UDC 629.7.017.1
Ergaliev D.S., Tulegulov A.D., Ongarkizi A., Artykbaev K.S.
Eurasian National University named after Gumilyov, Astana, Kazakhstan
THE IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCHING THE SATELITTES WITH THE PURPOSE OF SOLVING PROBLEMS
Annotation. Artificial satellites are man-made objects that orbit the Earth. These
satellites are launched for specific purposes. A satellite is lifted from the earth's surface
by a rocket and, once placed in orbit, maintains its motion without further rocket propulsion.
Therefore we have decided to consider a little about history and types of satellites, how they
work, their frequency bands and antennas, orbit distances, applications etc.
Keywords: satellites, objects, frequency bands and antennas, orbit distances, vehicle
tracking, environmental monitoring, narrowband communications.
The theory of satellites was simple enough - shoot something out into space at the right
speed and on the correct trajectory and it will stay up there, orbiting Earth, for years - if
not forever. If the orbit is the right distance in space the satellite will keep pace with the
rotation of the Earth.
Early in October 1957 communications stations started picking up a regular beeping noise
coming from space. The signals were coming from Russia's Sputnik 1, the world's first man-made
satellite. It was January 1958, before a Jupiter rocket successfully launched Explorer 1, the
first American satellite.
In July 1963 the Hughes Aircraft Corporation launched the experimental Syncom 2 for NASA,
the world's first geosynchronous communications satellite. Its earlier sister, Syncom 1, had
been blown up on launch earlier that year, but the second version was a huge success.
It carried the first live two-way satellite call between heads of state when President John
F. Kennedy in Washington, D.C., telephoned Nigerian Prime Minister Abubaker Balewa in Africa.
The third Syncom satellite transmitted live television coverage of the 1964 Olympic Games
from Tokyo.
The world's first commercial communications satellite was Early Bird, built for the
Communications Satellite Corporation (COMSAT) by Hughes. The satellite was launched on April
6, 1965, and placed in commercial service after moving into geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles
above the equator. That meant it was always on station to provide line of sight communications
between Europe and North America. Early Bird didn't have a battery - and worked only when its
solar panels were exposed to the sun[1].
The launch of the Intelsat 3 satellites in 1969 created a global TV and speech
communications network that spanned the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. The introduction
of multiple-beam antennas in the 1980s brought new improvements in efficiency, as a
satellite's power could now be concentrated on small regions of the Earth, making possible
smaller-aperture (coverage area), lower-cost ground stations. The Capacity
(the number of
simultaneous television and speech channels carried) grew as well.
How Satellites Work.
-A Earth Station sends message in GHz range. (Uplink)
-Satellite Receive and retransmit signals back. (Downlink)
-Other Earth Stations receive message in useful strength area. (Footprint)
Pic.1 - Principle of work of the satelittes
Satellite Frequency Bands and Antennas (Dishes).
The size of Satellite Dishes (antennas) are related to the transmission frequency.
There is a inverse relationship between frequency and wavelength.
As wavelength increases (and frequency decreases), larger antennas (satellite dishes) are
necessary to gather the signal.
Most commonly used bands: C-band (4 to 8 GHz), Ku-band (11 to 17 GHz), and Ka-band (20 to
30 GHz ).
Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO).
Altitude:(375-1000 miles), revolution time: 90 min - 3 hours, advantages: Reduces
transmission delay, Eliminates need for bulky receiving equipment, disadvantages: Smaller
coverage area, Shorter life span (5-8 yrs.) than GEOs (10 yrs).
а)
b)
a- C-Band, b- Ku-Band
Pic.2 - Most commonly used bands
Subdivisions: Little, Big, and Mega (Super) LEOs.
Pic.3 - Low-Earth-Orbit
Little LEOs Applications.
0.8 GHz range
Small, low-cost
Vehicle tracking, environmental monitoring and two-way data communication. Used for short,
narrowband communications.
Big LEOs Applications.
2 GHz or above range
Can offer global services, which can be subject to regulatory requirements.
Used for technology devices such as high-speed, high-bandwidth data communications, and
video conferencing. They carry voice and high-speed data services. The main uses are data
communications and real-time voice delivery to hand-held devices[2].
Mega (Super) LEOs Applications.
20-30 GHz range
Mainly handles broadband data. These systems are optimized for packet-switched data rather
than voice. They share the same advantages and drawbacks of other LEOs and are intended to
operate with inter-satellite links to minimize transmission times and avoid dropped signals.
Middle-Earth-Orbiting (MEO)
Pic.4 - Middle-Earth-Orbiting (MEO)
MEOs orbits between the altitudes of 5,600 and 9,500 miles.
These orbits are primarily reserved for communications satellites that cover the North and
South Pole.
Unlike the circular orbit of the geostationary satellites, MEOs are placed in an elliptical
(oval-shaped) orbit.
Approximately a dozen medium Earth orbiting satellites are necessary to provide continuous
global coverage 24 hours a day.
GPS: What is it?
A constellation of 24 satellites
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a worldwide radio-navigation system formed from a
constellation of 24 satellites and their ground stations.
They are constantly moving, making two complete orbits in less than 24 hours.
These satellites are traveling at speeds of roughly 7,000 miles an hour.
GPS: How it works
Satellites are reference points for locations on Earth
The whole idea behind GPS is to use satellites in space as reference points for locations
here on earth.
GPS satellites use a "triangulate," system where the GPS receiver measures distance using
the travel time of radio signals.
By using triangulation, we can accurately measure our distance and find out position from
three satellites position anywhere on earth.
EX. THE BIG PICTURE.
Pic.5 - "Triangulate" system of GPS satellites
Pic.6 - Distance of the companion from the earth(ex)
If a particular satellite is 11,000 miles above it. Then we know that it’s radius is 11,000
miles!
Basic calculations measuring distance
Velocity * Time = Distance
Velocity = speed of light (186,000 miles per second.)
Time = a lot of analysis and calculations!
GPS: Problems in the System.
Satellites are precise but are not perfect
Even though the satellites positions are constantly monitored, they can't be watched every
second.
The atomic clocks they use are very, very precise but they're not perfect. Minute
discrepancies can occur, and these translate into travel time measurement errors.
The signal may not actually get to the ground station receivers first. It may bounce off
various objects before it gets to the receivers.
GPS: Who Uses GPS?
GPS has a variety of applications
Land: diverse uses; ex. surveying, recreational. Etc
Sea: navigation by recreational boaters, commercial fishermen, and professional mariners
Air: navigation by general aviation and commercial aircraft
Pic.7 - Geosynchronous-Earth-Orbit
Geosynchronous-Earth-Orbit (GEO)
Orbit is sychroneous with the earths rotation.
From the ground the satellite appears fixed.
Altitude is about 23,000 miles.
Coverage to 40% of planet per satellite.
Geostationary satellites are commonly used for communications and weather-observation.
The typical service life expectancy of a geostationary satellite is 10-15 years.
Because geostationary satellites circle the earth at the equator, they are not able to
provide coverage at the Northernmost and Southernmost latitudes.
Pic.8 - Picture received from GEO for the purpose of weather observation
GEOs and Weather
The altitude is chosen so that it takes the satellite 24 hours to orbit the Earth once,
which is also the rotation rate of the Earth.
This produces the cloud animations you see on TV. Can take images approximately every
minute[3].
Instruments on GEOs are designed to last 3-9 years.
Measurements that are taken are in the form of electrical voltages that are digitized, and
then transmitted to receiving stations on the ground.
Instruments usually have:
Small telescope or antenna.
A scanning mechanism.
One or more detectors that detect either visible, infrared, or microwave radiation.
GEOs
Satellites are positioned every 4-8 degrees.
Aproximately 300 GEO satellites are in orbit.
Pros and Cons of GEOs
Advantages:
Weather images can be displayed.
Television broadcasts are uninterrupted.
Used to track major developments such as hurricanes 24 hours a day.
Disadvantages:
It takes longer for the signal to get to earth and back to satellite.
Increased difficulty of telephone conversations.
GEOs are not positioned in the farthest northern and southern orbits.
Provides images of nearly one-third of the Earth's surface every 23 minutes with 4 km
resolution.
While the United States maintains and operates its GEOs, the European community is served
by its European Space Agency (ESA) Meteosat satellite, and Japan with its GMS satellite.
In conclusion all of the groundwork that paved the way to the first launch made an impact
on society as a whole that no other invention has done before. From communications to
espionage to navigation to weather , this invention has shaped the way in which the world now
lives. It is now an accepted part of everyday life. It is now seen as a useful tool which can
be used to keep in touch and aid everyday life decisions. I conclude that no invention in
history has helped humankind on such a large basis as the satellite.
REFERENCES
1. How Do Satellites Work? By William Cook, 1996
2. Geostationary applications satellite.Peter Berlin,1998
3. Satelitte communication systems.John Wiley and Sons, 2010