4. What is a Communication Satellite?
Communications Satellite: It is a microwave repeater in the s
ky that consists of a diverse combination of one or more comp
onents including transmitter, receiver, amplifier, regenerator, filt
er onboard computer, multiplexer, demultiplexer, antenna, wav
eguide etc.
A satellite radio repeater is also called transponder. This is us
ually a combination of transmitter and receiver.
8. What is a satellite system?
A satellite system consists of one or more satellite,
a ground-based station to control the operation of
the system, and a user network earth stations that
provides the interface facilities for the transmission
and reception of terrestrial communications traffic.
9. How a satellite works?
A satellite stays in orbit because the gravitational pull of the earth is
balanced by the centripetal force of the revolving satellite.
One Earth station transmits the signals to the satellite at Up link
frequency. Up link frequency is the frequency at which Earth station is
communicating with a satellite.
The satellite transponder process the signal and sends it to the second
Earth station at another frequency called downlink frequency.
12. Main Frequency Bands
Frequency Band Downlink Uplink
C 3,700-4,200 MHz 5,925-6,425 MHz
Ku 11.7-12.2 GHz 14.0-14.5 GHz
Ka 17.7-21.2 GHz 27.5-31.0 GHz
17. Miniature Satellite Group
Group name Mass (kg)
Large satellite >1000
Medium satellite 500 to 1000
Mini satellite 100 to 500
Micro satellite 10 to 100
Nano satellite 1 to 10
Pico satellite 0.1 to 1
Femto satellite <0.1
A multiplexer is a circuit that accept many input but give only one output.
A demultiplexer function exactly in the reverse of a multiplexer, that is a demultiplexer accepts only one input and gives many outputs.
Generally multiplexer and demultiplexer are used together, because of the communication systems are bi directional.
In electronics, a multiplexer (or mux) is a device that selects one of several analog or digital input signals and forwards the selected input into a single line.
a demultiplexer (or demux) is a device taking a single input signal and selecting one of many data-output-lines, which is connected to the single input.
The multiplexer or MUX is a digital switch, also called as data selector.
It is a combinational circuit with more than one input line, one output line and more than one select line. It allows the binary information from several input lines or sources and depending on the set of select lines , particular input line , is routed onto a single output line.
The basic idea of multiplexing is shown in figure below in which data from several sources are routed to the single output line when the enable switch is ON. That is how the multiplexers are also called as ‘many to one’ combinational circuits.
The process of getting information from one input and transmitting the same over one of many outputs is called demultiplexing. A demultiplexer is a combinational logic circuit that receives the information on a single input and transmits the same information over one of 2n possible output lines.
In electronics, a multiplexer (or mux) is a device that selects one of several analog or digital input signals and forwards the selected input into a single line.
a demultiplexer (or demux) is a device taking a single input signal and selecting one of many data-output-lines, which is connected to the single input.
The basic function of a multiplexer: combining multiple inputs into a single data stream.
On the receiving side, a demultiplexer splits the single data stream into the original multiple signals.
The communication going from a satellite to ground is called downlink, and when it is going from ground to a satellite it is called uplink.
When an uplink is being received by the spacecraft at the same time a downlink is being received by Earth, the communication is called two-way.
If there is only an uplink happening, this communication is called upload. If there is only a downlink happening, the communication is called one-way.
The communication going from a satellite to ground is called downlink, and when it is going from ground to a satellite it is called uplink.
When an uplink is being received by the spacecraft at the same time a downlink is being received by Earth, the communication is called two-way.
If there is only an uplink happening, this communication is called upload. If there is only a downlink happening, the communication is called one-way.
The “band” in use refers to the radio frequencies used to and from the satellite:
The C band is the most frequently used. The Ka and Ku bands are reserved exclusively for satellite communication but are subject to rain attenuation. Some satellites carry transponders for both C and Ku bands
•Astronomical satellites are satellites used for observation of distant planets, galaxies, and other outer space objects.
•Biosatellites are satellites designed to carry living organisms, generally for scientific experimentation.
•Communications satellites are satellites stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications. Modern communications satellites typically use geosynchronous orbits, Molniya orbits or Low Earth orbits.
•Earth observation satellites are satellites intended for non-military uses such as environmental monitoring, meteorology, map making etc. (See especially Earth Observing System.)
•Navigational satellites are satellites which use radio time signals transmitted to enable mobile receivers on the ground to determine their exact location. The relatively clear line of sight between the satellites and receivers on the ground, combined with ever-improving electronics, allows satellite navigation systems to measure location to accuracies on the order of a few meters in real time.
•Astronomical satellites are satellites used for observation of distant planets, galaxies, and other outer space objects.
•Biosatellites are satellites designed to carry living organisms, generally for scientific experimentation.
•Communications satellites are satellites stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications. Modern communications satellites typically use geosynchronous orbits, Molniya orbits or Low Earth orbits.
•Earth observation satellites are satellites intended for non-military uses such as environmental monitoring, meteorology, map making etc. (See especially Earth Observing System.)
•Navigational satellites are satellites which use radio time signals transmitted to enable mobile receivers on the ground to determine their exact location. The relatively clear line of sight between the satellites and receivers on the ground, combined with ever-improving electronics, allows satellite navigation systems to measure location to accuracies on the order of a few meters in real time.
•Killer Satellites" are satellites that are designed to destroy enemy warheads, satellites, and other space assets.
•Crewed spacecraft (spaceships) are large satellites able to put humans into (and beyond) an orbit, and return them to Earth. Spacecraft including spaceplanes of reusable systems have major propulsion or landing facilities. They can be used as transport to and from the orbital stations.
•Miniaturized satellites are satellites of unusually low masses and small sizes.[18] New classifications are used to categorize these satellites: minisatellite (500–100 kg), microsatellite (below 100 kg), nanosatellite (below 10 kg).[citation needed]
•Reconnaissance satellites are Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications. Very little is known about the full power of these satellites, as governments who operate them usually keep information pertaining to their reconnaissance satellites classified.
•Recovery satellites are satellites that provide a recovery of reconnaissance, biological, space-production and other payloads from orbit to Earth.
•Tether satellites are satellites which are connected to another satellite by a thin cable called a tether.
•Weather satellites are primarily used to monitor Earth's weather and climate
Space tethers are long cables which can be used for propulsion, momentum exchange, stabilization and altitude control, or maintaining the relative positions of the components of a large dispersed satellite/spacecraft sensor system.
The weather satellite is a type of satellite that is primarily used to monitor the weather and climate of the Earth. Satellites can be polar orbiting, covering the entire Earth asynchronously, or geostationary, hovering over the same spot on the equator.
Meteorological satellites see more than clouds and cloud systems. City lights, fires, effects of pollution, auroras, sand and dust storms, snow cover, ice mapping, boundaries of ocean currents, energy flows, etc