GLOBAL

SATELLITE
SYSTEM

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INTRODUCTION
• The word satellite originated from the Latin word “Satellit”-
meaning an attendant, one who is constantly hovering around &
attending as a “master” or big man.

• a satellite is simply any body that moves around another (usually

much larger) one in a mathematically predictable path called an
orbit.

• Station on the earth transmits signal to satellite is called uplink,

while from satellite to earth station is called downlink.

• For both uplink & downlink frequency is different.

• Satellite is generally use for communication of radio & television

signal.

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TYPES OF SATELLITE SYSTEM
• Satellite orbits are also classified based on their heights above the
earth:
• Lower earth orbit ( LEO)
• Medium earth orbit (MEO)
• Geostationary (GEO)

•All the satellite system designs are differentiate by the type of the
orbit in which satellite deployed.

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LOW EARTH ORBIT (LEO)
• LEO systems fly about 500 to 1,500 kilometers above the Earth. A
typical LEO satellite takes less than two hours to orbit the Earth,
and are only visible for 15 to 20 minutes each pass.

•Low earth orbiting satellites are less expensive to launch into

orbit as distance from the earth is less, don't require as high signal
strength and give less time delay.

•A LEO satellite’s smaller area of coverage is less as compared to

other orbital system.

• So for local applications, a large number of satellites are needed

if the mission requires uninterrupted connectivity.

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LOW EARTH ORBIT(LEO) (Cont.)
• It is also possible to offer discontinuous coverage using a low Earth
orbit satellite capable of storing data received while passing over one
part of Earth and transmitting it later while passing over another
part.

Fig : LEO satellite system.

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MEDIUM EARTH ORBIT(MEO)
•A MEO satellite is in orbit somewhere between 8,000 km and
18,000 km above the earth’s surface.

•MEO satellites are similar to LEO satellites in functionality.

•MEO satellites are visible for much longer periods of time than LEO
satellites, usually between 2 to 8 hours.

•MEO satellites have a larger coverage area than LEO satellites,

hence there are less number of satellite required as compared to
LEO.

•A MEO satellite’s distance gives it a longer time delay and weaker

signal than a LEO satellite, but not as bad as a GEO satellite.

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MEDIUM EARTH ORBIT(MEO)

MEO satellite system

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GEOSTATIONARY ORBIT(GEO)
• These satellites are in orbit 35,863 km above the earth’s surface
along the equator.

• Objects in Geostationary orbit revolve around the earth at the same

speed as the earth rotates. This means GEO satellites remain in the
same position relative to the surface of earth.

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GEOSTATIONARY ORBIT(GEO) (Cont.)
Advantages :

• A GEO satellite’s distance from earth gives it a large coverage area,

almost a fourth of the earth’s surface.

•GEO satellites have a 24 hour view of a particular area. these factor

make it ideal for satellite broadcast and other multipoint
applications.

•GEO systems are less complicated to maintain because their fixed

location in the sky requires relatively little tracking capability in
ground equipment.

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GEOSTATIONARY ORBIT(GEO) (Cont.)
Disadvantages :

• As compared to the previous method because launching of the

satellite into their orbit is to expansive.

•At large distance from the earth hence there is problem with signal
strength which is very low, due to this large antenna is required for
reception of the signal.

• GEO has more distant orbit so it subject to transmission delays.

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References (Online)
• http://www.compassroseintl.com

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_satellite

• courses.missouristate.edu/HuiLiu/csc690/slides/Satellite.ppt

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