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Satellite Communication
Lecture 3
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Kepler’s First Law
2.3 Kepler’s Second Law
2.4 Kepler’s Third Law
2.5 Definitions of Terms for Earth-Orbiting Satellites
2.6 Orbital Elements
2.7 Apogee and Perigee Heights 37
2.8 Orbit Perturbations
2.8.1 Effects of a nonspherical earth
2.8.2 Atmospheric drag
Derived 3 laws
based
upon his
observations
Sir. Johannes
Kepler of planetary
motion. 4
Kepler’s Laws (Three laws of Planetary Motion)
LAW 1: Law of orbit
The orbit of a planet about the Sun is an ellipse with the
Sun's center of mass at one focus
LAW 2: Law of areas
A line joining a planet and the Sun sweeps out equal
areas in equal intervals of time
LAW 3: Law of Time period
The squares of the periods of the planets are proportional
to the cubes of their semi-major axes
6
1- Law of orbit: The path followed by a satellite around the primary
will be an ellipse.
a a
➢ The eccentricity e and the semimajor axis a are two of the orbital
parameters specified for satellites orbiting the earth.
➢ For an elliptical orbit 0 < e < 1. when e = 0 the orbit becomes circular.
7
Cont….
Satellites also follow Kepler’s 1st Law But Earth can replace
sun at Focus
LAW 2: A line joining a planet and the Sun sweeps out equal areas in
equal intervals of time
9
Kepler’s Second Law
The line from the sun to a planet sweeps
out equal areas in equal time intervals.
t1
t2 areaA
t4
aphelion
(slowest) perihelion
(fastest)
areaA = areaB if t2-t1 = t4-t3
areaB
t3
So… Satellites go faster at Perigee than at Apogee
Reason: conservation of specific mechanical energy
10
11
Example 2.1
3 µ
a = 2
n
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Apogee
Apogee
Inclination
Inclination
Definitions & orbital parameters:
V
Perigee Right
Perigee Right Ascension
Ascension
Apogee: Farthest from earth
Line of apsides: Joining perigee & apogee through center of the earth
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
Line of nodes: Line joining the ascending and descending node through the center of the earth
15
ha
hp
Dr. Hesham A. Mohamed 16
Line of apsides: The line joining the perigee and apogee through the
center of the earth.
Ascending node: The point where the orbit crosses the equatorial
plane going from south to north.
Descending node: The point where the orbit crosses the equatorial
plane going from north to south.
Line of nodes: The line joining the ascending and descending nodes
through
the center of the earth (The intersection of the equatorial
plane
Inclination. The and
angle the orbital
between plane) plane and the earth’s equatorial plane
the orbital
It is measured at the ascending node from the equator to the orbit,
going from east to north. The greatest latitude, north or south,
reached by the subsatellite path is equal to the inclination.
Line of apsides
1
17
7
Retrograde orbit.
Prograde orbit.
18
Argument of perigee:
19
Orbital Elements
Earth-orbiting artificial satellites are defined by six orbital elements
▪ Eccentricity (e)
▪ Inclination (i)
in w and Ω. The values are specified for the reference time or epoch.
▪ The apogee and perigee heights are two parameters required when defining the satellite orbit
in space.
▪ From the geometry of the ellipse, the length of the radius vectors at apogee and perigee of the
satellite orbit can be obtained as (DRAW THE ELLIPSE IN THE APPENDIX)
ra = a(1+ e)
rp = a(1- e)
ha
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Orbital Elements
NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Example 2.2 Calculate the semimajor axis for the satellite parameters
−
given that n0=0.00104
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𝑺
𝟏
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Apogee and Perigee Heights
▪ The apogee and perigee heights are two parameters required when defining the satellite orbit in space.
▪ From the geometry of the ellipse, the length of the radius vectors at apogee and perigee of the satellite
orbit can be obtained as (DRAW THE ELLIPSE IN THE APPENDIX)
▪ ra = a(1+e)
▪ rp = a(1- e)
ha
■ Apogee Height: hp
❑ ra = a (1 + e)
❑ ha = ra - R
■ Perigee Height:
❑ rp = a (1 – e)
❑ hp =rp – R
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▪ From the geometry of the ellipse, the length of the radius vectors at
apogee, ra, and perigee, rp, of the satellite orbit can be obtained as
ra = a (1+ e)
Where rpthe
ra is the distance from = acenter
(1- e) of the earth to the apogee
point,
❑ The apogee height: is the distance from the Earth’s surface to the apogee.
❑ The perigee height: is the distance from the Earth’s surface to the perigee.
➢ The In order to find the apogee and perigee heights, the radius of the
ha
hp
■ Apogee Height:
❑ Ra = a (1 + e)
❑ Ha = Ra - R
■ Perigee Height: hp
❑ Rp = a (1 – e)
❑ Hp = Rp – R
■ Given e=0.0011501, a=7192.3 km, and earth radius, R=6371 km.
❑ Ra = 7192.3 (1 + 0.0011501) = 7200.6 km
❑ Ha = 7200.6 – 6371 = 829.6 km
❑ Rp = 7192.3 (1 - 0.0011501) = 7184.1 km
❑ Hp = 7184.1 – 6371 = 813.1 km
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Orbital Elements
▪ A satellite's position at a specific time can be determined using six
2- Eccentricity (e)
The semi-major axis and the eccentricity give the shape of the ellipse.
4- Argument of perigee (w): gives the rotation of the orbit’s perigee point
5- Inclination (i)
Orbital Elements
NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
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