SPACE CRAFT

SUBSYSTEMS
(SATELLITE COMMUNICATION)
Presented by
NEERAJA K S
A Satellite’s Communication system can be classified into
two segments

Space segment

Earth segment (Ground segment)

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Major subsystems of the space craft

1. Power Subsystem

2. Attitude and Orbit Control Subsystem(AOCS)

3. Telemetry Tracking and Command(TT&C)

4. Thermal Control Subsystem

5. Communication Subsystem

6. Antenna Subsystem
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 Power Subsystem
 Primary source – Solar cells

 Array of cells used in series or parallel connections

 Rectangular solar sail / Cylindrical array

 NiCd / NiH2 batteries are used for backup

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 Attitude and Orbital Control subsystems
 Attitude - Orientation of the satellite in space

 Disturbance Torque :
 External : Gravitational field of earth & Moon, Solar radiation,
meteorite impacts
 Internal : Motor bearing friction, antenna movement

 Horizon detectors –IR sensors on each quadrant

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 Restoring Torque :

 Passive attitude control - Stabilizing torque

(Spin stabilization)

 Active attitude control - Corrective torque

(Momentum wheels, EM coils)

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Telemetry Tracking & Command
Subsystem
 Controlling the orbit & altitude

 Monitoring the sensors

 Switching ON/OFF the communication subsytem

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 Telemetry

 Data from sensors of spacecraft are sent to earth station

 Digitization, FSK/PSK modulation

 Low data rate

 Alarms for abnormal parameters

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 Tracking

 Finding position of satellite in space

 Much required during orbit transfer & drift phase

 Velocity and acceleration sensors

 Adequate no of earth station are maintained

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 Command

 Status of various subsystems are sent to earth station and

corresponding command from earth station are received

 Data processor – Encryption

 Controller – Control code in TDM format

Backup system for use during launch phase,

main TT&C failure

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 Thermal Control Subsystem

 Earth reflections from sun and earth, heat generated

from equipments present in satellite affects the
thermal stability of an satellite

 To maintain temperature stable :

 Thermal blankets
 Radiation mirrors
 Heaters

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 Antenna Subsystem
 Antennas present are used for both transmission and
reception

 Directional or omni-directional
 Parabolic reflector,
 Horn,
 biconical antennas

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