Satellite Communication

Elective -IV

Dr. Mahadev S. Patil

Professor and Head
Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering department

Kasegaon Education Society’s

RAJARAMBAPU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY,
Islampur, Dist. Sangli, Maharashtra, India - 415 414

1
Unit- II

Unit –II
Satellite Subsystems

Course Outcomes:
1. Explain different satellite subsystems.

Topic Learning Outcomes:

1. List different types of satellite subsystems and their need
2. Explain how AOCS functions

2
Satellite Subsystems

3
Attitude and Orbit Control System (AOCS)
External forces cause satellite to drift from its position
- Correct orbit
- Correct direction
rocket motors
AOCS is needed to get the satellite into the
correct orbit and keep it there
Orbit insertion
Orbit maintenance
Fine pointing
Major parts
Attitude Control System
Orbit Control System
4
Need of AOCS
Forces on a synchronous satellite
AOCS
Earth is not quite a perfect sphere
At the equator, there are bulges of about
65m
Due to which the satellite is accelerated towards one of
two stable points in the GEO orbit at longitude 750 E 1050
W
To maintain accurate station keeping, the
satellite must be periodically accelerated in
the opposite direction to the forces acting
on it.
This is done using small rocket motors that can be
controlled from earth station via a TTC & M system
Attitude Control System
Two ways to keep satellite in stable orbit

Body of satellite is
rotated at a rate
between 30 to 100
rpm to create a
gyroscopic force that
provides stability of
the spin axis and keeps
it pointing in the same
direction. Such
satellites are known as
Spinners.
Attitude Control System-Spinner
Attitude Control System-Spinner

Intelsat V is missing as it was a three-axis stabilized satellite

Attitude Control System

Satellite can be
stabilized by one or
more momentum
wheels (solid metal
disk driven by an
electric motor). Such
satellites are called
three-axes stabilized
satellite.
Three axes

Earth

o
Equator
s
Yaw
Roll
Axis
Axis

Pitch
Axis
Three–axes stabilized satellite
Principle of N-S control of a spinner satellite

IR sensor on a spinning body of a satellite is used to control satellite pointing towards

the earth. Earth sensor is a device that senses the direction of the earth. It is usually
an IR camera
Orbit Control System

The GEO satellite is subjected to several forces that tend to

accelerate it away from its required orbit.
Gravitational forces of the moon and the sun causes drift of the
sub-satellite point.

The orbit to be truly geostationary, it must lie in the equatorial

plane, be circular and have the correct altitude.

The various forces acting on a satellite will steadily pull it out of

the correct orbit; it is the job of the orbit control system to return
it to the correct orbit.
Orbit Control System

Satellite in
inclined
orbit.
E-W station keeping

The inclination of the orbit of a satellite that starts out in a

GEO orbit increases at an average rate of about
0.850 /year.
Corrections called E-W station keeping and N-S station
keeping are made every 2 to 4 weeks to keep the error small.
Correcting the inclination of a satellite orbit requires more
fuel to be expended than for any other orbital correction.
E-W station keeping is required to keep the spacing
between adjacent satellite.
Attitude and Orbit Control System

Typical onboard control system for a spinner satellite.

Telemetry Tracking Command & Monitoring

TLO: TTC & M and

Power System
At the end of this
lecture students will be
able to
1. describe need of TTC
&M
2. explain how TTC & M
functions
3. describe Satellite
power system

19
TTC & M RIT-ETC

• It is the only way to observe and to control satellite

from the ground
• Part of the satellite management task
• Involves an earth station and group of personnel
• Main functions
- control the orbit and attitude (orientation) of the
satellite
- monitor the status of all sensors and subsystems
- Switch ON and OFF sections of the communication
system
20
TTC & M RIT-ETC

Used during launch

Used during launch

21
Major functions RIT-ETC

– Reporting spacecraft health

– Monitoring command actions
– Determining orbital elements
– Launch sequence deployment
– Control of payload (communications, etc.)

22
Telemetry RIT-ETC

• Monitor all Important Parameters

– Temperature
– Voltages
– Currents
– Sensors (several hundred sensors are located on the satellite
and they send data to the controlling earth station)
– Data are usually multiplexed with a priority rating.
– There are usually two telemetry modes.
• Transmit Data to Earth
• Record Data at TTC&M Stations

23
Tracking RIT-ETC

• Measure Range Repeatedly

• Can Measure Doppler Shift or the
Communication Channel Velocity and acceleration sensors
• Compute Orbital Elements
• Communicate with Main Control Station and
Users

24
Telemetry and monitoring system RIT-ETC

• There are several hundred sensors on the satellite

to monitor the
- Pressure in the fuel tanks
- Voltage and current in the power conditioning unit
- Current drawn by each subsystem
- Critical voltages and currents in the transponders

• Monitoring system collects the data from many

sensors and sends the data to controlling unit at
earth station

25
Monitoring RIT-ETC

• Many temperature sensors to monitor the

temperature of many sections
• Temperature must be kept within
predetermined limit
• Telemetry system reports the following data
to the earth station
- sensor data
- status of each subsystem
- position of switches
26
Controlling RIT-ETC

• Faulty units are disconnected and spare units are

brought in via command system
• Telemetry data is usually digitized and transmitted
as PSK
• A low data rate is usually used to allow the
receiver at the earth station to have a narrow
bandwidth
• At earth station a computer and a controlling unit
is used to monitor and decode the telemetry data
• Alarms can also be sounded if any vital parameter
goes outside allowable limit

27
TTC & M subsystem RIT-ETC

Used once launched in space

Tracking RIT-ETC

• Used to determine current orbit

• Velocity and acceleration sensors are used to
establish the change in orbit from the last known
position
• Using Doppler shift earth station can find the rate at
which range is changing.
• Pulses are sent to the satellite and received from
the satellite to find delay and hence Doppler shift.
• Thus by using precision equipment, position of the
satellite is determined within 10m
• Ranging tones are used for range measurement
29
Command RIT-ETC

• During Launch Sequence

– Switch on Power
– Deploy Antennas and Solar Panels
– Point Antennas to Desired Location
• In Orbit
– Maintain Spacecraft Thermal Balance
– Control payload, Thrusters, etc.

30
Command RIT-ETC

• Required for successful launch and operation

of satellite
• Command system is used to make changes in
the orbit and control the communication
system
• During launch it is used to
- control the firing of apogee kick motors
- to spin up a spinner
- extend the solar sails and antennas of a three
axes stabilized satellite
31
Command RIT-ETC

• Command unit must be protected against

unauthorized use.
• Encryption of command and responses
provides security
• Coding of command word
• Command and Telemetry links are separate

32
Command RIT-ETC

• During launch phase TTC &M is inoperable

since satellite does not have the correct
orbit and attitude.
• The backup system is used at this time
which controls the important sections of
the satellite.
• Once the satellite is launched, it is activated
• A great deal of redundancy is built into this
system, since its failure will jeopardize the
entire mission.
33
Command RIT-ETC

• TTC and M is also used to eject the

satellite from geostationary orbit and to
switch off all transmitters when the
satellite eventually reaches the end of its
useful life. (Decommissioning)

34
Satellite Power subsystem RIT-ETC

All satellites derive their electrical power

from solar cells which convert incident sun
light in to electrical power

Consists of
- Solar power system
- Batteries
- Power conditioning unit

35
Solar Power system RIT-ETC

All satellite obtain their electrical power from solar cells

- In total vacuum of outer space at geostationary
altitude, the radiation falling on the satellite has an
intensity of 1.36kW/m2
• Sun sensors are used
• Solar Cell Output Falls When Temperature rises -
2mV/degree C;
• 15% extra area of solar cells is usually provided as an
allowance for aging

36
Why batteries?
• 6kW of power,
• battery voltage- 20-50 V, 20-100 Ah

• Batteries Needed
– During Launch
– During Eclipse (<70 min)

Currently satellites have mostly switched to lithium-

ion batteries as their main energy storage device.

Before that, nickel-hydrogen, and before that, nickel-

cadmium were the most popular. Li-ion has the
advantage of higher energy density.
37
Batteries

• The average life span of a LEO and GEO satellite is

around 5 and 8 years respectively. So we need batteries
which can serve satellites as per the life time of
satellites.
• Batteries used for Space applications must work in
extreme conditions, sometimes too hot and sometimes
too cold. Batteries must be rugged enough to
withstand radiations from stars, vibrations during
rocket launch, etc.
• It is highly desirable to use rechargeable batteries. Why
do we need to worry when we have Ultimate battery
Charger, The Sun.
38
Battery RIT-ETC

• Batteries are “Conditioned” before each

Eclipse Season
– Batteries Discharged To Limit
– Batteries Then Recharged
• Typical NiH2 Battery can withstand 30,000
cycles
• A power conditioning unit controls the
charging current and dumps the excess
current from the solar cells in to heaters on
the cold side of the satellite.
39
Power Conditioning unit RIT-ETC

• This unit controls the charging current and

dumps excess current from the solar cells in to
heaters or load resistors on the cold side of
the satellite.

• Sensors on the batteries, power regulator and

solar cells monitor temperature, voltage and
current and supply these data to both the
onboard control system and the controlling
earth station via the telemetry downlink.
40
Communication Subsystem

Topic Learning Outcomes: Communication subsystem

At the end of this lecture students will be able to

1. describe need of communication subsystems
2. explain how communication subsystems functions
41
Communication subsystem

• Major Component of Satellite

• Primary Function of A Communications

Satellite

• (All Other Subsystems are to Support This

One).

• Only Source of Revenue

42
Frequency used RIT-ETC

Microwave
frequencies
6/4, 14/11 and
30/20 GHz
are used for
satellite
communication

Uplink frequency
stated first and
then downlink

Why downlink frequency is smaller than uplink in satellite communication? Think

(whereas it is exactly reverse in mobile communication)
43
Transponder RIT-ETC

• Signals transmitted by an earth station are

received at the satellite by either a zone beam or
a spot beam antenna
• Transponder consists of
- Input BPF
- Low noise amplifier
- Frequency translator (mixer)
- Output BPF
- High power amplifier (TWT)

44
24 Transponders for a 6/4 GHz satellite

• Operated with orthogonal

circularly polarized signals
• Each BPF has a different
center frequency according to
the frequency plan
• The down conversion
freqquency shift is 2225 MHz.
• LHCP-Left Hand Circular
Polarization
• RHCP-Right Hand Circular
Polarization

45
Frequency plan for a 6/4 GHz satellite

46
Transponder arrangement RIT-ETC

Transponder
arrangement of satellites
and frequency plan. The
translation frequency is
2225 MHz
Communication system of Intelsat satellite

Simplified diagram showing

the communication system of a
typical Intelsat serving the
Atlantic ocean region using the
6/4 and 14/11 GHz bands.

The switch matrix is a 6x6

microwave switch that allows
interaction between beams, a
form of onboard processing.

There is a 6/4 GHz global beam with a small number of transponders, two 6/4 GHz
hemisphere beams and two 6/4 GHz zone beams that carry the bulk of the 6/4 GHz
traffic, and two 14/11 GHz spot beams centered on North America and western
Europe.
48
Single Conversion Transponder RIT-ETC

Single conversion bent type transponder for 6/4 GHz band

Redundancy in HPA RIT-ETC

• The redundancy is provided for HPA in each

transponder by including a spare TWTA or SSPA
that can be switched in to circuit in the primary
power amplifier fails.

• Life-time of HPA is limited and are least reliable.

Therefore providing a spare HPA in each
transponder greatly increases the probability that
the satellite will reach the end of its working life
with all its transponders still operational.

50
Double Conversion Transponder RIT-ETC

Double conversion transponder for 14/11 GHz band

Onboard Processing Transponder RIT-ETC
Onboard Processing Transponder RIT-ETC

• The processor extracts the header from each packet,

reads the beam designation, and sets switches to direct
the packet to the correct downlink beam. Information in
control packets tells the processor which uplink beam to
use. Both uplink and downlink can have adaptive coding
and modulation. FEC: Forward Error Correction.

• OBP works best with the Time Division Multiplexing,

where only one signal is present in the transponder at
any one time.
Onboard Processing RIT-ETC

• On-board processing communication system ie.,

Regenerative transponder is used in modern satellites

• Onboard processing is used to switch between the

uplink access technique and the downlink access
technique so that small earth stations may access each
other directly via the satellite.

• The processor can provide the data storage needed for

a switches beam system and also can perform error
correction independently on the uplink and downlink.
54
India’s GSAT 30 launch on 17th Jan 2020

GSAT-30 satellite was launched aboard Ariane-5 launch vehicle (VA251) from French Guiana on 02:35 IST,
17 January 2020. After three orbit raising burns with cumulative duration of 2 hours 29 minutes, GSAT-
30 acquired station at 81°E on 25 January 2020. The satellite will act as a replacement for the
defunct INSAT-4A The satellite will provide advanced telecommunication services to the Indian
subcontinent. It will be used for VSAT networks, television uplinks, digital satellite news
gathering, DTH services and other communication systems. This is the 41st communication satellite
55
launched by ISRO
Satellites for TV broadcasting
Antenna Subsystem

Topic Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this lecture
students will be able to
1. describe need of
antenna subsystems
2. explain how antenna
subsystems functions

57
Antenna parameters RIT-ETC

• Radiation pattern
• Gain
• Bandwidth
• Antenna efficiency
• Directivity
• Footprint
• Reciprocity principle

58
Antenna pattern RIT-ETC

• An antenna is a metal wire which can radiate

and absorb EM radiation.

• An antenna pattern is a plot of the field strength

in the far field of the antenna when antenna is
driven by the transmitter

• The angular distribution of the radiated fields is

called the radiation pattern of the antenna

59
Antenna parameters RIT-ETC

60
Antenna parameters RIT-ETC

• Antenna is characterized by its gain and beam width

and the design of a satellite antenna is conditioned
by the required coverage.
• Beam width is associated with the lobes in the
antenna pattern. It is defined as the angular
separation between two identical points on the
opposite sides of the main lobe.
• In satellite communication it is essential that the
desirable pattern should be highly directional with
high maximum gain concerned over a narrow
bandwidth with negligibly small side lobe
transmission.
61
Parameters RIT-ETC

• The gain of the antenna is a measure of the antenna’s

capability to direct energy in one direction rather than all
around.
• The antenna gain is related to directivity and is defined as the
product of antenna efficiency and directivity
• ie., G=D
• Here  is the antenna efficiency. For the lossless antennas,  =
1, and gain equals directivity.
• However, real antennas always have losses, among which the
main types of loss are losses due to energy dissipated in the
dielectrics and conductors, and reflection losses due to
impedance mismatch between transmission lines and
antennas.
62
Reciprocity principle RIT-ETC

• Antenna exhibits reciprocity principle, means

that an antenna has the same gain and
pattern at any given frequency whether it
transmits or receives.

• An antenna pattern measured when receiving

is identical to the pattern when transmitting

63
Footprint RIT-ETC

• A satellite antenna is used to provide coverage

of a certain area or zone on the earth’s
surface.
• The region of the earth’s surface, which can be
illuminated by the beam is called the footprint
of a satellite.
• Coverage area increases with beam-width and
beam-width decreases with height

64
Typical satellite antenna patterns and coverage zone RIT-ETC

The antenna for the global beam is usually a waveguide horn. Scanning beams and shaped
beams require phased array antennas or reflector antennas with phased array feeds.
Cons of antennas RIT-ETC

• Large antennas are difficult to mount, and

cause structural problems as they need to be
folded inside the launch vehicle and
subsequently deployed in space.

• Antennas are a limiting factor in all radio

communication systems.

• Very complex antennas have been developed

for satellite to provide multiple beams from a
single antenna 66
Types of antennas RIT-ETC

• With the help of a duplexer a single onboard

antenna can be used to transmit and receive
signals

•Four main types of antennas - used in satellite

Wire antenna: Monopoles and Dipoles

Horn antenna
Reflector antenna
Phased Array antenna
67
Horn

68
Array RIT-ETC

69
Aperture antenna types RIT-ETC

• HORN
Efficient,
Low Gain,
Wide Beam

• REFLECTOR
High Gain,
Narrow Beam

70
71
Reflector types RIT-ETC

Symmetrical, Front- Offset, Front-

Fed Fed

Offset-Fed, Offset-Fed,
Cassegranian Gregorian

72
Aperture antennas RIT-ETC

• Horns and reflectors are examples of

aperture antennas that launch a wave
into free space from a waveguide.

• For higher gains or narrow beam widths

a reflector antenna or array must be
used.

73
Antenna subsystem- Case study RIT-ETC

In GSAT 30- The Dual Gridded Reflector antenna will provide wide coverage in C-
band and a Ku-band Gregorian Antenna will provide coverage to Indian mainland
and Islands.
Intelsat VI- A 2.0 m diameter reflector antenna was used for receiving C-band
signals transmitted up from the earth. The satellite had a C-band global coverage
horn, which provided coverage of the entire earth, for receive and transmission of
two channels or repeaters.
The satellite also had two Ku-band steerable spot beams which could be moved to
cover any specific area on the earth, and could be re-pointed as needed. The Ku-
band spot beams provide both receive and transmit capability.
Take away?

What have we
learnt today??
Thank you