ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

SATELLITE CATEGORY L T P CREDIT

ECT424
COMMUNICATION PEC 2 1 0 3

Preamble: This course aims to impart the basic knowledge of satellite communication and its
applications.

Prerequisite: ECT 305Analog &Digital communication

Course Outcomes: After the completion of the course the student will be able to

CO1 Define satellite communications& possible satellite orbits.

CO2 Describe satellite communication subsystems& launching mechanisms of satellites.

Calculate link budgets.Provide an in-depth treatment of satellite communication
CO3
systems operation and planning
CO4 Analyze the various methods of satellite access.
CO5 Discuss various applications of satellite communications

Mapping of course outcomes with program outcomes

PO1 PO2 PO3 PO4 PO5 PO6 PO7 PO8 PO9 PO10 PO11 PO12
CO1 3 3
CO2 3 3
CO3 3 3 3
CO4 3 3 2
CO5 3 3

AssessmentPattern

Bloom’sCategory Continuous Assessment Tests End Semester Examination

1 2
Remember 15 15 20
Understand 15 15 20
Apply 10 10 30
Analyse 10 10 30
Evaluate
Create

Mark distribution

Total Marks CIE ESE ESE Duration

150 50 100 3 hours

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Continuous Internal Evaluation Pattern:

Attendance : 10 marks
Continuous Assessment Test (2 numbers) : 25 marks
Course Seminar &Assignment :15 marks

It is mandatory that a course seminar shall be undertaken by each student for this subject.
The courseseminar of 5 to 10 minute durationshall be presented by taking any topic
related with satellite communication approved by the faculty. Studentshall be awarded 5
marks for presentation of topic and a brief report. Thereport has
tobesubmittedforacademicauditing. In addition two assignments may be given for 5
marks each which can be a class or home assignment.

End Semester Examination Pattern: There will be two parts; Part A and Part B. Part A
contain10 questions with 2 questions from each module, having 3 marks for each
question. Students should answer all questions. Part B contains 2 questions from each
module of which student should answer any one. Each question can have maximum of 2
sub-divisions and carry 14 marks.

Course Level Assessment Questions

Course Outcome 1 (CO1): Define satellite communications& possible satellite orbits.

1. Explain the different types of satellite orbits?
2. Describe various orbital elements
3. Describe the effect of orbits on satellite performance?

Course Outcome 2 (CO2): Describe satellite communication subsystems& launching

mechanisms of satellites.
1. Describe the major subsystems of a communication satellite .
2. Describe the significance of antenna subsystem why uplink and downlink
frequency different in satellite communication are different.

Course Outcome 3 (CO3): Calculate link budgets. Provide an in-depth treatment of

satellite communication systems operation and planning
1. Calculation of total link loss for various sky condition
2. Calculation of Effective Isotropic Radiated Power required for various Sky
Conditions.

Course Outcome 4 (CO4): Analyze the various methods of satellite access

1.Describe various multiple Access Technique.
2. Compare the uplink power requirement for FDMA and TDMA

Course Outcome 5 (CO5): Discuss various applications of satellite communications

1. Explain the Basic Principle of navigation Satellite.
2. Explain Satellite Radio Broadcasting.

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SYLLABUS

Module 1: Satellite Orbits:

Introduction to Satellite Communication,Historical background, Basic concepts of
Satellite Communications,Kepler’slaws of planetary motion, types of satellite orbits,orbit
determination.Definitions of terms for Earth-Orbiting Satellites, Orbital
Elements,Apogee and Perigee Heights,satellite stabilization,orbital effects onsatellites
performance. Antenna Look Angles, The Polar Mount Antenna, Limits of Visibility,
launch systems for geostationary satellites.

Module 2: Satellite System:

The Space Segment
Introduction, The Power Supply, Attitude&Orbit Control, Satellite stabilization, Station
Keeping, Thermal Control, TT&C Subsystem, Transponders, Antenna Subsystem
The Earth Segment
Types of earth station, architecture & design considerations .Transmit-Receive Earth
Station ,
Wideband receiver, the input demultiplexer, the power amplifier, Satellite tracking.

Module3: The Satellite Link design :

Introduction,Transmission Theory,System Noise Temperature and G/T Ratio, Design of
Downlinks
Ku-Band GEO Satellite Systems, Uplink Design , Design for Specified CNR: Combining
CNR and C/I Values in Satellite Links ,System Design for Specific Performance.
Regional &global satellite systems INSAT, INTELSAT& INMARSAT.

Module 4: Modulation & Multiple Access

Introduction,Digital Modulation techniques preferred in satellites, Multiple Access
,Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) ,
Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Transmitter Power in TDMA Networks,
Demand Assignment Multiple Access (DAMA), Random Access (RA) , Packet Radio
Systems and Protocols, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)

Module 5: Satellite Application:

Introduction, Frequency bands, , Comparison between Satellite & terrestrial networks,
Satellite Telephony,SatelliteTelevision,DTH,Satellite Radio broadcasting,Remote
Sensing Satellite;Classification, orbits,payloads,Weather ForecastingSatellites:Orbits,
payloads.
Navigation Satellite:Basic principles of satellite navigation, GPS Position Location
Principle functional segments of GPS, Indian Contribution to positioning systems. NGSO
satellite systems.

Text Books
1. Dennis Roddy, Satellite Communications, 4th Edition, McGraw- Hill International
edition, 2006
2. Timothy Pratt,Jeremy E,Allnutt, Satellite Communications, Wiley, 3rd Edition,
October 2019

Reference Books
1. Gerard Maral,Michel Bousquet,Zhili Sun, Satellite Communications Systems:
Systems, Techniques and Technology,Wiley,6thedition,April 2020
2. Anil K. Maini, Varsha Agrawal, Satellite Communications, Wiley India Pvt. Ltd.,

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2015
3. TRI.T. HA, Digital Satellite Communications, McGraw-Hill,second edition

Course Content & Lecture Schedule

Sr. No. Content Total Hrs

Satellite Orbits
Introduction to Satellite Communication, Historical background, 1
Basic concepts of Satellite Communication
Kepler’s laws of planetary motion, types of satellite orbits, orbit 2
Module 1 determination
Definitions of terms for Earth-Orbiting Satellites, Orbital Elements, 1
Apogee and Perigee Heights,
Satellite stabilization, orbital effects on satellites performance. 1
Antenna Look Angles, The Polar Mount Antenna, Limits of Visibility 1

Launch systems for geostationary satellites. 1

Satellite System
The Space Segment 2
Introduction, The Power Supply, Attitude &Orbit Control, Satellite
stabilization, Station Keeping, Thermal Control,
1
Module 2 TT&C Subsystem, Transponders,
Antenna Subsystem, Antenna types & designequation(derivation not 1
required)
The Earth Segment 2
Types of earth station, architecture & design considerations Transmit-
Receive Earth Station ,
Wide band receiver, The input demultiplexer, The power amplifier, 1
Satellite tracking.
The Satellite Link design
Introduction, Transmission Theory , System Noise Temperature and 2
G/T Ratio , Design of Downlinks
Ku-Band GEO Satellite Systems
Module 3 2
Uplink Design , Design for Specified CNR: Combining CNR and C/I
Values in Satellite Links ,System Design for Specific Performance

Regional &global satellite systems INSAT,INTELSAT& 2

INMARSAT.
Modulation & MultipleAccess
Introduction, Digital Modulation techniques preferred in satellite 2
communication.

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2
Module4 Multiple Access ,Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) ,Time
Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Transmitter Power in TDMA
Networks, Demand Assignment Multiple Access (DAMA),

3
Random Access (RA) , Packet Radio Systems and Protocols, Code
Division Multiple Access (CDMA)
Satellite Application:

Introduction, Frequency bands, , Comparison between Satellite & 1

terrestrial networks,
2
Satellite Telephony, Satellite Television, DTH, Satellite Radio
Module 5 broadcasting,
2
Remote Sensing Satellite; Classification, orbits, payloads, Weather
Forecasting Satellites: Orbits, payloads.

Navigation Satellite: Basic principles of satellite navigation, GPS 3

Position Location Principle functional segments of GPS. Indian
Contribution to positioning systems, NGSO satellite systems.

Total 35

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Model Question Paper

A P J ABDUL KALAM TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

Eighth Semester B Tech Degree Examination Branch: Electronics and Communication
Course: ECT424 SATELLITE COMMUNICATION

PART A
(Answer All Questions. Each question carries 3 marks)

1. How do geostationary and geosynchronous orbit differ?

2. What are the limits of visibility of a satellite?
3. How thermal control achieved in space craft? Why is it necessary?
4. What is the need of tracking a spacecraft & how is it practiced?
5. Briefly describe the causes of interference and noise in a satellite link?
6. Why uplink and downlink frequency different in satellite communication?
7. State the advantages of demand assignment over preassigned access techniques?
8. Why synchronization is a must for TDMA?
9. Compare satellite & terrestrial networks?
10. State the orbital requirements & payload of a remote sensing satellite?Give one example of remote
sensing satellite.

PART B
(Answer one question from each module. Each question carries 14 mark.)

Module 1
11(a) State Kepler’s laws of planetary motion.Using these laws determine the height of
geostationary orbit (8)
11(b) Discuss the various satellite orbits and their applications. (6)

OR
12(a) Explain the need for stabilization of a space craft & methods to achieve it. (7)
(b) Briefly describe the launching methods & Launch vehicles used for putting a
spacecraft into geostationary orbit. (7)

Module 2
13. Discuss the major subsystems of a communication satellite. (14)
OR
14. With a block schematic describe a transmit receive earth station (14)

Module 3
15. Derive the uplink and downlink design of a geostationary Ku band satellite (14)

OR
16(a). Discuss the regional communication satellite of India (7)

16(b). How global coverage is possible using INTELSAT. What is the use of INMARSAT (7)

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Module 4
17. Discuss the digital modulation techniques used in satellite communication. (14)
OR
18(a). Discuss the Random-access techniques and the associated protocols. (7)
18 (b). Compare FDMA,TDMA,CDMA. (7)

Module 5
19(a) Discuss direct broadcast satellite & satellite radio enumerating their advantages (7)
19(b) Discuss the weather forecasting satellites explaining the orbits chosen and the payload,
and applications (7)
OR
20(a) Explain the functional system of a GPS. How position determined in GPS system
and methods to reduce error (8)
20(b) Explain NGSO satellite constellations. (6)

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