Satellite
subsystems
Moitreya Adhikary
ID 210713016
1st Semester
M.E. ETC (Microwave)
BESU, Shibpur
Exploded view of Spinner
Satellite
Spacecraft subsystem
overview
1. Attitude and orbit Control System (AOCS)
2. Telemetry, Tracking, Command, and Monitoring (TTC&M
3. Power System
4. Communication Subsystem
5. Satellite Antennas
1. AOCS (Attitude & orbit
control system)
Reason for Attitude & Orbit control
At GEO orbit altitude the moons gravitational force is
about twice as strong as the suns
Moon orbit is inclined to the equatorial plane by
approximately 5 degrees
The plane of the earths rotation around the sun is
inclined to 23 degrees to the equatorial plane
Net gravitational force on the satellite tends to
change the inclination of the satellite.
Also solar pressure acting on solar cells and antennas
of the satellite and eddy currents generated by
earths magnetic field cause rotation in the satellite.
Orbital period of the satellite makes many effects
cyclic, which can cause Nutation ( a wobble) of the
satellite.
Inclined Orbit
Reason for Orbit Correction (Contd..)
Inclination rate is approximately 0.86
degrees per year from the equatorial plane.
LEO satellites are less effected by this
gravitational pull from the sun and moon
At the equator there are bulges of about
65m at longitudes 162 degrees East and
348 degrees East.
Thus Satellite is accelerated towards one of
two stable points on GEO orbit at the
longitude of 75 degree E and 252 degrees E
Fine positioning
Two ways to make the satellite stable
in orbit when it is weightless.
Satellite can be rotated at a rate between
30 and 100 rpm to create gyroscopic force
that provides stability (spinner satellites)
Satellites can be stabilized by one or more
momentum wheels, called three-axis
stabilized satellites.
Orbit insertion & Maintenance- GEO
Two types of motors used on satellites.
Traditional bipropellant thruster
Bipropellants used are Mono-methyl Hydrazine and Nitrogen
tetraoxide
They are hypogolic, i.e., they ignite simultaneously on contact
without any catalyst or heater
Arc jets or ion thrusters
High voltage is used to accelerate ions
Fuel stored in GEO satellite is used for two
purposes
Apogee kick motor (AKM) that injects the satellite into its
final orbit
Maintain the satellite in that orbit over its lifetime.
Spinner
Satellite
3 Axis Stabilized Satellite
Definition of axis
NS Control of a Spinner Satellite Using Infrared Earth
Sensors
On Board Control System
2. TTC&M
Telemetry Modes
Tracking
Command
Typical TTC&M
System
3. Power systems
Backup Power System
Power systems(Contd..)
Typical battery voltages 20-50 V
with 20-100 Ah capacity
4. Communication
subsystems
Payload functions
Repeaters and Transponders
Types of payloads/Transponders
Single Conversion Bent pipe Transponder
Double Conversion Bent pipe Transponder
Basic Transponder elements
Onboard Processing Transponder
Factors affecting payload
design
5. Satellite Antennas
Four main types of antennas are used on satellites
Wire antennas (Monopoles and Dipoles):
Primarily used at VHF and UHF to provide communication
with the TTC&M system.
Horn antennas: Used at microwave frequencies when
relatively wide beams are required.
Reflector antennas: Generally consist of Paraboloid
reflector illuminated by one or more Horns and provide
larger aperture than Horns.
Array antennas: Used for generation of multiple spot
scanning beams.
Typical Satellite Antenna Patterns and Coverage Zones
Contour Plot of the Spot Beam Projected onto the Earth
INTELSAT VI Satellite
on Station
Deployment Sequence of
Satellite Antenna
References
Satellite Communications by Pratt,
Bostian, Allnutt
Electronic Communications by
Roddy, Coolen
Questions?
Thank You!
