse management of satellite
• Commanding the Satellite for station
keeping.
• Determining Orbital parameters from
Tracking and Ranging data
• Switching ON/OFF of different
subsystems as per the operational
requirements

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