Satellite Orbits and

Inclination
(Look Angle Determination)

BY: ASHWIN RAJPUT CO17513

ABHISHEK ROHILLA LCO17564
Outline
 Sub-satellite point
 Look Angles
 Azimuth Angle (A)
 Elevation Angle (E)
 Slant Range
 Earth Coverage Angle
Sub-satellite point
 Point at which a line between the satellite and the center of the Earth intersects the Earth’s
surface
 Location of the point expressed in terms of latitude and longitude
 Latitude – Often called parallels or circles of latitude, latitudes are imaginary circles parallel
to the Equator. Latitudes specify the north-south position of a location on the globe.
 Longitude – Longitudes are geographical positioning markers that run from the geographical
North Pole to the geographical South Pole, intersecting the Equator. They meet at both
Poles, and specify the east-west position of a location.
Look angles
 The angles (coordinates) to which an earth station must be pointed to communicate with the
geo-synchronous satellite. These angles are -
 1. Azimuth Angle (A)
2. Elevation Angle (E)
 ‘A’ and ‘E’ are required for proper pointing of the Earth station antenna.
 Calculated on the basis of the knowledge of latitude (Φ) and relative longitude (θ) in
degrees, of the earth station.
Azimuth Angle (A)
 The angle by which the antenna, pointing at the horizon must be rotated clockwise around its
vertical axis from the geographical north, to bring the antenna boresight (axis of maximum
radiated power of a directional antenna) into the vertical plane containing the satellite
direction.
 Ranges from 0° to 360°.
 Calculation of Azimuth angle

 Step 1: Determining the value of an intermediate angle (γ) – (two ways)

 a. from the following chart between Φ and θ
 Calculation of Azimuth angle

 Step 1: Determining the value of an intermediate angle (γ) – (two ways)

 b. from the geometry of satellite orbit in the reference system

(γ) = tan-1 ( tan θ/sin Φ)

 Calculation of Azimuth angle

 Step 2: Deriving ‘A’ from angle ‘γ’ using the following table -

Case1: ‘Es’ in northern hemisphere, with Earth station quadrant ‘A’

 ‘S’ to south-east of ‘Es’  NW  180-γ

 ‘S’ to south-west of ‘Es’  NE  180+γ

Case2: ‘Es’ in southern hemisphere, with

 ‘S’ to north-east of ‘Es’  SW  γ
 ‘S’ to north-west of ‘Es’  SE  360-γ
Elevation Angle (E)
 The angle by which the antenna boresight should be rotated in the vertical plane that
contains the satellite direction from the horizontal to the satellite direction.
 Ranges from 0° to 90°.

Calculation of Elevation angle

 Step 1: from the previously shown chart between Φ and θ
 (or)
 from the formula

(E) = tan-1 [cos θ cos Φ – ( Re/ (Re +Ro ))] / [1-(cos θ cos Φ)2]1/2

Where,

Re = 6378 km (Earth’s Radius)

Ro = 35786 km (Satellite’s height from earth’s centre
Earth Coverage and Slant Range
 Communication with a satellite is possible if the earth station is in the
footprint of satellite.

 Earth – satellite link is established only when the earth station falls in the
beamwidth (aperture angle from where most of the power is radiated) of
satellite antenna.

 To locate the earth station in the footprint of the satellite, information about
‘Slant Range’ and ‘Coverage angle/area’ is required.
Slant Range
 Consider the following figure, showing Elevation angle and Coverage angle with the reference
to a geo-synchronous satellite -

 The Range ‘R’ (slant range) from satellite to earth station ‘E S’ -



 (R2) = RO2 + 2RE (RO + RE) (1- cos Φ cos θ)

 For Re/Ro = 0.178 ,

 (R/Ro)2 = 1 + 0.42 (1- cos Φ cos θ)


In terms of elevation angle ‘E’ -

 R2 = (Re + Ro )2 + Re2 - 2Re (Re - Ro). sin [E + sin-1 (Re . cos E/(Re + Ro))]



Coverage Angle
 Consider the following figure, showing Elevation angle and Coverage angle with the reference
to a geo-synchronous satellite -


The ‘Communication Coverage Angle’ -


 (2α) = 2 sin-1 (Re . cos E/(Re + Ro))


The apex angle of the cone in the figure, called the ‘Earth Coverage
angle’ is important in design of a global coverage antenna -

 (2αmax.) = 2 sin-1 (Re /(Re + Ro)) = 17.4°

 ‘Central Angle’, represents the angular radius of the satellite footprint -


 (θs) = 180° - (90° + E + α) = 90° - E - α
