SATELLITE

SUBSYSTEMS :
ALTITUDE CONTROL
SUBSYSTEM (ACS)

Presented
Presented By-
By-
DAMANPREET
DAMANPREET KAUR
KAUR
CO17517
CO17517
6th Semester
6th Semester
 CONTENTS

 Satellite Sub-systems

 Altitude Control
Subsystem

 Forces responsible for

shift in altitude
 SATELLITE
SUBSYSTEMS

Earth
Space segment
segment
subsystems
subsystems
 Space segment Earth segment
subsystems subsystems
 The subsystems present  Also called as ground
in space segment segment and are major
 Includes- subsystems
 Performs mainly two
1. AOCS

2. TTCM
functions-
1. Transmission of a signal
3. Power supply system
to the satellite
4. Communication system
2. Reception of signal
from the satellite
 SPACE SEGMENT SUBSYSTEMS

1. Altitude and Orbit Control System (AOCS)

This subsystem consists of rockets, which are used to move

the satellite back to its correct orbit, when the external
forces cause it to drift off station and gas jets or inertial
devices that controls the attitude of orbit.

2. Telemetry, Tracking, Command and Monitoring (TTCM)

The telemetry system sends the data from sensors to

satellite which also monitors the satellite health. Tracking
system calculates the elevation angle and monitors the
satellite.
 SPACE SEGMENT SUBSYSTEMS

3. Power Supply System

All communication satellites derive their power from solar

cells. The power is normally used by communication system
and all other electrical systems on the satellite

4. Communication Systems

It usually consists of one or more antennas, which receive

and transmit over wide bandwidths at microwave
frequencies. The receiver-transmitter units are known as
transponders.
ALTITUDE
CONTROL
SUBSYSTEMS
(ACS)
 ACS
• It takes care of the
orientation of satellite
in its respective orbit.

• It is used to control the

orbit of the satellite
and also maintains the
satellite to be in its
stabilised position. Fig. Satellite Orbit
 ACS
• Altitude control is necessary so that the
antennas, which usually have narrow
directional beams, are pointed correctly
towards the Earth.

• There are several forces acting on an

orbiting satellite that tends to change its
altitude and orbit.
• Orientation is monitored on the spacecraft by
infrared horizon detectors, which detect the rim of
earth against the background of space.

• Four detectors are used to establish a reference point,

usually the center of the earth and any shift in
orientation is detected by one or more of the sensor.
A control signal is generated that activates attitude
control devices to restore proper orientation.

• Gas jets, ion thrusters or momentum wheels are used

to provide active altitude control on communication
satellites.
 Forces responsible for shift in altitude

Several forces can interact to affect the

attitude of the spacecraft including:

• Gravitational forces from the sun, moon and

other planets
• Pressures due to solar radiation
• Variations in Earth’s magnetic field
CONCLUSION

• There are two satellite sub-systems: Space and Earth.

• Space sub-systems include AOCS, TTCM, Power supply
and Communication system.
• Further, it is classified into Altitude Control system (ACS)
and Orbit Control system.
• ACS is responsible for controlling the altitude of the
satellite in its stabilised position.
• Several forces acts on the satellite which tends to
change its altitude and orbit.
• Gas jets or momentum wheels are used to provide active
altitude control.
• The two methods to make the satellite that is present in
an orbit as stable:
1. Spinning the satellite
2. Three axes method