DEPARTMENT OF ECE, DSCET SATELLITE COMMUNICATION

UNIT I - SATELLITE ORBITS

Kepler‟s Laws, Newton‟s Law, Orbital Parameters, Orbital Perturbations, Station Keeping, Geo
Stationary and Non Geo-Stationary Orbits – Look Angle Determination - Limits of Visibility – Eclipse -
Sub Satellite Point – Sun Transit Outage - Launching Procedures - Launch Vehicles and Propulsion.
PART * A

Q.No. Questions

What is Satellite? BTL1 MAY/JUNE 2017

1.
An artificial body that is projected from earth to orbit either earth (or) another body of solar
systems. Types: Information satellites and Communication Satellites
Define Satellite Communication. BTL1
2 It is defined as the use of orbiting satellites to receive, amplify and retransmit data to earth
stations.
State Kepler’s first law. BTL1 NOV/DEC 2018
It states that the path followed by the satellite around the primary will be an ellipse.
3 An ellipse has two focal points F1 and F2. The center of mass of the two body system, termed the
barycenter is always centered on one of the foci.
e = [square root of (a2– b2) ] / a
State Kepler’s second law. BTL1 APRIL /MAY 2019
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It states that for equal time intervals, the satellite will sweep out equal areas in its orbital plane,
focused at the barycenter
State Kepler’s third law. BTL1
It states that the square of the periodic time of orbit is perpendicular to the cube of the mean
distance between the two bodies.
Where, n = Mean motion of the satellite in rad/sec.
5 µ= Earth‟s geocentric gravitational constant. With the n in radians per sec. the orbital
period in second is given by,

Define apogee. BTL1 MAY/JUNE 2016

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The point farthest from the earth.
Define Perigee. BTL1 NOV/DEC 2016
7
The point closest from the earth.
What is line of apsides? BTL1
8
The line joining the perigee and apogee through the center of the earth.
Define ascending node. BTL1
9
The point where the orbit crosses the equatorial plane going from south to north
10 Define descending node. BTL1 APRIL /MAY 2017
The point where the orbit crosses the equatorial plane going from north to south

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DEPARTMENT OF ECE, DSCET SATELLITE COMMUNICATION

Define Inclination. BTL1

11 The angle between the orbital plane and the earth‟s equatorial plane. It is measured at the
ascending node from the equator to the orbit going from east to north.
12 Define mean anomaly. BTL1
It gives an average value of the angular position of the satellite with reference to the perigee.
13 Define true anomaly. BTL1 NOV/DEC 2015
It is the angle from perigee to the satellite position, measured at the earth‟s center.
What is meant by azimuth angle? BTL1 MAY/JUNE 2017
14 It is defined as the angle produced by intersection of local horizontal plane and the plane passing
through the earth station, the satellite and center of earth.
Give the 3 different types of applications with respect to satellite systems. BTL1
15 • The largest international system (Intelsat)
• The domestic satellite system (Dom sat) in U.S.
• U.S. National oceanographic and atmospheric administrations (NOAA)
Mention the 3 regions to allocate the frequency for satellite services. BTL1
• Region1: It covers Europe, Africa and Mangolia
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• Region2: It covers North & South Ameriaca and Greenland.
• Region3: It covers Asia, Australia and South West Pacific.
Give the types of satellite services. BTL1
• Fixed satellite service,
17 • Broadcasting satellite service
• Navigational satellite services,
• Mobile satellite service
• Meteorological satellite services
What is mean by Dom sat? BTL1 APRIL /MAY 2016
18 Domestic Satellites.
These are used for voice, data and video transmissions within the country.
19 What is mean by INTELSAT & SARSAT ? BTL1 NOV/DEC 2019
International Telecommunication Satellite, Search and rescue satellite.
20 Define polar-orbiting satellites. BTL1
Polar orbiting satellites orbit the earth in such a way as to cover the north and south polar regions.
21 Give the advantage of geostationary orbit. BTL1
There is no necessity for tracking antennas to find the satellite positions.
22 Define look angles. BTL1
The azimuth and elevation angles of the ground station antenna are termed as look angles.
Write short notes on station keeping. BTL1
It is the process of maintenance of satellite‟s attitude against different factors that can cause drift
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with time. Satellites need to have their orbits adjusted from time to time, because the satellite is
initially placed in the correct orbit, natural forces induce a progressive drift.
What are the geostationary satellites? BTL1
The satellites present in the geostationary orbit are called geostationary satellite.
The geostationary orbit is one in which the satellite appears stationary relative to the earth.
24
It lies in equatorial plane and inclination is „0‟.
The satellite must orbit the earth in the same direction as the earth spin.
The orbit is circular.

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DEPARTMENT OF ECE, DSCET SATELLITE COMMUNICATION

What is sun transit outage. BTL1 APRIL /MAY 2016

25
The sun transit is nothing but the sun comes within the beam width of the earth station antenna.
During this period the sun behaves like an extremely noisy source and it blanks out all the signal
from the satellite. This effect is termed as sun transit outage.
PART * B
Describe in details about earth eclipse of satellite and sun transit outage (13 M) BTL2
Answer: Page: 92-94 - Dennis Roddy MAY/JUNE 2017
Eclipse: GEO eclipsed each day & tilted 23.4°. (4 M)
Spring equinox & autumnal equinox.
Eclipse - solar cells do not function,
Operating power - batteries.

(3 M)

Sun transit outage

1 Added noise temperature (3 M)
6000 to 10000 K
Depend on - antenna size, elevation angle, location and environment.

(3 M)
What are orbital elements? Derive the six orbital elements of satellite from Kepler’s three
laws of planetary motion. (13 M) BTL2 APRIL /MAY 2018

Answer: Page: 29- 31, 35 - Dennis Roddy

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The orbital elements: (7 M)
1. The semi major axis (a) – half of major axis
2. The eccentricity (e) - oblateness
3. The mean anomaly (M) – average angle
4. The argument of perigee – line of nodes to perigee

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DEPARTMENT OF ECE, DSCET SATELLITE COMMUNICATION

5. The inclination – angle from equator

6. The right ascension of the ascending node – first time arises to ascending node
1. Kepler’s first law - Orbit elliptical, sun one of the foci. (6 M)
2. Kepler’s second law - Equal time intervals, satellite will sweep equal areas
3.
Kepler’s third law square of the periodic time of orbit = cube of the mean distance
(D1/D2)3 = (P1/P2)2
Explain about Geo-stationary & near Geo-stationary orbits. (13 M) BTL2
Answer: Page: 77, 89 - Dennis Roddy NOV/DEC 2019
Satellite follows as it revolves around earth (3 M)
Depending on: Altitude, Inclination & Orbital Period
Table - (3 M)
Features GEO MEO LEO
3 Height (Km’s) 36000 6000 - 12000 200 –
3000
Time per orbit (Hrs) 24 5 – 12 1.5
Speed (Km’s / hr) 11000 19000 27000
Time Delay (ms) 250 80 10
Time in Site of Gateway Always 2 – 4 hrs < 15 min
Satellite for Global Coverage 3 10 – 12 50 – 70
Explain about frequency allocations for satellite services. (13 M) BTL2
Answer: Page: 2 Dennis Roddy APRIL /MAY 2018
share limited frequency band (6 M)
Table - (7 M)
Band Uplink (GHz) Downlink (GHz)
C 6 4
4
Ku 14 12
Ka 30 20
X 8.2 7.5
S 40 20
Q 44 21
L 1.525 to 1.559 1.626 to 1.660
Explain about the Orbital perturbations in detail (13 M) BTL2
Answer: Page: 38 - Dennis Roddy
Gravitational pull of sun and moon (2 M)
Effect of a Non Spherical Earth (3 M)
Oblate Spheroid
k1(1 − 1.5 sin2 i)
5 n = no *1 + +
a2(1 − e2)1.5
Anamalistic period - earth‟s oblateness (2 M)
2𝜋
pA =
n
Regression of the nodes - opposite to the direction of satellite motion (2 M)
Equatorial ellipticity - not perfectly circular, eccentricity order 10−5. (2 M)
Atmospheric drag - below about 1000 km (2 M)
6 Determine the limits of visibility for an earth station situated at mean sea level, at latitude

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DEPARTMENT OF ECE, DSCET SATELLITE COMMUNICATION

48.42° north, and longitude 89.26 degrees west. Assume a minimum angle of elevation of 5°.
(13 M) BTL3
Answer: Page: 87 - Dennis Roddy MAY/JUNE 2017
𝜆𝐸 = 48.42°, Φ𝐸 = −89.26°, 𝐸𝑙min = 5° (1 M)

𝜎min = 90° - Elmin = 95° (2 M)

𝑆 = arcsin ( 𝑅 sin 𝜎min)= 8.66° (2 M)

𝑎𝘎𝑆0
𝑏 = 180 − 𝜎min − 𝑆 = 76.34° (2 M)
𝐵 = arccos ( cos𝑏 )= 69.15° (2 M)
cos ℎ𝐸

Φ𝐸 + 𝐵 ≈ - 20° (2 M)
Φ𝐸 − 𝐵 ≈ - 158° (2 M)
A geostationary satellite is located at 90°W. Calculate the azimuth angle for an earth station
antenna at latitude 35°N and longitude 100°W. And also find the range and antenna
elevation angle. (13 M) BTL3 NOV/DEC 2019
Answer: Page: 78 - Dennis Roddy
ФSS = - 90° (West) , λE = 35° (North), ФE = - 100° (West) (1 M)
B= ФE - ФSS = -100 + 90 = -10° (2 M)
7 𝑏 = arccos(cos 𝐵 cos 𝜆𝐸) = 36.23° (2 M)
𝐴 = arcsin (sin|𝐵|) = 17.1° (2 M)
sin 𝑏
azimuth is, by inspection, λE > 0 and B < 0, therefore Az =180°- A = 162.9 ° (2 M)

𝑑 = √𝑅2 + 𝑎2 − 2𝑅𝑎𝐺𝑆0 cos 𝑏 = 37215 km (2 M)

𝐺𝑆0
𝐸𝑙 = arccos (𝑎𝘎𝑆0 sin 𝑏) = 48°(2 M)
𝑑
PART * C
Illustrate the procedures employed for launching spacecraft in GEO orbits. (15 M) BTL3
Answer: Page: 94 - Dennis Roddy
APRIL /MAY 2018

(8 M)

Launch vehicles: expendable or reusable. (1 M)

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DEPARTMENT OF ECE, DSCET SATELLITE COMMUNICATION

Methods of launching a satellite: Using apogee kick motor, Using spacecraft thrusters, Direct
insertion to GEO (1 M)
Diagram - (1 M)
Hohmann transfer orbit – parking orbit (2 M)

𝑈 = 1 𝑚𝑣2 − 𝐺𝑚𝑀 (2 M)
2 𝑟

Final velocity - sum of the velocity increments of all the stages.

What are look angles and derive the expressions for azimuth and elevation BTL2
Answer: Page: 78 - Dennis Roddy MAY/JUNE 2017
Look angles for the geostationary: latitude λE,, longitude ФE , subsatellite point ФSS (5 M)

Latitudes: North - positive angles, south negative angles.

Longitudes : East - positive angles, west - negative angles.

2 (5 M)
a = 90°, c = 90°- λE and B= ФE - ФSS (5 M)
Napier’s rules 𝑏 = arccos(cos 𝐵 cos 𝜆𝐸)
sin|𝐵|
𝐴 = arcsin ( )
sin 𝑏
Angle λE B Az, Degrees

a <0 <0 A

b <0 >0 360° - A

c >0 <0 180° - A

d >0 >0 180° + A

range d 𝑑 = √𝑅2 + 𝑎2 − 2𝑅𝑎𝐺𝑆0 cos 𝑏

𝐺𝑆0

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DEPARTMENT OF ECE, DSCET SATELLITE COMMUNICATION

Angle of elevation 𝐸𝑙 = arccos (𝑎𝘎𝑆0 sin 𝑏)

𝑑

Illustrate the orbital parameters with suitable diagrams (15 M) BTL3

Answer: Page: 32 - Dennis Roddy
MAY/JUNE 2017 Diagram (7 M)
16 points - (8 M)
1. Sub Satellite Path – Point to trace
2. Apogee – Farthest Distance
3. Perigee – Closest
4. Line of apsides – Joining of Apogee and Perigee
5. Ascending node – South to north
6. Descending node – North to South
7. Line of nodes – Joining of Ascending and Descending
8. Inclination – Angle from Equator
9. Declination – Angle of Tilt
10. Prograde orbit – West to East
11. Retrograde orbit – East to West
12. Argument of perigee (w) – Line of Nodes to Perigee
13. Right ascension of the ascending node (Ὠ) – First time of arises to ascending node
14. Mean Anomaly – Average Angle
3 15. True Anomaly – True Angle

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DEPARTMENT OF ECE, DSCET SATELLITE COMMUNICATION

UNIT II - SPACE SEGMENT

Spacecraft Technology - Structure, Primary Power, Attitude and Orbit Control, Thermal Control and
Propulsion, Communication Payload and Supporting Subsystems, Telemetry, Tracking and Command –
Transponders - The Antenna Subsystem.
PART * A
Q.No. Questions
Give the two segments of basic satellite communication. BTL1 MAY/JUNE 2018
1.
a. Earth segment (or) ground segment b. Space segment
Write short notes on attitude control system? BTL1
2 It is the system that achieves and maintains the required attitudes. The main functions of attitude
control system include maintaining accurate satellite position throughout the life span of the
system.
What is declination? BTL1 APRIL/MAY2016
3 The angle of tilt is often referred to as the declination which must not be confused with the
magnetic declination used in correcting compass readings.
4 What is meant by payload? BTL1
It refers to the equipment used to provide the service for which the satellite has been launched.
What is meant by transponder? BTL1 NOV/DEC 2019
5 In a communication satellite, the equipment which provides the connecting link between the
satellites transmit and receive antennas is referred to as the transponder.
Write short notes on station keeping. BTL1 APRIL/MAY 2017
6 It is the process of maintenance of satellite‟s attitude against different factors that can cause drift
with time. Satellites need to have their orbits adjusted from time to time, because the satellite is
initially placed in the correct orbit, natural forces induce a progressive drift.
What is meant by Pitch angle? BTL1
7 Movement of a spacecraft about an axis which is perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. It is the
degree of elevation or depression.
8 What is an propellant? BTL1
A solid or liquid substance burnt in a rocket for the purpose of producing thrust
9 What is an Yaw? BTL1
Yaw is the rotation of a vehicle about its vertical axis.
What is an zero ‘g’? BTL1
10 Zero „g‟ is a state when the gravitational attraction is opposed by equal and opposite inertial
forces and the body experiences no mechanical stress.
Describe the spin stabilized satellites. BTL1 NOV/DEC 2015
In a spin stabilized satellites, the body of the satellite spins at about 30 to 100 rpm about the axis
11 perpendicular to the orbital plane. The satellites arm normally dual spin satellites with a spinning
section and a despun section on which antennas are mounted. These are kept stationary with
respect to earth by counter rotating the despun section.
What is meant by frequency reuse? BTL1
12 The carrier with opposite senses of polarization may overlap in frequency. This technique is
known as frequency reuse.