Satellite

 A spacecraft placed in
orbit around the earth
which carries on board
microwave receiving
and transmitting
equipment; repeater,
capable of relaying
signals from one point
on earth to other points.
 Significant Milestones in
Satellite Technology
1940’s – 1950’s
- moon was the first
passive satellite used

1945
- Arthur C. Clarke
proposed message
transmissions via
satellite
 Significant Milestones in
Satellite Technology
1954
- the U.S. Navy
conducted the Earth
Moon Earth
experiment

1957
- Russia launched the
SPUTNIK 1 the first
active satellite
 Significant Milestones in
Satellite Technology
1958
- the U.S. launched
the “SCORE”which
rebroadcasted Pres.
Eisenhower’s
Christmas message.
 Significant Milestones in
Satellite Technology
1960
NASA, Bell Labs and
Jet Propulsion Lab
launched the “Echo”;
accomplished the first
transatlantic
transmission
 Significant Milestones in
Satellite Technology
1962
- AT & T launched the
TELSTAR 1 the first
duplex satellite
transmission

1963
- AT & T launched
TELSTAR 2 for
telephone, TV, fax and
data transmission
 Significant Milestones in
Satellite Technology
1965
- COMSAT launched
the EARLY BIRD
which transmitted
messages to five
earth stations with 66
telephone circuits
using FDM techniques
 Significant Milestones in
Satellite Technology
1966
- The National
Development
Company and POTC
established the
DOMSAT ushering
satellite technology
to the Philippines
 Significant Milestones in
Satellite Technology
1967
- PHILCOMSAT;
Philippines, installed
the first earth station
at the foot of Sierra
Madre Mountains,
Mount Pinugay,
Baras, Rizal
 Significant Milestones in
Satellite Technology
1970
- China launched its
first satellite

1972
- USA launched
LANDSAT 1 for
remote sensing
missions
 Significant Milestones in
Satellite Technology
1974
- Western Union
launched the
WESTAR for TV and
data transmission

- Russia launched
RESURS-0 for remote
sensing mission
 Significant Milestones in
Satellite Technology
1976
- Indonesia launched
its first satellite;
PALAPA A-1

1986
- France launched the
SPOT-1 for remote
sensing service
 Significant Milestones in
Satellite Technology
1988
- India launched its first
satellite; INSAT-C

- Russia launched the

OKEAN for remote
sensing
 Significant Milestones in
Satellite Technology
1993
- Thailand launched its
first satellite;
THAICOM 1.

- They also launched

the Microsatellite
Program through
United NASA and GE
 Significant Milestones in
Satellite Technology
1997
- Mabuhay Philippines
Satellite Corporation
launched AGUILA II;
the first Philippine
Satellite
 Significant Milestones in
Satellite Technology
Syncom I
- was the first attempt
to place
geosynchronous
satellite into orbit but
was lost during orbit
injection

Syncom III
- used to broadcast the
1964 Olympic Games
from Tokyo
 Satellite System
 A radio repeater in
the sky consisting of:
- a transponder
- a ground based
station to control its
operations
- a user network of
earth stations that
provide the facilities
for transmission and
reception of
communication traffic
through the satellite
systems.
 Satellite Link
 A communications path formed between
two or more ground stations transmitting
and receiving radio communications traffic
via satellite
 Satellite Link
a. Uplink
- that portion of the satellite
communications link involving the
transmission of traffic from the ground
station up to the satellite

b. Downlink
- that portion of a satellite
communications link involving the
transmission of traffic from the satellite to
earth terminal
 Applications of Satellite
a. Remote sensing
 Applications of Satellite
b. Weather Forecasting / Hazard Detection
 Applications of Satellite
c. Agricultural Production Forecasting
 Applications of Satellite
d. Intelligence / Surveillance Operations
 Applications of Satellite
e. Navigation
 Applications of Satellite
f. Search and Rescue
 Applications of Satellite
g. Telecommunications / Telebroadcasting
 Applications of Satellite
h. Interactive Education
 Applications of Satellite
i. Space Research / Scientific Explorations
 Advantages of Satellite
Communications
1. Wideband Capability

2. Wide Area of Coverage

3. Superior Reliability

4. Direct Services to Subscriber’s Premises

5. Point to Point and Point to Multipoint

 Advantages of Satellite
Communications
6. Readily compatible with new technology

7. Uniform access possibilities for all users

8. Allows flexibility / mobility of earth

stations within the footprint

9. Reduced need for ground facilities (R/W,

cable installation etc.
 Disadvantages of Satellite
Communications
1. High Initial Investment
2. Short Life Span; 7 – 10 years
3. Expensive Maintenance
4. Very Dependent on Reliability of Launch Vehicle
5. Require High Investments on Earth Stations
6. Subject to Interception and Jamming by Enemy
Forces
7. Signal Propagation Delay / Delayed Response Time
8. Risky Launching / Failures in Attaining Proper Orbit
Types of Satellite Transmissions
1. Payload – actual user information
conveyed through the system
2. Bus Transmission – includes control
mechanisms that support the payload
operation
 Categories of Satellites
According to Function

1.Passive Satellite – a communications

satellite not equipped with electronic
devices to retransmit communications.
Such satellite acts only as a reflector of
radio waves.

2.ActiveSatellite – a satellite equipped with

electronic devices to receive, amplify,
convert, and retransmit signals
 Classifications of Satellite
Orbital Patterns
Satellite Orbital Pattern
Orientation of Satellite Orbit with respect
to the earth.

Angle of Inclination
angle formed by the Equatorial and
orbital planes.
 Satellite Orbits
A satellite rotates in an orbit
that forms a plane passing
through the center of gravity
of the earth called the
geocenter.

The direction of satellite

rotation in the same direction
as the earth’s rotation is said
to be posigrade.

Against the direction of earth’s

rotation is said to be
retrograde.
 Satellite Height

In a circular orbit, the height

is simply the distance of the
satellite from the earth.
However, in geometric
calculations, the height is
really the distance between
the center of the earth and
the satellite.
 Satellite Height

When the satellite is in an Typically the two points of greatest interest

elliptical orbit, the center of are the highest point above the earth—the
the earth is one of the focal apogee—and the lowest point—the
points of the ellipse. perigee.
 Angle of Inclination
The angle of inclination of a satellite orbit is the Another definition of inclination is
angle formed between the line that passes the angle between the equatorial
through the center of the earth and the north plane and the satellite orbital plane
pole and a line that passes through the center as the satellite enters the northern
of the earth but that is also perpendicular to the hemisphere.
orbital plane.
 Angle of Elevation
The angle of elevation of a satellite is the angle that
appears between the line from the earth station’s antenna
to the satellite and the line between the earth station’s
antenna and the earth’s horizon.

If the angle of elevation is too small, the signals between the earth station and the
satellite have to pass through much more of the earth’s atmosphere.

The minimum practical angle of elevation for good satellite performance is

generally 5°. The higher the angle of elevation, the better.
 Classifications of Satellite
Orbital Patterns
1. Equatorial Orbit – rotation about the
earth’s equator, usually for geosynchronous
communications satellites. θi = 0˚;
Coverage area: 42.5% (surface area)
 Classifications of Satellite
Orbital Patterns
2. Polar Orbit – rotation over the North and
South Poles, used for non-communications
mission such as weather and surveillance
observation. θi = 90˚;
Coverage area: 100% (surface area)
 Classifications of Satellite
Orbital Patterns
3. Inclined Orbit – rotation creating as angle
between the equatorial polar plane. They
are easily launched and have higher
payload capacity but are difficult to track.
0˚<θi<90˚; Coverage area: >42.5%
(surface area)
 Categories of Satellites
Based on Orbit

1.Non-Synchronous or Orbital – rotate

around the earth in low altitude
elliptical or circular pattern. (ωs ‡ ωe)
 Categories of Satellites
a. Prograde Orbit – when a satellite orbits
in the same direction as that of earth’s
rotation (counterclockwise; ωs > ωe)

b. Retrograde Orbit – when a satellite orbits

in the opposite as the earth’s
rotation but as an angular velocity less
than of the earth. (ωs < ωe; clockwise)
 Categories of Satellites
2. Geostationary or Geosynchronous –
orbit in a circular pattern with an
angular velocity equivalent to that of
earth with an orbital time of about 24
hours. (23 hours, 56 mins, 4.091 sec)
 Categories of Satellites
2. Geostationary or Geosynchronous
ωs = ωe; orbits eastward, ccw;
orbital pattern: equatorial, θi= 0˚;
coverage area: 42.5% earth surface
 Categories of Satellites
According to Elevation:

a. Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

h: 700 – 1100 km
f: 1 – 2.5 GHz
Delay: 10 msec

b. Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)

h: 10,000 – 12,000 km
f: 1.2 – 1.66 GHz
Delay: 60 msec
 Categories of Satellites
According to Elevation:

c. Geostationary (GEO)
h: 36,000 km
f: 2 - 18 GHz
Delay: 250 msec
A satellite remains in orbit because of a
balance between two factors:

a. the satellite’s velocity; speed at which it

would travel in a straight line

b. the gravitational force between the

satellite and the earth

Satellite Attitude – refers to the satellite

orientation with respect to earth.
 Orbital Terminology
Orbit – the path of a celestial body or satellite
in unpowered flight.
Ascending Node – point
where the orbit crosses
the equatorial plane going
from South to North

Descending Node – point

where the orbit crosses
the equatorial plane going
from North to South
 Orbital Terminology
Apogee – the highest point of the orbit or it
is the point in an earth satellite orbit,
which is the farthest away from the
earth; lowest velocity

Perigee – the point in an earth satellite

orbit, which is the closest in the earth;
fastest velocity
 Orbital Terminology
Eccentricity – a number between zero and
one which describe the shape of an ellipse.
A circle has an eccentricity of zero.

e=

where: e = eccentricity
b = half of major axis
a = half of minor axis
 Orbital Terminology
Elliptical Orbits

Major Axis – the longer axis of the ellipse,

the line adjoining the perigee and apogee
thru the center of the earth, called the line
of apsides

Minor Axis – the shorter axis of the ellipse,

the line perpendicular to the major axis
and halfway between the perigee and
apogee
 Orbital Terminology
Mean Distance – the average distance from
the center of the earth
 Questions
1. The first passive satellite
a. Telstar
b. Early Bird
c. Sputnik I
d. Moon
 Questions
2. The first active satellite
a. Sputnik I
b. Telstar
c. INTELSAT I
d. Explorer I
 Questions
3.The first geostationary satellite
launched in 1965 is
a. Syncom I
b. Sputnik I
c. Explorer I
d. Early Bird
 Questions
4. The average lifetime of
geosynchronous satellites is
about __________ years.
a. 5
b. 10
c. 15
d. 20
 Questions
5. A communication satellite is a repeater
between
a. A transmitting station and receiving
station
b. Many transmitting stations and many
receiving stations
c. A transmitting station and many
receiving stations
d. Many transmitting stations and a
receiving station
 Questions
6. One of the main applications of
satellite communications is
monitoring the ecological situation of
the earth. This is known as
a. Navigation
b. Surveillance
c. Remote control
d. Remote sensing
 Questions
7. Orbital disturbances of a
geosynchronous satellite are
caused by
a. Moon
b. Sun
c. Earth
d. All of the above
 Questions
8. Geosynchronous satellites
a. Has the same period as
that of the earth
b. Has a circular obit
c. Rotates in the equatorial
plane
d. All of the above
 Questions
9. To cover all inhabited regions of the
earth, the number of
geosynchronous satellites required is
a. 5
b. 10
c. 2
d. 3
 Questions
10. A geostationary satellite is one
which
a. Hangs motionless in space about
36,000 km above the earth
b. Travels around the earth about 24
hrs.
c. Remains stationary above the earth
d. Appears stationary above the earth
 Questions
11. Geosynchronous Communication
satellites travel around the earth in
circular orbits with forward speed of
about __________km/hr.
a. 100,000
b. 36,000
c. 11,200
d. 22,800
 Questions
12. The period of the satellite is
a. The amount of time it takes for a
satellite to complete one orbit
b. The point on an orbit where satellite to
complete one orbit
c. The time it takes the satellite to travel
from perigee to apogee
d. An orbital arc that extends from 60
degrees west longitude to 145 degrees
west longitude
 Questions
13. A satellite, orbiting in a
circular orbit,
a. Has constant velocity
b. Has varying velocity
c. Is not moving at all
d. Both a and b
 Questions
14. What is a descending pass
for a satellite?
a. A pass from west to east
b. A pass from east to west
c. A pass from south to north
d. A pass from north to south
 Questions
15. Satellite rotating in an
orbit takes it over the north
and south poles is in
a. Inclined orbit
b. Polar orbit
c. Equatorial orbit
d. Declined orbit
 Questions
16. The farthest point a
satellite can reach is
a. Apogee
b. Perigee
c. Altitude
d. Attitude
 Questions
17. Include all earth stations
within line-of-sight path of a
satellite
a. Satellite shadow
b. Earth shadow
c. Zonal
d. Global
 Questions
18. In selecting a satellite
system, the first determining
factor is
a. Coverage area
b. EIRP
c. Antenna size
d. Antenna gain
 Questions
19. Satellite radiation pattern
that covers 1/3 of the earth's
surface
a. Earth
b. Zonal
c. Spot
d. Global
 Questions
20. A satellite equipped with
electronic devices to receive,
amplify, convert, and retransmit
signals.
a. Passive
b. Active
c. Uplink
d. Downlink
 Questions
21. When a satellite orbits in the
opposite direction as the earth's
rotation with an angular velocity
less than that of the earth
a. Orbital
b. Prograde
c. Retrograde
d. Geostationary
 Questions
22. The actual user information
conveyed through the satellite
system
a. Bus transmission
b. Payload
c. Prograde
d. Retrograde
 Questions
23. The first satellite launched for
a geosynchronous orbit but
unfortunately lost during orbit
injection.
a. Syncom I
b. Telstar I
c. Sputnik I
d. Early Bird
 Questions
24. Geostationary satellites
are located _______ with
respect to the equator.
a. 0 deg longitude
b. 0 deg latitude
c. 90 deg latitude
d. 45 deg latitude
 Questions
25. Incidentally proposed the
geostationary scheme or
orbit of satellites in 1940's.
a. Clarke
b. Gauss
c. Morse
d. Gray
 Questions
26. A satellite which simply
reflects the signal without
further amplification.
a. Passive
b. Active
c. Geostationary
d. Posigrade
 Questions
27. What is the basic function of a
communications satellite?
a. To act as a receiving antenna for
broadcast FM
b. To compensate for the antenna
limitations
c. To eliminate aerodynamic drag
d. To act as a receiving antenna for
broadcast AM
 NEWTON’S LAWS
 A body at rest tends to stay at rest and a body in
motion tends to stay in motion in the same
direction and at the same speed unless acted
upon by an outside force.

 The change in the momentum of a body is

proportional to the force acting on the body and
is in the direction of the applied force.

 For every action, there is always an equal and

opposite reaction.
 Kepler's Law
Kepler’s First Law – the orbit of any planet
is an ellipse with the sun at one focus
 Kepler's Law
Kepler’s Second Law; Law of Areas – every
planet moves so that its radius sector
sweeps over equal areas in equal intervals
of time.
 Kepler's Law
Kepler’s Third Law; Law of Periods – the
square of the periods of revolution of any
two planets is to each other as the cubes
of their respective mean distances from
the sun.

(t/to)2 = (a/ao)3
 Launching the Satellite
 Space shuttles carry some
satellites into space
 Many satellites require
minor adjustments of their
orbit before they begin to
perform their function.
Built-in rockets called
thrusters, some as small
as a propelling pencil,
make these adjustments.
 Once a satellite is placed
into a stable orbit, it can
remain there for a long
time without further
adjustment.
 Launching the Satellite
Rocket Motors
- Communications satellites are lifted into
orbit by space vehicles, which are
launched vertically for structural and
aerodynamic reasons. Rocket motors
provide the power for these vehicles.
Rocket motors do not depend on the
atmosphere for oxidizing or burning fuel.
They may classify as solid or liquid
propellant motors
 Launching the Satellite
Solid Propellant Rockets

- Works on the principle

similar to small gunpowder
rockets used for fireworks
displays. It contains grain
fuel, a combination of
combustible material and
oxidizer. Fuel is burned in a
restricted combustion space They are usually used for
with nozzles to direct and upper stages of multiple
accelerate the outgoing gas stage vehicles such as
flow. Directional control is the Polaris.
achieved by placing
restructures or deflectors to
change the direction of
thrust.
 Launching the Satellite
Liquid Propellant Rockets

- Carries two tanks

outside the combustion
chamber, one for fuel
and the other for the
oxidizer.
 Components of Satellite
Systems
1. Earth Station and
Uplink Components

- Earth Station is
that portion of
satellite link which
receives, processes
and transmits
communications
between the earth
and a satellite
 Components of Satellite
Systems
Components of Earth Station

a. IF Modulator – converts input baseband signal

to FM, QAM IF

b. IF-RF Microwave Up Converter – converts IF to

RF carrier frequencies

c. High Power Amplifier (HPA) – provides

adequate input sensitivity and output power to
propagate signal transponder using a Klystron.

d. Output Band Pass Filter – limits bandwidth

 Components of Satellite
Systems
Up
Converter

IF RF
Modulator BPF Mixer BPF HPA
Base Band in FDM or
PCM/TDM

Microwave
Generator
 Components of Satellite
Systems
2. Transponder Components

- microwave repeaters
carried by communication
satellites. Transponders
have the following function:
receiving, amplification,
frequency conversion and
retransmission.
 Components of Satellite
Systems
Components of a Transponder
a. Input Band Limiting Device – limits total noise applied
to LNA input.
b. Input Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) – amplifies signals,
usually a tunnel diode
c. Frequency Translator – shift oscillator, which converts
highband uplink frequency to lowband downlink
frequency
d. Low-Level Power Amplifier – amplifies (TWT) RF signal
for transmission through the downlink to station
receiver.
e. Output Bandpass Filter – limits output bandwidth
Components of Satellite
Systems
Frequency
Translator

BPF LNA Mixer BPF LNA

Microwave
Shift Oscillator
2 GHz
 Components of Satellite
Systems
3. Downlink Components

a. Bandpass Filter (BPF) – limits input noise

power to LNA

b. Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) – highly

sensitive, low noise device usually a tunnel
diode or parametric amplifier

c. RF-to-IF Down Converter – mixer /

bandpass filter combination which converts
the received RF signal to an IF frequency
Components of Satellite
Systems
Down
Converter

BPF LNA Mixer BPF Demodulator

Microwave
Generator
 Frequency Allocations
- C band is the most commonly used band.
- Ku band is immune to terrestrial jamming but sensitive to
atmospheric conditions such as transient noise
- The Ka-band has the strongest signal and higher data rate
capability. It is highly directional and has a spot coverage
- X band – military
- L band
Spatial Separation
- Geosynchronous satellites share a limited space and
frequency spectrum within a given area of geostationary
orbit. Each is assigned a longitude spaced between 3 to 6
degrees in the arc approximately 22,300 miles above the
equator
 Frequency Allocations
Uplink and downlink frequency bands

- The uplink frequency is always higher than

the downlink by 2225 MHz because higher
frequency offers greater spreading or Free
Space Loss than lower frequencies.

Frequency Reuse Methods

- Frequency reuse is a technique employed in

order to conserve electromagnetic
frequencies resources, they can be
implemented by the following methods:
 Frequency Allocations
Multiple Coverage Areas
- the use of the same
frequency beamed towards
different geographic areas
on earth multiple spot
beam antennas.

Dual polarization – sending

different information
signals using vertical or
horizontal electromagnetic
polarization. This is similar
to Polarization Diversity in
order to improve system
stability
 Satellite Footprint
- a geographic representation
of a satellite’s radiation
pattern, with contour lines
representing limits of equal
receive power density.

1. Spot Coverage – beams concentrate the radiated power

in a very small geographic area

2. Zonal Coverage – covers less than one-third of earth’s

surface

3. Earth Coverage – covers approximately one-third of

earth's surface (42.5 %) using a 17-degree beamwidth
Satellite Types as to Territorial
Coverage
1. Global – covers the whole world

2. Regional – covers selected regions such

as Pacific, Atlantic, etc.

3. National / Domestic – covers domestic or

national territory
 Satellite Tracking
Look Angle – the angle
measure from the horizontal
to the point on the center of
the main beam of the
antenna when the antenna is
pointed directly at the
satellite
 Angle of Elevation – angle
formed between the plane of
a wave from an earth station
antenna and the horizon, or
the angle subtended at the
earth station antenna
between the satellite and the
earth’s horizon
 Azimuth – the horizontal
pointing angle of an antenna
measured in degrees in a
clockwise direction from true
North
 Questions
28. What vacuum tube used to
amplify RF signal for transmission
through the downlink to station
receiver?
a. Magnetron
b. Klystron
c. Twystron
d. TWT
 Questions
29. A high power tube used in
transmission of RF signal
uplink
a. Magnetron
b. Klystron
c. BWO
d. TWT
 Questions
30. A stage in transponder and
downlink system which amplifies
the signal and ensuring that
noise is suppressed as possible
a. Mixer
b. Demodulator
c. LNA
d. IF amplifier
 Questions
31. A transponder is a satellite
equipment which
a. Receives a signal from earth
station and amplifies it
b. Changes the frequency of the
received signal
c. Retransmit the received signal
d. All of the above
 Questions
32. Multiple repeaters in
communications satellites are
known as
a. Transponders
b. Detectors
c. Modulators
d. Transceivers
 Questions
33. Satellite-to-satellite link
is also called
a. Uplink
b. Downlink
c. Crosslink
d. Weakest link
 Questions
34. The expression for satellite link
frequencies such as 14/12 GHz denotes
that
a. 12 GHz is the uplink frequency and 14
GHz is the downlink frequency
b. the system is operating at a mean
frequency of 13 GHz
c. 14 GHz is the uplink frequency and 12
GHz is the downlink frequency
d. the 14 GHz frequency is backup for 12
GHz frequency or vice versa
 Questions
35. The most widely used
microwave bands for
commercial applications are
a. C band and X band
b. X band and S band
c. C band and Ku band
d. S band and Ku band
 Questions
36. At present, the RF band
mainly used by most
satellites is
a. EHF
b. UHF
c. SHF
d. VHF
 Questions
37. The required antenna size
__________ as the operating
frequency of a system increases,
assuming that antenna gain remains
unchanged.
a. Remains the same
b. Increases
c. Decreases
d. All of the above
 Questions
38. A 20-m antenna gives a certain
up-link gain at frequencies of 4/6
GHz. For getting the same gain in
20/30 GHz band, antenna size
requires __________ meters.
a. 100
b. 4
c. 1
d. 10
 Questions
39. The use of the same
frequency on the same
geographical area
a. Frequency reuse
b. Roaming
c. Homing
d. Cellular
 Questions
40. The earth's area or region
that the satellite can receive
from or transmit to
a. Footprint
b. Skip zone
c. Primary area
d. Finger print
 Questions
41. A satellite communication link between
Pinugay Earth Station, Philippines and Mt.
Fucino Earth Station, Italy is to be
established. If the assigned uplink
frequency at Pinugay Earth Station is
6175 MHz, what is the downlink frequency
at Mt. Fucino Earth Station, in MHz?
a. 4545
b. 3950
c. 3789
d. 4200
 Questions
42. "The orbit of any planet is an
ellipse with the sun at one
focus". This is
a. Kepler's First Law
b. Kepler's Second Law
c. Kepler's Third Law
d. Law of universal Gravitation
 Questions
43. The spatial separation
between geosynchronous
satellites
a. 1-3 degrees
b. 3-6 degrees
c. 6-8 degrees
d. 8-10 degrees
 Questions
44. The footprint which covers
a very small geographical
area.
a. Spot coverage
b. Zonal coverage
c. Earth coverage
d. Regional coverage
 Questions
45. The satellite frequency reuse method
which sends different information
signals using vertical or horizontal
electromagnetic polarization
a. Multiple coverage areas
b. Dual polarization
c. Spatial separation
d. Spread spectrum
 Questions
46. __________ detects the
satellite signal relayed from the
feed and converts it to an electric
current, amplifies and lower its
frequency.
a. Feedhorn
b. Satellite dish
c. Satellite receiver
d. LNA
 Questions
47. The most common
device used as an LNA is
a. Zener diode
b. Tunnel diode
c. IMPATT diode
d. Shockley diode
 Questions
48. What do you call of a satellite
used to provide satellite services
within a single country?
a. Orbital satellite
b. Geostationary satellite
c. Non-synchronous satellite
d. Domestic satellite
 CENTRIFUGAL FORCE
 The rate of change of radial speed of a
satellite with respect to its parent is
proportional to the difference between the
gravitational force and the centripetal
force.

F = mv2/r
ORBIT TRANSVERSE VELOCITY
F = mv2/r
F = Gm1m2/r2
where v – transverse velocity
G – Universal gravitation constant
(6.67 x 10-11 N-m2/kg2)
m1 – mass of earth
(5.98 x 1024 kg)
m2 – mass of the satellite
 Satellite Velocity
4 x 1011
Vs = ; m/s
6400 + hkm

Siderial Period
T = 2π (6400 + hkm)/Vs
Ex. Determine the satellite’s velocity and
sidereal period for an elevation equal to 1000
km.
 Satellite System Design
Parameters
Satellite Control

– involves actions necessary to position,

track, monitor, and command the satellite
during the course of its operational life.

It involves supervising and monitoring the

establishment, configuration and control of
each required of link through satellite
transponder in accordance with desired
parameters. The two main aspects of
satellite control are orientation and position
control.
 Satellite System Design
Parameters
Orientation – is required in a communications
satellite for initial orientation and for all subsequent
adjustment so the antenna will constantly view the
earth and the solar cells will view the sun
 Position Control – is required for initial satellite
emplacement and to compensate for forces which
tends to divert the satellite from its orbit. Such
forces include lunar and solar gravitational action.
 Orientation Control - attitude control of a vehicle
about any or all of its axes (roll, pitch and yaw)
projects for axial, radial axis and corrections.
Satellite System Design
Parameters
 Satellite Accessing Technique
Access Techniques
- refers to the way a communications system uses a
satellite transponder.
Multiple Access
- in communications satellites, those satellites so
equipped that they may function as a portion of a
communications link between more than one pair of
ground stations simultaneously.
Multiple Access Back-Off – refers to the satellite output
power that is lost due to the necessity for backing off
on earth station radiated power to avoid generating
excessively high intermodulation products in the
satellite. It ranges from 1 to 2 dB
 Satellite Multiple Access
Technique
1. Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA)

– a satellite transponder is divided into smaller

frequencies hand segments where each
segment is assigned to use for his uplink or
downlink frequency.
 Satellite Multiple Access
Technique
a. Pre-assigned – a given number of
available voice hand channels from each
earth station are assigned dedicated
destinations. This method is only
economically feasible in situations where
sources / destination locations have very
low traffic density during the busy hour.
b. Demand Assigned (DAMA) – voice band
channels are assigned on “as-needed”
basis. It provides more versatility and
more efficient use of the frequency
spectrum.
 Satellite Multiple Access
Technique
Three Methods of Controlling DAMA Systems

a. Polling – a master station “polls” other

stations sequentially. When a positive
reply is received, a channel is assigned
accordingly. As the polling interval
becomes longer and the system tends to
become unwieldy because of excessive
post dial delay as a call attempt waits for
the pulling interval to run its course
 Satellite Multiple Access
Technique
b. Random Access Central Control – a
central computer located at the master
station coordinates the status of the
channels. Call requests are passed to the
central computer and a channel is
assigned if available. Once the call is
completed and the subscriber goes on
the hook, the speech path is taken down
and the channel used is returned to the
demand access pull of ideal channels.
 Satellite Multiple Access
Technique
c. Random Access Distributed Control –
uses a processor controller at each earth
station accessing the system. All earth
stations in the network monitor the
status information by means of the
digital order wire circuit. When an idle
channel is seized, all users are informed
to the fact and the circuit is removed
from the poll
 Satellite Multiple Access
Technique
2. Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)

- works in the time domain and is applicable

to digital systems because information
storage is required. In this method, stations
are restricted to precise time slot. It has no
restrictions on frequency or bandwidth.
Presently, it is the most dominant method
used of providing the most efficient method
of transmitting digitally modulated carries
(PSK).
 Satellite Multiple Access
Technique
- in TDMA, only one user appears on the
transponder at any given time. Each user
is assigned a time slot to the satellite;
transponder power and bandwidth are
shared by several earth stations.
 Satellite Multiple Access
Technique
Store and Forward – a technique in which a
message received from earth termed is
held in storage until the satellite is in view
of a second earth terminal, at which time
the message is transmitted.
 Satellite Multiple Access
Technique
3. Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) or
Spread Spectrum Multiple Access (SSMA)

- each station may transmit whenever it

wishes and can use any or all of the
bandwidth allocated. Transmissions are
separated through envelope, encryption,
and decryption techniques. It uses
unique binary words called CHIP CODES
to receive a particular earth station’s
transmission.
 Satellite Multiple Access
Technique
- a correlator checks or compares orthogonal codes
with original chip codes to allow access to users
- the transmitted signal is spread over part or all of the
available transponder hand width in a time-frequency
relationship by a code transformation. Typically, the
modulated carrier is ten to hundreds of times greater
than the information bandwidth.
 Satellite Multiple Access
Technique
Frequency Hopping – is a form of CDMA
where a digital code is used to continually
change the frequency of the carrier. The
total available bandwidth is partitioned to
smaller frequency bands and total
transmission time is subdivided into
smaller time slots. Each station uses the
entire RF spectrum but never occupies
more than a small portion of that
spectrum at any one time.
 Satellite Organizations
INMARSAT (International Maritime Satellite
Organization)

- recommended by the panel of experts

commissioned by the Intergovernmental
Maritime Consultative Organization
(IMCO). They consider the introduction of
satellite communications to the maritime
sphere with the aim of improving
communications with ships, particularly
for safety and distress purposes.
 Satellite Organizations
- born in July 1979, very much along the
INTELSAT lines, with COMSAT as the
largest shareholder.
 Satellite Organizations
INTELSAT
(International Telecommunications Satellite
Consortium)

- Founded in 1964 at Washington D.C. by

COMSAT (Communication Satellite
Corporation) of the United States,
Overseas Telecommunications
Commission of the Australia and nine
other world communications agencies
 Satellite Organizations
MARISAT

- a ship-to-shore and shore-to-ship

communications via a dedicated
geostationary satellite system, providing
high-quality telephony, data and
telex/telegraphy circuits
 Questions
49. What is the satellite's period
orbiting in a circular pattern with
elevation of 1000 km?
a. 1 hr 45 mins
b. 2 hrs 45 mins
c. 2 hrs 30 mins
d. 3 hrs
 Questions
50. The different multiple accesses
which permit many satellite users to
operate in parallel through a single
transponder without interfering with
each other are
a. FDMA
b. TDMA
c. CDMA
d. All of the above
 Questions
51. A digital technology that uses a low
power signal spread across a wide
bandwidth. With this technology, a phone
call is assigned a code instead of a certain
frequency. Using identifying code and a
low power signal, a large number of
channels can used the entire bandwidth
a. TDMA
b. PCDMA
c. PMA
d. CDMA
 Questions
52. A satellite position is
measured by its _________
angle with respect to the
horizon.
a. Elevation
b. Depression
c. Azimuth
d. Incidence
 Questions
53. The _________ angle
measures the satellite position
clockwise from the direction of
true North
a. Elevation
b. Depression
c. Azimuth
d. Incidence
 Questions
54. GPS has a total number
satellites equal to
a. 12
b. 24
c. 36
d. 48
 Questions
55. How many elliptical orbits
does Navstar GPS have?
a. 5
b. 6
c. 7
d. 8
 Questions
56. What is the free space
attenuation of a satellite system
operating at 36,000 km above
the earth operating at 5 GHz?
a. 180 dB
b. 190 dB
c. 198 dB
d. 189 dB
 Questions
57. The FDMA technique wherein
voice band channels are
assigned on “as needed" basis.
a. PAMA
b. DAMA
c. SSMA
d. CDMA
 Questions
58. An earth station transmits signal to
a satellite 38,500 km, directly
overhead it. What is the propagation
delay when the signal is received back
at the same earth station, in
milliseconds?
a. 257
b. 200
c. 285
d. 185
 Questions
59. Satellites used for intercontinental
communications are known as
a. Comsat
b. Domsat
c. Marisat
d. Intelsat
 Questions
60. A satellite beam that
covers almost 42.5% of the
earth's surface.
a. Zone beam
b. Hemispheric beam
c. Spot beam
d. Global beam
 Questions
61. The first Philippine satellite
has how many channels?
a. 30
b. 24
c. 48
d. 50
 Questions
62. Aguila II has how many
transponders?
a. 36
b. 48
c. 24
d. 12
 Questions
63. How many satellite orbital
slots were requested by the
Philippine Government from
ITU?
a. 2
b. 4
c. 6
d. 8
 Questions
64. The radiation patterns of
earth coverage antennas have a
beamwidth of approximately
a. 21degrees
b. 5 degrees
c. 17 degrees
d. 35 degrees
 Questions
65. The main power sources
for satellites are
a. Batteries
b. Solar cells
c. Fuel cells
d. Thermoelectric generators
 Questions
66. What is the common up-
converter and down-converter
IF?
a. 36 MHz
b. 40 MHz
c. 70 MHz
d. 500 MHz
 Questions
67. When the satellites are spaced 4
degrees of the 360 degrees
complete circle, how many parking
spaces or orbit slots are available?
a. 90
b. 85
c. 95
d. 80
 Questions
68. The control routine necessary
to keep the satellite in position is
referred to as
a. Station keeping
b. Station tracking
c. Station monitoring
d. Station maintenance
 Questions
69. What is the line joining the
ascending and descending nodes
through the center of the earth?
a. Line of apsides
b. Line of nodes
c. Line of shoot
d. Line of sight
 Questions
70. The line joining the
perigee and apogee through
the center of the earth.
a. Line of sight
b. Line of nodes
c. Equatorial belt
d. Line of apsides
 Questions
1. In satellite communications, the
geostationary satellite is conveniently
located _______ with respect to the
equator.
a. 0 deg latitude
b. 0 deg longitude
c. 90 deg latitude
d. 90 deg longitude
 Questions
2. A polar orbiting satellite completes
_____ period/s every 24 hours.
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
 Questions
3. How many satellites does the GPS
system consist?
a. 3
b. 12
c. 24
d. 60
 Questions
4. Approximate earth coverage of a
geostationary satellite at 0 deg elevation.
a. 30.5%
b. 33.3%
c. 42.5%
d. 45.2%
 Questions
5. How do you determine the satellite in
latitude and longitude measurement?
a. Designate north or south pole as
reference
b. Designate a point on earth directly below
the Satellite.
c. Designate a reference point on earth
along the equator
d. Designate any reference point on the
surface of the earth.
 Questions
6. Ascending pass of a satellite means a
pass from
a. West to east
b. North to south
c. South to north
d. East to west
 Questions
7. What type of antenna will help to
minimize the effect of spin modulation and
Faraday rotation?
a. Circularly polarized
b. Isotropic
c. Parabolic
d. Vertically polarized
 Questions
8. What kind of battery panels are used in
some advanced satellites?
a. Silicon based
b. Germanium based
c. Gallium Arsenide based
d. Gallium phosphate based
 Questions
9. A space distance in satellite
communication from the earth equal or
greater than 2,000,000 kilometers is
referred to as
a. Deep space
b. Contour space
c. Satellite reach
d. Coordination space
 Questions
10. It is otherwise known as the Law of
Areas.
a. Kepler’s Law
b. Kepler’s first law
c. Kepler’s second law
d. Kepler’s third law
 Questions
11. Footprint refers to what coverage area
in the globe?
a. Satellite radiation
b. Satellite coverage
c. Satellite navigation
d. Satellite polarization
 Questions
12. Part of satellite used to stabilize the
whole system
a. Transponder
b. Bus
c. Spinning wheel
d. Payload
 Questions
13. What do you call a signal booster
installed on the antenna dish of satellite
receiver?
a. Rectifier
b. Noise amplifier
c. Signal amplifier
d. LNA
 Questions
14. Is a kind of satellite which has a period
of revolution equivalent to the period of
rotation of the earth about its axis.
a. Passive
b. Synchronous
c. Active
d. Geosynchronous
 Questions
15. It states that the square of the periodic
time of orbit is proportional to the cube of
the mean distance between the primary
and the satellite.
a. Kepler’s Law
b. Kepler’s First law
c. Kepler’s second law
d. Kepler’s third law
 Questions
16. Known to be the first satellite capable of
receiving and transmitting simultaneously.
a. Telstar
b. Score
c. Echo
d. Syncom 1
 Questions
17. An orbit of satellite that travels opposite
the rotation of the earth.
a. Downward
b. Upward
c. Posigrade
d. Retrograde
 Questions
18. A component in a satellite that receives,
amplifies, and retransmits the signal.
a. Receiver
b. Transmitter
c. Transponder
d. None of the above
 Questions
19. What band does VSAT first operate?
a. C
b. Ku
c. L
d. X
 Questions
20. The direction of maximum gain of an
earth station antenna
a. Elevation angle
b. Boresight
c. Azimuth
d. Look angle
 Questions
21. Which of the following refers to the
smallest beam of the satellite antenna’s
radiation pattern?
a. Spot
b. Zoom
c. Global
d. Hemispheric
 Questions
22. A point in the satellite orbit known to be
closest to the earth.
a. Apogee
b. Perigee
c. Zenith
d. Azimuth
 Questions
23. A satellite multiple access method
wherein all earth stations transmit within
the same frequency band and have no
limitations on when they may transmit or
on which carrier frequency.
a. TDMA
b. FDMA
c. CDMA
d. QAM
 Questions
24. The Ku band in the satellite service
a. 6/4 GHz
b. 8/7 GHz
c. 14/11 GHz
d. 30/17 GHz
 Questions
25. In satellite communications, it is where
a satellite revolves in an orbit that forms a
plane passing through the center of
gravity of the earth.
a. Plane center
b. Geocenter
c. Center of gravity
d. Earth center
 Questions
26. Considered as the father of satellite
communications
a. Van Allen
b. Johannes Kepler
c. Arthur Clarke
d. Guglielmo Marconi
 Questions
27. A band where most military satellites
operate
a. C
b. Ku
c. L
d. X
 Questions
28. The typical bandwidth for the guard
band between transponders of a satellite
a. 70 MHz
b. 36 Mhz
c. 4 MHz
d. 12 MHz
 Questions
29. Which of the following is not an axis of
a 3-axes body stabilized satellites.
a. Pitch
b. Spin
c. Yaw
d. Roll
 Questions
30. In shipboard satellite dish antenna
system, azimuth is referred as the
a. Vertical aiming of the antenna
b. Horizontal aiming of the antenna
c. North to east
d. 0 to 90 degrees
 Questions
31. What is the typical satellite
communications bandwidth?
a. 20 MHz
b. 30 MHz
c. 40 MHz
d. 500 MHz
 Questions
32. What are the repeaters inside
communications satellites known for?
a. Stations
b. Detectors
c. Modulators
d. Transponders
 Questions
33. Satellite engines use
a. Solar jet
b. Liquid fuel
c. Jet propulsion
d. Ion propulsion
 Questions
34. Receives and collects satellite signals
from a broadcast satellite.
a. LNB
b. Satellite receiver
c. Satellite dish
d. Yagi Uda Array
 Questions
35. Satellite receives an uplink frequency of
____ MHz from a ground station of 3700
MHz.
a. 1475
b. 2225
c. 5925
d. 8150
 Questions
36. One of the first satellite systems
catering personal based communications
services scheduled for operation.
a. Indium
b. Iridium
c. Gallium
d. Plutonium
 Questions
37. Which of the following is not a
component of a satellite transponder?
a. LNA
b. Frequency translator
c. HPA
d. LPA
 Questions
38. Type of antenna which is normally used
for satellite tracking service.
a. Omnidirectional
b. Helical
c. Dipole
d. Yagi
 Questions
39. The amount by which the antenna axis
is offset from the earth’s axis.
a. Azimuth
b. Inclination
c. Back off
d. Declination
 Questions
40. Geosynchronous Communication
satellites travel around the earth in
circular orbits with forward speed of
about __________km/hr.
a. 100,000
b. 36,000
c. 11,200
d. 22,800