EMERGING TRENDS IN SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS

CHIAGOZIEM RONIC ENGINEERING, ENGINEERING OPTION, LEVEL JUNE, 2011

OUTLINE
Introduction Satellite Basics History of satellites Evolution of satellite technology Emerging trends in satellite technology Present and Emerging Applications of satellite technology Conclusion

INTRODUCTION
Satellites have only existed for barely 54 years, yet they have advanced rapidly to become a major provider of high tech global solutions. There has been a constant and steady evolution in the technology behind satellites. The emerging technologies and applications of satellite technology is discussed in this work.

SATELLITE BASICS
What is a Satellite A satellite is any object purposely placed in orbit around Earth, other planets or the Sun for the purpose of collecting information or communication via radio. Types of Satellites: According to application: Communications, weather, earth observation, navigation, military, research and scientific satellites According to orbit
Geosynchronous (GEO) 35,786 km, 3 can cover the earth, for direct broadcast, weather tracking and military surveillance. Medium Earth orbit (MEO) 8,000 20,000 km, oval-shaped Low Earth orbit (LEO) 500 2,000 km, for satellite voice and data communications.

HISTORY OF SATELLITE

1945 Arthur C. Clarkes visionary article on extraterrestrial relays describing GEO networks. 1957 Launch of first satellite (Sputnik 1) by the Russians. 1960 Launch of TIROS 1, the first weather satellite 1965 Launch of Early Bird, the first GEO satellite 1974 Launching of the first 3-axis stabilised satellite (Symphonie-1) 1976 First demonstration of Intersatellite Link 1978 Start of Global Positioning System (GPS) 1984 Start of Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) Russia 1990 Smaller earth station technology launched. First commercial satellite radio broadcast system filed. 1995 Appearance of LEO satellite network projects (Iridium, SkyBridge) 1998 Mobile experiments using ACTS (Advanced Communications Technology satellites) 2005 2009 Launching of Galileo project by the EU. A civilian satellite navigation satellite.

EVOLUTION OF SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY THROUGH THE AGES (MAIN HIGHLIGHTS)

The 1960s Spin-stabilized satellites, omni-directional antennas and later directional antennas The 1970s Three-axis stabilization, multiple spot beam frequency reuse. The 1980s Dual polarization frequency reuse. The 1990s On-board processing, switching and storage, all-digital satellite, multiple hopping beam antennas, Intersatellite link (ISL). The 21st Century Satellite radio, satellite internet, nanosatellite, LEO systems, satellite News Gathering, etc.

EVOLUTION OF SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY THROUGH THE AGES (continued)

EMERGING TRENDS IN SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY (21st CENTURY)

Some of the emerging trends in satellite technology are Leo systems In-space refuelling Nanosatellites Satellite News Gathering (SNG)

EMERGING TRENDS IN SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY (continued)

LEO SYSTEMS
Low Earth Orbit systems are networks of small satellites in LEO which provide global voice and data communication. Characterised by low propagation delay, multiple hopping frequency reuse, intersatellite link, etc. Classified into three:
Little LEOs e.g. Orbcomm, messaging, paging, email Big LEOs e.g. Iridium, voice, data, fax Broadband LEOs e.g. Skybridge, internet, voice, data, video, video conferencing, etc

Iridium LEO satellite constellation, consisting of 66 satellites.

EMERGING TRENDS IN SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY (continued)

IN-SPACE REFUELLING This is a new technology which plans to refuel satellites in space, either by sending other tanker satellites to space or creating fuel depots in low earth orbit. First demonstrated in 2007 by USA. The first in-orbit refuelling satellite is to be ready by 2015.

Artist Impression of the DARPA refuelling demonstration

EMERGING TRENDS IN SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY (continued)

NANOSATELLITES These satellites are of the order of 1 10kg. They are cheaper, more agile and more stable when controlled. They act as test beds for testing new satellite technologies. It has a lot of present and potential applications, such as remote satellite inspection, deep-space travel, for conducting space research and other experiments, etc.

Delfi-C3 nanosatellite with deployed solar panels.

EMERGING TRENDS IN SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY (continued)

SATELLITE NEWS GATHERING (SNG) A field of Electronic News Gathering which began in the late 90s. This enables the transmission of news signals from remote locations to studios or for broadcasting. It can either be using news trucks or videophones, equipped for satellite communication.

SNG Outdoor Broadcasting Trucks

Used by major news channels like CNN, BBC etc and places of worship like DCLM, TBN, etc for broadcast transmissions from remote locations.
Satellite Video phone

APPLICATIONS OF SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY

Navigation Medicine Education Global Positioning Agriculture Geodesy Geo-informatics and monitoring Remote sensing Telecommunication Television Internet services Military reconnaissance

CONCLUSIONS Satellite technology is developing rapidly and breaking new grounds every year. As long as research remains ongoing, nothing might be impossible in the world of satellite technology.

QUESTIONS?