SATELLITE SUBSYSTEMS

Prepared by: Keilla Marie R. Leopando, ECE,

CCNA
SATELLITE SUBSYSTEM
Bus-refers to the basic satellite structure itself and the subsystems that
support the satellite

Payload-equipment that provides the service or services intended of

the satellite

Bus Payload

Physical Structure Transponder

Altitude and Orbit Control Satellite Antenna
System (AOCS)
Power System
Thermal Control
Telemetry, Tracking &
Monitoring (TTC & M)
 SATELLITE BUS
I. Physical structure
-basic shape of the structure depends of the method of stabilization employed to
keep the satellite stable and pointing in the desired direction
A. Two Method of Stabilization
Spin Stabilization
-is usually cylindrical in shape, because the satellite is required to be
mechanically balanced about an axis, so that it can be maintained in orbit by
spinning on its axis.
Three Axis Stabilization
-is maintained in space with stabilizing elements for each of the three axes
-The entire body of the spacecraft remains fixed in space, relative to the earth
 SATELLITE BUS
II. Power Subsystem
The electrical power for operating equipment on a
communications satellite is obtained primarily fromsolar cells
 The radiation on a satellite from the sun has an intensity
averaging about 1.4 kW/𝑚2. Solar cells operate at an
efficiency of 20–25 % at beginning of life (BOL), and can
degrade to 5–10 % at end of life (EOL), usually considered to
be 15 years.
All spacecraft must also carry storage batteries to provide
power during launch and during eclipse periods when sun
blockage occurs.
 SATELLITE BUS
III. Attitude Control
• The attitude of a satellite refers to its orientation in space
with respect to earth.
• Attitude control is necessary so that the antennas, which
usually have narrow directional beams, are pointed
correctly towards earth.
• Several forces can interact to affect the attitude of the
spacecraft, including gravitational forces from the sun,
moon, and planets; solar pressures acting on the spacecraft
body, antennas or solar panels; and earth’s
magnetic field.
 SATELLITE BUS
IV.Orbital Control
• the process required to maintain a satellite in its proper orbit
location.
• is usually maintained with the same thruster system as is
attitude control.

V. Thermal Control
• designed to control the large thermal gradients generated in
the satellite
SATELLITE BUS
PARTS OF THERMAL CONTROL

PART FUNCTION
Thermal blankets provide insulation
and thermal shields
Radiation mirrors protect critical
equipment
Heat pumps relocate heat from
power devices
Thermal heaters maintain adequate
temperature
conditions
 TRACKING, TELEMETRY, COMMAND, AND
MONITORING

Tracking refers to the determination of the current

orbit, position, and movement of the spacecraft.

The telemetry function involves the collection of data

from sensors on-board the spacecraft and the relay of
this information to the ground.

The command system relays specific control and

operations information from the ground to the
spacecraft, often in response to telemetry information
received from the spacecraft.
FADE MARGIN
FADE MARGIN

1. Consider a space diversity microwave radio

system operating at an RF carrier frequency of
1.8 GHz. Each station has a 2.4 meter diameter
parabolic antenna that is fed by a 100 m of air
filled coaxial cable. The terrain is smooth and
the area has a humid climate. The distance
between station is 40 km. A reliability objective
99. 99 % is desired. Determine the fade
margin.
31.41dB
FADE MARGIN FOR RAYLEIGH FADING

2. A link with minimum unfaded C/N specified as

20 decibels. What will be the fade margin
requirements to meet objective of 99.95 % time
unavailability? 33.56dB
FRIIS SPACE EQUATION
SATELLITE ORBITAL VELOCITY

4 𝑥 10 11
v=
𝑑+6400
v=velocity (m/s)
d=distance from the earth’s
surface
SAMPLE PROBLEM

3. Calculate the orbital

period of geostationary
satellite in circular orbit
36,000 km above the
earth’s surface
24hrs
SATELLITE HEIGHT

3 2
𝑔𝑇 𝑅 2
h= 2 −𝑅
4𝜋
T=satellite period
G =gravitational acceleration
(9.81 x 10^-3 km/s^2)
SATELLITE ORBITAL DYNAMICS

2/3
∝= 𝐴𝑃
Where:
∝=semi major axis(km)
A=42241.0979(unitless)
P=mean solar earth days
SATELLITE RANGE

d (km)= 𝑅+ℎ 2 − (𝑅 𝑐𝑜𝑠 β)2

Where:
R=true earth radius (6370 km)
h= height of satellite
Β=angle of elevation
SAMPLE PROBLEM

4. Calculate the length

path to a geostationary
satellite from an earth
station where an angle of
elevation is 30 degrees
39000 km
SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVER
FIGURE OF MERIT
𝑮
( dB )=G( dB )-10log(T Ant + T Rx )
𝑻

Where:

G/T=Figure of merit for a satellite or earth station

receiver
G (decibels) =receiving antenna gain
T Ant= effective noise temperature of antenna
T Rx=the actual noise temperature of the receiver
ANTENNA NOISE TEMPERATURE

𝑳−𝟏 𝟐𝟗𝟎+𝑻𝒔𝒌𝒚
T Ant =
𝑳

Where:
T Ant= effective noise temperature of antenna and its
feedline, referred to receiver antenna input
T Sky=the effective sky temperature
L= the equivalent loss in feedline and antenna
SAMPLE PROBLEM

5. An earth station has a dish antenna

which sees a sky temperature of 30 K.
The antenna is connected to the
receiver with a feedline having 1.5
decibels loss. Find the antenna loss
temperature and the overall noise
temperature for the system if the
receiver equivalent noise temperature is
20 K. 125.6 K
NOISE DENSITY

• The amount of noise power present in one hertz bandwidth due to a

noise power

No(dBW)=10logPN – 10logB
No(dBW)=10logK+10logTEQ
No= PN/B=TEQBK/B=TEQK
No= noise density ( W/Hz or d B W since per Hz is implied in its
definition)
PN=total noise power ( W)
B= system bandwidth
K=Boltzmann constant
Teq=equivalent noise temperature
SAMPLE PROBLEM

6. Given with an equivalent

noise bandwidth of 8 MHz
and a total noise power of
0.126 picowatts, determine
the noise density.
CARRIER TO NOISE DENSITY RATIO

𝑪 𝑮
= 𝑬𝑰𝑹𝑷 𝒅𝑩𝑾 − 𝑭𝑺𝑳 𝒅𝑩 + − 𝐊(𝒅𝑩𝑾)
𝑵𝒐 𝑻

Where:
C/No =carrier to noise density ratio
EIRP= effective isotropic radiated power
FSL=free space loss
G/T=figure merit
K=Boltzmann’s constant ( expressed in dBW )
SAMPLE PROBLEM

7. An earth station with G/T=25 decibels is used as

a ground terminal to receive a signal from satellite
at a distance of 36,000 km. The satellite
transmitter has a power of 40 W and an antenna
gain of 30 decibels. Determine the carrier to noise
density ratio at the receiver if the operating
frequency is 12 GHz, assume that the losses
between the satellite transmitter and its antenna is
0.5 decibels
94.01 dB
ENERGY PER BIT

E b=P t T b

Where:
E b=energy of a single bit
P t=transmitter output power
T b=time of a single bit
SAMPLE PROBLEM

8. An earth station has a

transmitter power of 1500 W
Calculate the energy per bit
for a transmission rate of 100
MBps
15µJ
SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS POWER
BUDGET

𝑷𝒓
( )d B= G T dB + G R dB –FSL
𝑷𝒕

Where:
Pr=received power
Pt=transmitted power
Gt=gain of transmitting antenna
Gr=gain of receiving antenna
F=frequency (MHz)
APPLICATIONS OF DUCTING