1) What do these applications

have in common?

2) What is the channel of

communication?

3) How does a Global

Positioning System (GPS) work?
Topic: Satellites in Communication
System
Lesson Objectives
• discuss the use of satellites in communication;
• recall orbital equations including orbital speed,
orbital acceleration and forces
• differentiate geostationary and polar satellites
for communicating information
• enumerate some relative merits of both
geostationary and polar orbiting satellites for
communication information
 Assessment Criteria
• discuss the use of satellites in communication;
• calculate for orbital speed, acceleration and
forces correctly
• differentiate geostationary and polar satellites
for communicating information
• enumerate some relative merits of both
geostationary and polar orbiting satellites for
communication information

Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite
networks will orbit at distances of about 8000 circular. This orbit can be tilted at the poles of
miles from the earth's surface. Signals
transmitted from a MEO satellite travel a
shorter distance.
The Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites are
mainly classified into three categories
namely, little LEOs, big LEOs, and Mega-
LEOs. LEOs will orbit at a distance of 500 to
1000 miles above the earth's surface
A Geo-Synchronous Earth Orbit
(GEO) satellite is one which is placed at an
altitude of 22,300 miles above the Earth. This
orbit is synchronized with a side real day (i.e.,
23hours 56minutes). This orbit can have
inclination and eccentricity. It may not be
the earth. But it appears stationary when
observed from the Earth.
The same geo-synchronous orbit, if it is
circular and in the plane of equator, it is called
as geo-stationary orbit.
 Introduction/Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFypCugyFoM&safe=active

Questions
1) Define a satellite.
2) What is the Earth’s artificial satellite?
3) What is/are the purpose/s of artificial satellite?
4) How does a satellite work once it is put up in its
orbit?
5) What is a geostationary orbit? Geostationary
satellite?
6) What is a polar orbit? What is its use?
 Mark Scheme
1) Define a satellite.
Answer: A satellite is a body moving in an orbit
around a planet
2) What is the Earth’s natural satellite?
Answer: Moon
3) What is/are the purpose/s of artificial satellites?
Answer: Communication and weather
monitoring
 Mark Scheme
4) How does a satellite work once it is put up in its
orbit?
Answer: Signals are transmitted to the satellite using
the translator or uplink and the satellite transforms the
signal to the receiver or downlink.
 Mark Scheme

5) What is a geostationary orbit? Geostationary

satellite?
Answer: A geostationary orbit is when an artificial
satellite’s orbit lies directly above the Earth’s equator
with a period equal to the Earth’s rotational period. A
satellite placed in this orbit is called geostationary
satellite.
 Mark Scheme
6) What is a polar satellite? What is its use?
Satellites which orbit through north and south
poles are called polar satellites. Polar satellites
are used in weather monitoring.
 Summary
What keeps a satellite in orbit?
Newton’s First Law: If there was no gravitational force,
the satellite would move in a straight line
 Mathematics of Satellite Motion
• If the satellite moves in circular motion, then the net
centripetal force is provided by the gravitational force
acting upon this orbiting satellite.
 Satellite Communications
Do
wn
c y,f up lin
en k
q u fre
fre qu
link en
U p cy
,f
do
wn

fdown < fup

Typically, fup = 6GHz  fdown = 4GHz
(Alternatives, 14/11GHz or 30/20GHz)
P. Lovatt & Hari.R
 Basic Principle of Satellite Communication

fd Figure shows a 6/4 GHz

Hz band.
ow
n =4
6 G GH
= z Alternatives are 14/11
f up
GHz and the 30/20 GHz
band.

• The two carrier frequencies are different to prevent the

satellite’s high power transmitted signal swamping its reception
of the very low power signal that it receives.
• There is no interference of the actual information being carried
by the waves because this is stored as a modulation of the
carrier waves.
 Why use satellites if the transmitter can
transmit more or less directly to the
receiver?
• Long-distance communication on these wavebands is
unreliable. Sky waves rely on ionospheric reflection.
These layers of ions vary in height and density according
to the time of day. In hilly areas, surface waves give rise
to regions of poor reception where there are ‘shadows’.
• The wavebands are already filled by existing broadcasts.
• The available bandwidths are too narrow to carry the
required amount of information.
Other reasons
Geostationary satellites
Polar Satellites
Global Positioning (GPS)

P. Lovatt & Hari.R

Worksheet