To know about the major concepts of satellite communications, orbital mechanics and launching vehicles. To know about the various satellite subsystems and satellite links design. To know about the modulation techniques to establish communication link. To know about the satellite stations and navigation system.
What is satellite? What is satellite communication? Satellite Architecture. Elements for satellite communication. Orbits for satellite communication. Evolution of satellite communication.
Services of satellite communication. Frequency Bands and Beams. Advantages of satellite communication. Applications of satellite communication. The future of satellite communication. Conclusion
An artificial body placed in orbit around the earth to collect information or for communication.
How Is a Satellite Launched into an Orbit? All satellites today get into orbit by riding on a rocket. Astronautics Pioneers in Satellite Communication Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (1857 - 1935) Russian visionary of space flight First described the multi-stage rocket as means of achieving orbit.
Hermann Noordung (1892 - 1929) Postulated the geostationary orbit.
Arthur C. Clarke (1917 19 March 2008) Postulated the entire concept of international satellite telecommunications from geostationary satellite orbit including coverage, power, services, solar eclipse. "Wireless World" (1945) Satellite History Calendar 1957 October 4, 1957: - First satellite - the Russian Sputnik 01 First living creature in space: Sputnik 02 1958 First American satellite: Explorer 01 First telecommunication satellite: This satellite broadcast a taped message: Score 1959 First meteorology satellite: Explorer 07
1960 First successful passive satellite: Echo 1 First successful active satellite: Courier 1B First NASA satellite: Explorer 08 April 12, 1961: - First man in space 1962 First telephone communication & TV broadcast via satellite: Echo 1 First telecommunication satellite, first real-time active, AT&T: Telstar 1 First Canadian satellite: Alouette 1 On 7 th June 1962 at 7:53p the two-stage rocket; Rehbar-I was successfully launched from Sonmiani Rocket Range. It carried a payload of 80 pounds of sodium and soared to about 130 km into the atmosphere. With the launching of Rehbar-I, Pakistan had the honour of becoming the third country in Asia and the tenth in the world to conduct such a launching after USA, USSR, UK, France, Sweden, Italy, Canada, Japan and Israel. Rehbar-II followed a successful launch on 9 th June 1962 1963 Real-time active: Telstar 2 1964 Creation of Intelsat First geostationary satellite, second satellite in stationary orbit: Syncom 3 First Italian satellite: San Marco 1 Satellite History Calendar 1965 Intelsat 1 becomes first commercial comsat: Early Bird First real-time active for USSR: Molniya 1A 1967 First geostationary meteorology payload: ATS 3 1968 First European satellite: ESRO 2B July 21, 1969: - First man on the moon
1970 First Japanese satellite: Ohsumi First Chinese satellite: Dong Fang Hong 01 1971 First UK launched satellite: Prospero ITU-WARC for Space Telecommunications INTELSAT IV Launched INTERSPUTNIK - Soviet Union equivalent of INTELSAT formed 1974 First direct broadcasting satellite: ATS 6 1976 MARISAT - First civil maritime communications satellite service started 1977 EUTELSAT - European regional satellite ITU-WARC for Space Telecommunications in the Satellite Service 1979 Creation of Inmarsat Satellite History Calendar 1980 INTELSAT V launched - 3 axis stabilized satellite built by Ford Aerospace 1983 ECS (EUTELSAT 1) launched - built by European consortium supervised by ESA 1984 UK's UNISAT TV DBS satellite project abandoned First satellite repaired in orbit by the shuttle: SMM 1985 First Brazilian satellite: Brazilsat A1 First Mexican satellite: Morelos 1 1988 First Luxemburg satellite: Astra 1A 1989 INTELSAT VI - one of the last big "spinners" built by Hughes Creation of Panamsat - Begins Service On 16 July 1990, Pakistan launched its first experimental satellite, BADR-I from China 1990 IRIDIUM, TRITIUM, ODYSSEY and GLOBALSTAR S-PCN projects proposed - CDMA designs more popular EUTELSAT II 1992 OLYMPUS finally launched - large European development satellite with Ka-band, DBTV and Ku- band SS/TDMA payloads - fails within 3 years 1993 INMARSAT II - 39 dBW EIRP global beam mobile satellite - built by Hughes/British Aerospace 1994 INTELSAT VIII launched - first INTELSAT satellite built to a contractor's design Hughes describe SPACEWAY design DirecTV begins Direct Broadcast to Home 1995 Panamsat - First private company to provide global satellite services. Satellite History Calendar 1996 INMARSAT III launched - first of the multibeam mobile satellites (built by GE/Marconi) Echostar begins Diresct Broadcast Service 1997 IRIDIUM launches first test satellites ITU-WRC'97 1999 AceS launch first of the L-band MSS Super-GSOs - built by Lockheed Martin Iridium Bankruptcy - the first major failure? 2000 Globalstar begins service Thuraya launch L-band MSS Super-GSO 2001 XM Satellite Radio begins service Pakistans 2 nd Satellite, BADR-B was launched on 10 Dec 2001 at 9:15a from Baikonour Cosmodrome, Kazakistan 2002 Sirius Satellite Radio begins service Paksat-1, was deployed at 38 degrees E orbital slot in December 2002, Paksat-1, was deployed at 38 degrees E orbital slot in December 2002 2004 Teledesic network planned to start operation 2005 Intelsat and Panamsat Merge VUSat OSCAR-52 (HAMSAT) Launched 2006 CubeSat-OSCAR 56 (Cute-1.7) Launched K7RR-Sat launched by California Politechnic University 2007 Prism was launched by University of Tokyo 2008 COMPASS-1; a project of Aachen University was launched from Satish Dawan Space Center, India. It failed to achieve orbit. Whose Satellite Was the First to Orbit Earth?
The Soviet Sputnik satellite was the first to orbit Earth, launched on Oct. 4, 1957. Sputnik 1, the first satellite, shown with four whip antennas Sputnik 2 - Mission Some scientists believed humans would be unable to survive the launch or the conditions of outer space, so engineers viewed flights by non-human animals as a necessary precursor to human missions. Laika was a Soviet space dog that became the first animal to orbit the Earth as well as the first animal to die in orbit. Manned spacecraft
On 12 April 1961, aboard the Vostok 1, Yuri Gagarin became both the first human to travel into space, and the first to orbit the earth. INDIAN SATELLITE IN July 18, 1980,
India launched the satellite Rohini 1 on an Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) rocket from the Sriharikota Island launch site
A communications satellite is a radio relay station in orbit above the earth. (or) A communication satellite is a microwave repeater station in space that is used for telecommunication , radio and television signals.
It receives, amplifies, and redirects analog and digital signals carried on a specific radio frequency. Introduction to Satellite Communications A communications 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.
The commercial satellite communications industry has its beginnings in the mid-1960s, and in less than 50 years has progressed from an alternative exotic technology to a mainstream transmission technology, which is pervasive in all elements of the global telecommunications infrastructure. Todays communications satellites offer extensive capabilities in applications involving data, voice, and video, with services provided to fixed, broadcast, mobile, personal communications, and private networks users. Satellite communications play a vital role in the global telecommunications system.
Two major elements of Satellite Communications Systems are: Space Segment Ground Segment
Satellite-Related Terms Earth Stations antenna systems on or near earth Uplink transmission from an earth station to a satellite Downlink transmission from a satellite to an earth station Transponder In a communications satellite, a transponder gathers signals over a range of uplink frequencies and re-transmits them on a different set of downlink frequencies to receivers on Earth, often without changing the content of the received signal or signals. Space Segment includes: Satellite Means for launching satellite Electrical Power System Mechanical structure Communication transponders Communication Antennas Attitude and orbit control system
The ground segment consists of: Earth Stations Rear Ward Communication links User terminals and interfaces Network control Centre Transmit equipment. Receive equipment. Antenna system. Satellite Control Centre function: 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
During early 1950s, both passive and active satellites were considered for the purpose of communications over a large distance.
Passive satellites though successfully used in the early years of satellite communications, with the advancement in technology active satellites have completely replaced the passive satellites.
Passive Satellites A satellite that only reflects signals from one Earth station to another, or from several Earth stations to several others. It reflect the incident electromagnetic radiation without any modification or amplification. It can't generate power, they simply reflect the incident power. Passive Satellites The first artificial passive satellite Echo-I of NASA was launched in August 1960. Disadvantages 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 In active satellites, it amplify or modify and retransmit the signal from the earth. Satellites which can transmit power are called active satellite. Have several advantages over the passive satellites. Require lower power earth station. Less costly. Not open to random use. Directly controlled by operators from ground. Active Satellites 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
Satellite orbits Orbit The path a Satellite follows around a planet is defined as an orbit. Satellite Orbits are classified in two broad categories : Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) Geo Stationary Orbit (GSO)
Early ventures with satellite communications used satellites in Non- geostationary low earth orbits due to the technical limitations of the launch vehicles in placing satellites in higher orbits. ( )
Complex problem of transferring signal from one satellite to another. Less expected life of satellites at NGSO Requires frequent replacement of satellites compared to satellite in GSO. Disadvantages of NGSO
There is only one geostationary orbit possible around the earth Lying on the earths equatorial plane. The satellite orbiting at the same speed as the rotational speed of the earth on its axis. Advantages: Simple ground station tracking. Nearly constant range Very small frequency shift Disadvantages: Transmission delay of the order of 250 msec. Large free space loss No polar coverage
Satellite orbits in terms of the orbital height: According to distance from earth: Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
GEO: 35,786 km above the earth
Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) From the ground level the satellite appears fixed. These satellites are in orbit 35,786 km above the earths surface along the equator. Objects in Geostationary orbit revolve around the earth at the same speed as the earth rotates. This means GEO satellites remain in the same position relative to the surface of earth.
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 Minimal doppler shift 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 for broadcasting signals to near polar regions Launching of satellites to orbit are complex and expensive Geostationary Communication Satellites in Orbit Today MEO: 8,000-20,000 km above the earth A MEO satellite is in orbit somewhere between 8,000 km and 20,000 km above the earths surface. MEO satellites are similar to LEO satellites in functionality. MEO satellites are visible for much longer periods of time than LEO satellites, usually between 2 to 8 hours. MEO satellites have a larger coverage area than LEO satellites. A MEO satellites longer duration of visibility and wider footprint means fewer satellites are needed in a MEO network than a LEO network. 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. The GPS constellation calls for 24 satellites to be distributed equally among six circular orbital planes LEO: 500-2,000 km above the earth LEO satellites are much closer to the earth than GEO satellites, ranging from 500 to 2000 km above the surface. LEO satellites dont stay in fixed position relative to the surface, and are only visible for 15 to 20 minutes each pass. A network of LEO satellites is necessary for LEO satellites to be useful LEO Satellite Coverage The Iridium system has 66 satellites in six LEO orbits, each at an altitude of 750 km. Iridium is designed to provide direct worldwide voice and data communication using handheld terminals, a service similar to cellular telephony but on a global scale 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. A network of LEO satellites is needed, which can be costly LEO satellites have to compensate for Doppler shifts cause by their relative movement. Atmospheric drag effects LEO satellites, causing gradual orbital deterioration.
One-way satellite services are: Broadcast Satellite Service: Radio, TV, Data broadcasting. Safety services : Search & Rescue, Disaster Warning Radio Determination Satellite Service(Position location) Standard frequency and time signal satellite service Space Research Service. Space operations service. Earth Exploration Satellite Service.
Two-way satellite services are: Fixed Satellite Service: Telephone, fax, high bit rate data etc. Mobile Satellite Service: Land mobile, Marine time mobile, Aero-mobile, personal communications. Satellite News Gathering. Inter Satellite Service.
Universal: Satellite communications are available virtually everywhere.
Versatile: Satellites can support all of today's communications needs.
RELIABLE: Satellite is a proven medium for supporting a company's communications needs.
SEAMLESS: Satellite's inherent strength as a broadcast medium makes it perfect.
FAST: Since satellite networks can be set up quickly, companies can be fast- to-market with new services.
Conti.. Flexible Expandable High Quality Quick Provision of Services Mobile and Emergency Communication Suitable for both Digital and Analog Transmission
Telephone Television Digital cinema Radio Internet access Military Weather forecasting Common Frequency Bands Frequency Bands Available for Satellite Communications
Future communication satellites will have more onboard processing capabilities, more power, and larger-aperture antennas that will enable satellites to handle more bandwidth.
The demand for more bandwidth will ensure the long-term viability of the commercial satellite industry well into the 21st century.
In addition, other technical innovations such as low-cost reusable launch vehicles are in development. Further improvements in satellites propulsion and power systems will increase their service life to 20 30 years from the current 1015 years.
Note: A geostationary orbit is a type of geosynchronous orbit. A geosynchronous orbit can be any orbit, like with an elliptical path, that has a period equal to the Earths rotational period, whereas a geostationary orbit has to be a circular orbit and that too placed above the equator.
By going through the above slides we came to know that satellite is mostly responsible for: Telecommunication transmission Reception of television signals Whether forecasting Which are very important in our daily life.