Balochistan University Of Information Technology,

Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

Faculty of ICT
Department of Telecom Engineering

Assignment no.1
Class: BS (Electronic) Semester 8

th

Course: Satellite Communications

Date: 11.05.2015
Instructor: Muhammad Bux

Balochistan University Of Information Technology,

Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

Name: Muhammad Zubair

Roll No:19457

Q.1
Describe
briefly
the
main
advantages
offered
by
satellite
communications.
Answer:
Cost Effectiveness - Cost of satellite capacity does not increase with the number of
users/receive sites, or with the distance between communication points. Whether
crossing continents or staying local, satellite connection cost is distance insensitive.

Balochistan University Of Information Technology,

Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

Global Availability - Communications satellites cover all land masses and there is
growing capacity to serve maritime and even aeronautical markets. Customers in rural
and remote regions around the world who cannot obtain high speed Internet access
from a terrestrial provider are increasingly relying on satellite communications.
Superior Reliability - Satellite communications can operate independently from
terrestrial infrastructure. When terrestrial outages occur from man-made and natural
events, satellite connections remain operational.
Superior Performance - Satellite is unmatched for broadcast applications like
television. For two-way IP networks, the speed, uniformity and end-to-end control of
today's advanced satellite solutions are resulting in greater use of satellite by
corporations, governments and consumers.

Balochistan University Of Information Technology,

Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

Immediacy and Scalability - Additional receive sites, or nodes on a network, can

readily be added, sometimes within hours. All it takes is ground-based equipment.
Satellite has proven its value as a provider of "instant infrastructure" for commercial,
government and emergency relief communications.
Versatility and More - Satellites effectively support on a global basis all forms of
communications ranging from simple point-of-sale validation to bandwidth intensive
multimedia applications. Satellite solutions are highly flexible and can operate
independently or as part of a larger network.
Q.2 Discuss why uplink frequency of satellite is higher than downlink
frequency.

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Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

Answer:
I searched a lot but couldnt find any convincing reason for why the uplink is greater
then downlink. But still the reasons which I could find are:
As the frequency increases the amount of interference caused by the atmosphere
decreases. So as high frequency signal has more signal energy in it so it can
penetrate the atmosphere easily.
The uplink frequency is kept higher than downlink frequency because as the
frequency increases wavelength decreases so it is more practical to keep size of
transponder in satellite much less.
Q.3 Describe the history of satellite communications.

Balochistan University Of Information Technology,

Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

Answer:
A satellite is basically the Secondary body that is rotating/ revolving around the
primary body that is the Earth. Satellites nowadays are used for many purposes like
the communication, military, broadcasting and weather etc.
The journey of the satellites started from Soviet Union who launched the first
satellite on the 4th of October 1957 named Sputnik-1 having the life time of 3months. Soviet launched another satellite named Sputnik-2 having Laika (dog) as
the only passenger.

Balochistan University Of Information Technology,

Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

Then in 1958 USA launched its first satellite named Explorer-1 under the project
Project Vanguard. Then in the same year on 18 th December USA launched the first
communicational satellite named SCORE (Signal Communication by Orbital RElay)
containing the message of peace by the president Eisenhover Peace on earth, Good
will toward men, it lasted in space for the period of 12-days.
Then in 1960 the first Passive satellite named Echo-1 was launched by USA and in
the same year the first ever active satellite was launched named Courier-1B.

Balochistan University Of Information Technology,

Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

In 1962, the world's first active communications satellite, Telstar 1, was launched.
This satellite was built by Telesat's predecessors at AT&T and Bell Laboratories.
During its seven months in operation, Telstar 1 dazzled the world with live images of
sports, entertainment and news. It was a simple single-transponder low-earth-orbit
(LEO) satellite, but its technology of receiving radio signals from the ground, and
then amplifying and retransmitting them over a large portion of the earth's surface,
set the standard for all communications satellites that followed.
Q.4 Discuss the role of Pakistan in launching satellites in low earth orbit
(LEO) and geostationary orbits (GEO) regions.
Answer:

Balochistan University Of Information Technology,

Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

Pakistan initiated its journey in the field of space technology in the year 1961 when
the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) was established
by the President Field Marshal Ayub Khan on the advice of Prof. Abdus Salam.
SUPARCO is an executive and bureaucratic space agency of the Government of
Pakistan, responsible for the nation's public and civil space program and for
aeronautics and aerospace research. Its mission statement and objective is to
conduct peaceful research in space technology and promote the technology for
socio-economic uplift of the country. Since its creation in 1961, the SUPARCO has
achieved numerous milestones, including the first successful spaceflight of country's
first weather expendable launch rocket, Rehbar-I.

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Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

The country's first satellite, Badr-I, was built by the SUPARCO and launched by the
People's Republic of China in 1990 (The satellite successfully completed its designed
life and it was termed by the government as "key success "to SUPARCO).
SUPARCO launched the second experimental satellite BADR-B on 10 Dec 2001.
In August 2006, Peoples Republic of China signed an agreement with Pakistan to
conduct joint research in space technology. On 11 th August 2011 with the cooperation of China Pakistan launched its first communication satellite PakSat-1R, the
satellite was launched from China and is working successfully. According to SUPARCO
five GEO satellite and six LEO satellite will be launched in between 2011 till 2040.

Balochistan University Of Information Technology,

Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

Q.5 Explain the significant effects which reduces the angular velocity of
satellites in low earth orbit (LEO) and geostationary orbits (GEO) regions.
Answer:
For LEO orbit the satellites does not appear stationary to earth stations. The LEO
orbit can also be used to cover a polar region which GEO cant accomplish.
Objects in LEO encounter atmospheric drag in the form of gases in the thermosphere
or exosphere depending on the orbit height due to which angular velocity of a
satellite in low earth orbit reduces.

Balochistan University Of Information Technology,

Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

GEO orbit satellites are placed in orbit such that they remain stationary relative to a
fixed spot on earth. If a satellite is placed at 35900 km above the earth its angular
velocity is equal to that of the earth but due to the gravitational pull of the sun and
moons its angular velocity is reduced.
Q.6 Example 2.2, Example 2.5, Example 2.6.
EXAMPLE 2.2: Calculate the semi major axis for the satellite parameters
given in Table 2.1

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Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

Solution:
The mean motion is given in table
2.1 is:
n = 14.22296917.1 /day
Converting to Rad/Sec as:
no :=n.2.pi
no=14.22296917.1
no=89.32024639/86400

no=1.033799148*10-3
no2=1.068740678*10-6
And
= 3.986005.10 14 .m3 .sec-2
According to Keplers 3rd Law
a :=(/no2)1/3
a=((3.986005/1.068740678)*1020)1/3
Semi major axis=a=7197.29km

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Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

EXAMPLE 2.5: Determine the rate of regression of the nodes and the rate
of rotation of the line of apsides for the satellite parameters specified in
table 2.1.the value for a from example2.2 can be used.
Solution:
Inclination=i=98.6328 deg
no = 2.pi .n
Eccentricity=e=.0011501
no=89.38354307 rad/day
Semi major axis=a=7197.29km
K = n. K1/a2. (1-e2)2
Mean motion=n=14.23304826/day
After putting the values in the above
Known constant:
K1: =
formula we will get
2
66063.1704 km
K= 6.544 . deg/day

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Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

Now
= K. (2-2.5sin (i)2)
= -K .cos(i)
=6.544(2-2.5(0.98867)2)
= -6.544*-0.1501
=6.544(-0.44)
= 0.9822 deg/day
=-2.903 deg/day
EXAMPLE 2.6: Calculate for the satellite in example 2.5 the new values for
and one period after epoch.
Solution:
= 0.9822 deg/day
From the table 2.1 we know the
=-2.903 deg/day
values of
Mean motion=n=14.23304826/day

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Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

o= Argument of perigee=113.5534
deg
o=Right ascension of the ascending
node=251.5324 deg
Period=PA=1/n
So
PA=1/14.23304826

PA=0.070259018
= o+ . PA
=251.5324+0.9822(0.070259018)
=251.601 deg
= o+ . PA
=113.5534+
(2.903(0.070259018))
=113.349 deg

Balochistan University Of Information Technology,

Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

Q.7 List the various applications and services of satellite.

Answer:
Few of the major services and applications that the satellites are used for are as
under:

Balochistan University Of Information Technology,

Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

Navigation: Navigation satellite is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the

purposes of navigation. The GPS system is the first core element of the satellite
navigation system widely available to civilian users.
Communication: A communication satellite is a satellite stationed in space for the
purposes of telecommunications. Like telephony, Television and Radio and Satellite
Broadband.
Weather: Satellites can also be used for the purpose of weather forecasting.
Earth Observation: from the satellite we can also observe the following aspects of
Earth:

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Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

Agriculture
Forestry
Geology
Environment
Few of the other application and services involve:
Military, broadcasting satellite service, fixed satellite services, mobile satellite
services etc.
Q.8 Why is there a need for satellite communication?
Answer:
The satellite communication has totally changed the world of communication.
Broadcasting on the other hand depends to a very high degree on satellites. New

Balochistan University Of Information Technology,

Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

services such as HDTV and 3D television require more and more of the finite natural
resource of the electromagnetic spectrum (Bandwidth). Internet access by satellite,
considered as an efficient way to support under-developed regions.
In military sector providing robust and sophisticated secure communication network.
Traditional telecommunication links used direct "cables "linking different areas. As a
result of the cost of installation and maintenance of these cables, satellites were
seen as ideal alternative. They provided a high bandwidth and were able to operate
for many years and are considered cheap.
Satellite communication allows us to learn more about our surroundings than ever
before.

Balochistan University Of Information Technology,

Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

Q.9 What are the primary factors needed for defining an orbit of a satellite?
Answer:
There are 8 elements to define an orbit. These elements are also called Keplerian
Elements after the German astronomer Johannes Kepler .Kepler discovered that
planets moved in elliptical orbits rather than circular orbits. The following are
Keplerian Elements:
(1)Inclination
(2)Elevation
(3)Semi major axis
(4)Eccentricity

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(5)Mean anomaly
(6)Argument of perigee
(7)Inclination
(8)Right ascension of ascending mode

Q.10 List the names of SUPARCO space centers located in the Pakistan.
Explain the history, functions and the development of SUPARCO?
Answer:
1) Space application & research center Karachi

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2) Remote Sensing Applications Directorate Karachi

3) Space and Atmospheric Sciences Directorate Karachi
Space Application Div
Space Science Div
4) National Center for Remote Sensing and Geo informatics (NCRG) Karachi
5) Satellite Research & Development Center for Remote Sensing Satellite Lahore.
6) Satellite Research & Development Center for Communication Satellite Lahore
7) Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TT&C) Facility Lahore
8) Space Application & Research Cell Lahore
9) Satellite Ground Station Islamabad

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Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

10) Ionospheric Research Station Islamabad

11) Geomagnetic Observatory Islamabad
12) Space & Atmospheric Research Station Multan
13) Space Application & Research Center Peshawar
FUNCTIONs OF SUPARCO:
Undertake research and conduct pilot studies based on the applications of Satellite
Remote Sensing data and Geographic Information System technology to natural
resources surveying, mapping and environmental monitoring

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Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

Undertake research studies in space and atmospheric sciences including satellite

meteorology, satellite radiance, troposphere/stratosphere studies, atmospheric
pollution, satellite geodesy and astronomy
Undertake research studies relating to the ionosphere and associated radio wave
propagation and geomagnetism
Development, design, fabrication, assembly, and launching of:
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Communication satellites for voice, video, Direct-to-home TV broadcast services and
digital data transfers
Earth observation satellites for various scientific/technological applications

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Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

Sounding rockets for upper and middle atmospheric research

Establishment and operation of ground receiving stations for
Acquisition of SRS data for earth resources surveying, mapping and environmental
Monitoring studies
Acquisition of data for atmospheric/meteorological studies
Transmitting and receiving signals from communication satellites
Reception of signals from ships, boats and vehicles in distress under the satellite-aided
search and rescue COSPAS-SARSAT programme
Establishment and operation of facilities for tracking satellites/rockets to determine
their Orbital parameters, trajectories,

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Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

Development for various scientific & technological experiments

Development of software for different functions

DEVELOPMENT OF SUPARCO
Towards late 1990s, SUPARCO planned an Earth Observation Satellite System (EOSS),
which by 2006/7 was reconfigured and renamed as Remote Sensing Satellite System
(RSSS), comprising of two remote sensing satellites, one carrying an electro-optical
payload and the other a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).

Balochistan University Of Information Technology,

Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

The PRSS-1 project is currently under the process of approval from the Government of
Pakistan. The planned satellite will carry a high-resolution electro-optical payload with
designed service life
of 05 years. The satellite is envisaged to be designed, developed and launched in a low
Earth orbit by 2015/16, through cooperation/ collaboration with reputed international
satellite manufacturers. Pakistans first communication satellite was launched on 12 Aug
2011. The satellite was developed and launched by the China Great Wall Industry
Corporation (CGWIC). The satellite is located at the 38 degrees East orbital slot. The
service life of the satellite is 15 years. The commercial services of the satellite were
inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Pakistan on 05 Nov 2011 from the satellite ground

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Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

station located near Lahore. The satellite is providing satisfactory services to a broad
spectrum of national and international customers.