"A communications satellite is an artificial satellite that relays and amplifies radio telecommunication signals via a transponder; it creates a communication channel between a source transmitter and a receiver at different locations on Earth."
Study of the principles and practices of satellite communication systems used for transmitting information from one point on the earth to another via satellites orbiting the earth.
Introduction to Satellite Communication Systems: It covers the basics of how satellite communication works, its components, and applications.
Orbital Mechanics: This topic covers Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion, coordinates used in orbit determination, and satellite orbit determination methods that include Two-line Elements (TLEs), and state vectors.
Frequency Bands: It covers the different frequency bands used in satellite communication systems, such as L, C, Ku, Ka, and X bands.
Modulation Techniques: This topic includes amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), phase modulation (PM), and digital modulation techniques like PSK, FSK, and QAM.
Antennas: Demonstrates the fundamentals of antenna operation, the types of antennas used in satellite systems i.e., dish and phased array antennas, cross-polarization, and noise temperature.
Transponders: Transponders are satellite payloads that help receive and retransmit signals. This topic covers the types of transponders and their specifications that include transmission power, bandwidth, saturation power, and transponder noise temperature.
Link Budget Analysis: The calculation of the power budget between the satellite and the ground stations is of immense importance to maintain a quality link. This topic covers various parameters like transmit power, antenna gain, propagation loss, path length, frequency, and polarization.
Satellite Subsystems: Describes the various subsystems like power, attitude control, telemetry-data handling, and on-board computer systems to operate and manage communication satellites.
Earth Stations: Covers the basics of ground stations that include antennas, indoor-outdoor units, Feed system, Low noise amplifiers (LNAs), High power amplifiers (HPAs), and other peripherals.
Satellite Networks: This topic covers the systems that are employed in Satellite Networks, along with their classification such as GEO, MEO, LEO, and HEO.
Propagation Effects: Propagation possibilities that include atmospheric absorption, rain attenuation, depolarization, and scattering can severely impact the link budget of the satellite.
Satellite Services and Applications: Finally, it covers the applications of satellite communication, which includes navigation, internet, telephony, broadcasting, weather, and disaster management.
Geostationary Orbit Satellites (GEO): These satellites are placed at an altitude of approximately 36,000 km above the Earth's equator and move at the same speed as the Earth, making them appear stationary from the ground. They are mostly used for broadcasting, weather monitoring, and telecommunications.
Low Earth Orbit Satellites (LEO): These are at an altitude of about 500 to 2,000 km above the Earth's surface and move around the Earth quickly, completing an orbit in about 90 minutes. They are used for navigation, surveillance, and remote sensing.
Medium Earth Orbit Satellites (MEO): These satellites orbit the Earth at an altitude of around 5,000 to 15,000 km and are used for global navigation and mapping, as well as communication.
Polar Orbit Satellites (PO): These satellites orbit around the Earth's poles, providing a global view of the Earth's surface. They are used for remote sensing, environmental monitoring, and scientific data collection.
Communication Satellite DBS: Direct Broadcasting Satellite (DBS) is a type of satellite used for broadcasting TV signals and direct-to-home (DTH) services.
Military Satellite Communication System: Military satellite communication systems consist of various types of satellite communication systems that are used by the military for reconnaissance, surveillance, and communication.
Globalstar Satellite Communication System: Globalstar offers mobile voice and data communication services through their constellation of LEO satellites.
Intelsat Satellite Communication System: Intelsat provides communication services to businesses, governments, and other organizations through their network of GEO satellites.
Iridium Satellite Communication System: Iridium provides voice and data communication services through their constellation of LEO satellites.
Navigation Satellite System: Navigation satellites are a type of satellite that provides location and time information to users around the world, such as GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo.
Satellite Broadband Services: These services provide high-speed internet access to remote locations through satellite communication.
Remote Sensing Satellite: Remote sensing satellites are used for environmental monitoring, weather forecasting, and natural resource management.
Satellite Telemetry System: Telemetry satellites are used for tracking and monitoring remote assets such as shipping containers, airplanes, and other machinery.
Amateur Radio Satellite System: These systems are used by amateur radio enthusiasts to communicate with other radio operators around the world via satellites.
Weather Satellite communication System: These satellites are used for weather monitoring and forecasting, providing data on temperature, precipitation, and other meteorological parameters.
"Communications satellites are used for television, telephone, radio, internet, and military applications."
"Many communications satellites are in geostationary orbit 22,300 miles (35,900 km) above the equator."
"...the satellite appears stationary at the same point in the sky; therefore the satellite dish antennas of ground stations can be aimed permanently at that spot and do not have to move to track the satellite."
"Others form satellite constellations in low Earth orbit, where antennas on the ground have to follow the position of the satellites and switch between satellites frequently."
"The high-frequency radio waves used for telecommunications links travel by line of sight and so are obstructed by the curve of the Earth."
"The purpose of communications satellites is to relay the signal around the curve of the Earth allowing communication between widely separated geographical points."
"Communications satellites use a wide range of radio and microwave frequencies. To avoid signal interference, international organizations have regulations for which frequency ranges or 'bands' certain organizations are allowed to use."
"...the satellite dish antennas of ground stations can be aimed permanently at that spot and do not have to move to track the satellite."
"A communications satellite... relays and amplifies radio telecommunication signals via a transponder."
"Others form satellite constellations in low Earth orbit, where antennas on the ground have to follow the position of the satellites and switch between satellites frequently."
"This allocation of bands minimizes the risk of signal interference."
"Communications satellites are used for television, telephone, radio, internet, and military applications."
"The high-frequency radio waves used for telecommunications links travel by line of sight."
"Many communications satellites are in geostationary orbit 22,300 miles (35,900 km) above the equator."
"Antennas on the ground have to follow the position of the satellites and switch between satellites frequently."
"Communications satellites are used for... military applications."
"A communications satellite... amplifies radio telecommunication signals via a transponder."
"Others form satellite constellations in low Earth orbit, where antennas on the ground have to follow the position of the satellites and switch between satellites frequently."
"The purpose of communications satellites is to relay the signal around the curve of the Earth allowing communication between widely separated geographical points."