Course Code Course Title L T P J C

ECE4010 SATELLITE COMMUNICATION 3 0 0 0 3

Pre-requisite ECE4001 : Digital Communication Systems

Course Objectives:
 To have a conceptual knowledge of Communication through Satellites.
 To have a detailed understanding of navigation - both inertial and by navigation satellites.
 To analyze typical challenges of satellite based systems.

Expected Course Outcome:

The students will be able to
 Understand the concept of orbits, launch vehicles and satellites
 Have an in-depth knowledge of navigation satellite services.
 Appreciate the applications of satellite systems

Student Learning Outcomes (SLO): 1, 2, 17

Module:1 Elements of Orbital Mechanics 6 hours SLO: 1,2

Overview of satellite communication-Orbital Mechanics - Equations of the orbit - Kepler’s Laws
of Planetary Motion - Orbital elements - Look Angle Determination - Orbital perturbation and
determination.

Module:2 Orbital Launchers 3 hours SLO: 1,17

Launches and Launch Vehicles- Launch Vehicle selection Factors-Satellite Positioning into
Geostationary Orbit- Orbital Effects in Communication Systems performance-Doppler Shift-
Range variations - Solar Eclipse and Sun Transit Outage.

Module:3 Elements of Communication Satellite Design 5 hours SLO: 1,17

Satellite Subsystems- Attitude and Orbit Control Electronics-Telemetry and Tracking-Power
subsystems-Communication Subsystems-Satellite Antennas-Reliability and Redundancy-
Frequency Modulation Techniques

Module:4 Digital Transmission Basics 4 hours SLO: 1,17

Multiple Access Techniques – FDMA, TDMA, CDMA, SDMA, ALOHA and its types – Onboard
Processing- Satellite Switched TDMA –Spread Spectrum Transmission and Reception for
Satellite Networks.

Module:5 Satellite Link Design 9 hours SLO: 1,2

Basic Transmission Theory – system noise temperature and G/T Ratio- Noise Figure and Noise
Temperature- Calculation of System Noise Temperature – G/T Ratio for Earth Stations- Link
Budgets- Uplink and Downlink Budget calculations - Error control for Digital Satellite Links.
Prediction of Rain Attenuation and propagation impairment countermeasures.
Module:6 VSAT Systems 9 hours SLO: 1,2
Overview of VSAT Systems- Network Architectures –One Way Implementation –Split IP
Implementation –Two Way Implementation – Access Control Protocols –Delay Considerations-
VSAT Earth Station Engineering-System Design Procedure and calculation of Link Margins for
VSAT Network.

Module:7 Direct Broadcast Satellite Television systems 7 hours SLO: 1,2

and GPS
DBS TV System design-Direct Broadcast Satellite Television Transmitters and Receivers - DBS
TV Link Budget.Radio and Satellite Navigation –GPS Position location Principles – GPS
Navigation Messages and Signal Levels- GPS Receivers design – Role of Satellites in Future
Networks – Advanced Error Control Codes for satellite systems.

Module:8 Contemporary Issues 2 hours

Total Lecture hours: 45 hours

Text Book(s):
1. T. Pratt, C.W. Boastian and Jeremy Allnutt “Satellite Communication”, 2013, 2nd Edition,
John Wiley and Sons, Bangalore, India.
Reference Books:
1. Madhavendra Richharia, “Mobile Satellite Communications: Principles and Trends”, 2014,
2nd Edition, John Wiley and Sons, United Kingdom.
2. D.Roddy, “Satellite Communications”, 2011, 4th Edition (sixth reprint), Tata McGraw Hill,
New York.
3. W.L. Pritchard and H.G Suyderhoud, “Satellite Communication Systems Engineering”, 2011,
2nd Edition, Pearson Education, India.
4. Teresa M. Braun ,”Satellite Communications Payload and System”, 2012, 1st Edition, John
Wiley and Sons, USA
5. Michael Olorunfunmi Kolawole,” Satellite Communication Engineering”, 2013, 2nd Edition,
CRC Press, India.
6. Daniel Minoli, “Innovations in Satellite Communication and Satellite Technology”, 2015, 1st
Edition, Wiley. New Delhi, India.
Mode of Evaluation: Continuous Assessment Test –I (CAT-I), Continuous Assessment Test –II
(CAT-II), Digital Assignments/ Quiz / Completion of MOOC, Final Assessment Test (FAT).