• Communication Systems
  • Satellite Communication

Satellite Communication: Active and Passive Satellite

What is satellite communication.

Satellite communication is transporting information from one place to another using a communication satellite in orbit around the Earth. Watching the English Premier League every weekend with your friends would have been impossible without this. A communication satellite is an artificial satellite that transmits the signal via a transponder by creating a channel between the transmitter and the receiver at different Earth locations.

Telephone, radio, television, internet, and military applications use satellite communications. Believe it or not, more than 2000 artificial satellites are hurtling around in space above your heads.

Satellite Communication Block Diagram

Block diagram of satellite communications

Need for Satellite Communication

We know that there are different ways to communicate, and the propagation of these waves can occur in different ways. Ground wave propagation and skywave propagation are the two ways communication takes place for a certain distance. The maximum distance covered by them is 1500 km, which was overcome by the introduction of satellite communication.

How Satellite Communications Work?

The communication satellites are similar to the space mirrors that help us bounce signals such as radio, internet data, and television from one side of the earth to another. Three stages are involved, which explain the working of satellite communications. These are:

  • Transponders

Let’s consider an example of signals from a television. In the first stage, the signal from the television broadcast on the other side of the earth is first beamed up to the satellite from the ground station on the earth. This process is known as uplink.

The second stage involves transponders such as radio receivers, amplifiers, and transmitters. These transponders boost the incoming signal and change its frequency so that the outgoing signals are not altered. Depending on the incoming signal sources, the transponders vary.

Working of satellite communication

Satellite Communications in India

It’s interesting to know that the Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system is one of the largest domestic communication systems that is placed in the geo-stational orbit. There are more than 200 transponders in the INSAT system and are used for various purposes such as telecommunications, weather forecasting, television broadcasting, disaster warning, search and rescue operations, and satellite newsgathering.

Below is the list of communication satellites along with their applications:

The Space Debris Consisting of Satellites and Other Junk Revolving around the Planet

The need for satellite communication becomes evident when we want to transmit the signal to far-off places, where the Earth’s curvature comes into play. This obstruction is overcome by putting communication satellites in space to transmit the signals across the curvature. Satellite communication uses two types of artificial satellites to transmit the signals:

  • Passive Satellites: If you put a hydrogen balloon that has a metallic coating over it up in the air, it technically becomes a passive satellite. Such a balloon can reflect microwave signals from one place to another. The passive satellites in space are similar. These satellites just reflect the signal back towards the Earth without amplification. Since the satellite orbit height can range from 2000 to 35786 km, attenuation due to the atmosphere also comes into play, and due to this, the received signal is often very weak.
  • Active Satellites:   Active Satellites, unlike passive satellites, amplify the transmitted signals before re-transmitting it back to Earth, ensuring excellent signal strength.  Passive satellites were the earliest communication satellite, but now almost all the new ones are active satellites.

To avoid mixing up and interference signals, every user is allocated a specific frequency for transmitting. The International Telecommunication Union does this frequency allocation. Geosynchronous satellites are of note here. Geostationary orbit is present at 35786 km above Earth’s surface. If you can spot such a satellite with a telescope from Earth, it will appear stationary to you. The satellite’s orbital period and the Earth’s rotational rate are in sync.

Some More Information About Geostationary Orbits

These were some typical orbits. Apart from these, we also have orbits that address particular problems. The Russians faced one such issue. GEO satellites worked perfectly for the equatorial regions, but they had a very weak coverage near the Poles. The Russians designed an orbit with a very high inclination to address this problem. The inclination is the angle between the satellite’s orbit and the equator. This orbit was called the Molniya orbit. The orbit had excellent coverage of the North Pole for a short time. Molniya had a period of 24 hours,  but out of that, it would be close to Earth only for 6-9 hours. Russia launched more satellites in the same orbit and soon had uninterrupted coverage.

The Molniya Orbit

Satellite Communication Services

There are two categories in which satellite communication services can be classified:

  • One-way satellite communication
  • Two- way satellite communication

One-way Satellite Communication

In one-way satellite communication, the communication usually takes place between either one or multiple earth stations through the help of a satellite.

The communication takes place between the transmitter on the first earth satellite to the receiver which is the second earth satellite. The transmission of the signal is unidirectional. Some common one-way satellite communication is:

  • Position location services are provided by the radio
  • Tracking is a part of space operations services
  • Internet services take place with broadcasting satellites

One-way satellite communication service

Two-Way Satellite Communication

In two-way satellite communication, the information is exchanged between any two earth stations. It can be said that there is a point to point connectivity.

The signal is transmitted from the first earth station to the second earth station such that there are two uplinks and two downlinks between the earth stations and the satellite.

Two-way satellite communication service

Advantages of Satellite Communication

The following are the advantages of satellite communication:

  • Installments of circuits are easy.
  • The elasticity of these circuits is excellent.
  • With the help of satellite communication, every corner of the earth can be covered.
  • The user fully controls the network.

Disadvantages of Satellite Communication

The following are the disadvantages of satellite communication:

  • Initial expenditure is expensive.
  • There are chances of blockage of frequencies.
  • Propagation and interference.

Applications of Satellite Communication

  • Digital cinema
  • Radio broadcasting
  • Amateur radio
  • Internet access
  • Disaster Management

Related Physics Links:

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

What are the two main components of satellite communication.

The two main components of satellite communication are:

  • The ground segment comprises either fixed or mobile transmission, reception, and ancillary equipment.
  • The space segment: The satellite is known as the space segment. There are three main units: the fuel system, the satellite, telemetry controls, and the transponder. The prime role of the space segment is to reflect electronic signals.

Name the countries having their own satellites.

There are a total of 12 countries that have their own satellites. A few of them are listed below:

  • India – Rohini D1
  • Japan – Ohsumi
  • China – Dong Fang Hong I

What is a space station?

A space station is an artificial structure designed for humans to live and work in outer space.

What are the three laws of Kepler?

Following are the three laws of Kepler:

  • Kepler’s first law states that every planet revolves around the sun in an elliptical orbit, and the sun is one of the foci.
  • Kepler’s second law states that for an equal interval of time, the area covered by the satellite is equal with respect to the earth’s centre.
  • Kepler’s third law states that the square of the periodic time of the orbit is proportional to the cube of the mean distance between the two bodies.

List the factors on which the carrier to noise ratio of a satellite depends on.

Following are the three factors on which the carrier-to-noise ratio depends for a satellite:

  • Free space for path losses
  • Effective power radiated from the isotropic

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Space Mesmerise

Revolutionizing Communication: A Deep Dive Into The History and Impact of Satellite Communications

image for The history of satellite communications and its impact on society

From the early days of radio, humans have been fascinated with the idea of using wireless technology to communicate across great distances. But it wasn't until the launch of The first artificial satellite in 1957 that the dream of global communication became a reality. The history of satellite communications is closely intertwined with the Cold War, as both the Soviet Union and the United States raced to launch their own satellites and gain an edge in the competition for global influence. Over the decades since then, the use of satellites has expanded to include not only voice and data transmission , but also television broadcasting, weather forecasting, navigation, and more. The impact of this technology on society has been profound, allowing people to communicate and access information in ways that would have been impossible just a few decades ago. However, it has also raised concerns about privacy, security, and the potential for misuse by governments or private entities. In this essay, we will explore the history of satellite communications and its impact on society, both positive and negative. We will examine some of the key players in this field, from the early pioneers of rocket technology to the major telecommunications companies that dominate the industry today. And we will look at some of the challenges and controversies surrounding the use of satellites, such as the need for international regulation and the growing threat of cyber attacks. Overall, the story of satellite communications is a fascinating one that continues to shape the world we live in today.

From Telegraphs to Satellites: The Early Years of Communication

Communication has always been an essential aspect of human life. Throughout history, humans have come up with different ways to communicate with each other. From the earliest forms such as smoke signals and drum beats, to the more sophisticated methods like telegraphs and satellites, communication has undergone a vast transformation over time. In this section, we will take a closer look at how communication evolved from telegraphs to satellites.

The Birth of Telecommunications

The 19th century marked a significant milestone in the history of communication when Samuel Morse invented the telegraph in 1837. This invention paved the way for long-distance communication without relying on physical transportation means such as horses or ships. Telegraphs enabled people to send messages across great distances using electric currents transmitted through wire cables.

The Rise of Radio Communication

In 1895, Guglielmo Marconi revolutionized communication once again by discovering radio waves that could transmit information wirelessly through space. Radio became an instant hit because it allowed people to listen to music and news broadcasts from anywhere in the world without having a physical connection.

The First Satellite Launch

The launch of Sputnik 1 by Russia on October 4th, 1957 marked another significant milestone in human space exploration history and also changed how we communicate forever. Sputnik was not only a triumph for Soviet Space Science but also demonstrated that it was possible for humans to launch objects into orbit around Earth.

Advancements in Satellite Technology

With advancements in satellite technology came improvements in global communications systems. Satellites made it possible for information transmission across continents where traditional means would have been impossible or prohibitively expensive due to geographic barriers.

Satellites played an instrumental role during major historical events such as landing man on the moon during Apollo Missions; they provided valuable data transmission for military operations during times of war; they played important roles in disaster management. Satellites have also played critical roles in the entertainment industry, enabling the delivery of TV and radio broadcasting globally.

The history of satellite communications is nothing short of remarkable. From humble beginnings with telegraphs to today's advanced satellite technology, communication has come a long way and continues to shape our world in many ways.

Satellites Enter the Scene: The Evolution of Satellite Communications

Satellite communication has come a long way since the days of Sputnik. In this section, we will dive into how satellite communications evolved and how it impacted society.

### First Steps in Satellite Communication

The first artificial satellite , Sputnik 1 launched by Russia in 1957 was a game-changer for humanity as it marked the beginning of space exploration. Soon after, in 1960 NASA launched its first communication satellite called Echo 1. This satellite was designed to reflect radio signals back to Earth for long-distance communication.

Over time, satellites became more advanced and sophisticated leading to significant progress in global communications systems. In the early days, satellites were only used by government agencies or large corporations due to their high cost and complexity. However, with advancements in technology came smaller, lighter satellites that were more affordable and could be launched into orbit via commercial providers.

Satellites Revolutionize Global Communication

The evolution of satellite technology had a huge impact on global communication enabling people worldwide to communicate across great distances with ease. Today's satellites are equipped with state-of-the-art technology such as high-speed connections that enable video conferencing and media streaming at lightning speed making it possible for people worldwide to stay connected like never before.

Satellites have played an instrumental role during major historical events such as providing critical data transmission during natural disasters or terrorist attacks; they have also been crucial components for military operations where traditional means would not suffice due to geographic barriers or other limitations.

Impact on Society

Satellite communications have revolutionized many aspects of modern life including entertainment industries like television broadcasting which now reaches almost every corner of the globe thanks largely due to advances made through satellite technology; weather forecasting that is more accurate than ever before is also made possible thanks largely due advancements made through using data from geostationary weather satellites.

Moreover, satellite communication has played an instrumental role in enabling global commerce and trade by providing secure and reliable international communications systems . This has allowed businesses worldwide to compete on a level playing field with access to crucial real-time data transmission that would not have been possible without satellite technology.

Future of Satellite Communication

Satellite communication continues to evolve at a rapid pace with new innovations such as CubeSats that can be launched into space for lower costs than traditional satellites. These small satellites are opening up new possibilities for applications including Internet of Things (IoT) devices, remote sensing and Earth observation.

Moreover, the potential for satellite-based telecommunications is limitless; future technologies may enable even faster data transfer speeds making it possible for people worldwide to stay connected like never before.

In summary, the evolution of satellite communication has come a long way since the early days of Sputnik. Today's advanced satellites have revolutionized global communications systems providing people across the globe with access to instant messaging, video conferencing, media streaming - all made possible through advancements in technology. With further innovation on the horizon and solutions like CubeSats becoming more popular we can expect even more exciting developments in this field over time!

The Societal Impact of Satellite Communications: Economic, Political, and Cultural Transformations

Satellite communications have had a profound impact on society since their inception. In this section, we will explore how satellite communication transformed the economic, political, and cultural landscapes across the globe.

### Economic Impact

Satellite communications have had significant economic impacts in many industries such as entertainment (television and radio broadcasting), telecommunications (telephone networks), transportation (aircraft navigation), shipping logistics and more.

Moreover, satellite technology has enabled businesses worldwide to compete on a level playing field by providing access to real-time data transmission that would not have been possible without it. This has allowed companies to make informed decisions based on up-to-date information leading to increased efficiency across industries.

Political Impact

Satellite communication has played an instrumental role in shaping global politics by revolutionizing how leaders communicate with each other across vast distances instantly. This has resulted in new levels of cooperation between nations as they work towards common goals such as disaster relief efforts or combating climate change.

Additionally, satellites can provide critical data transmission during times of conflict or war where traditional means would not suffice due to geographic barriers or other limitations resulting from conflict situations.

Cultural Transformation

The cultural impacts of satellite communication are perhaps less obvious but no less significant than the economic or political impacts . Satellite technology enables people worldwide to share their cultures with each other like never before via media content transmitted through broadcasting channels available globally.

Furthermore, satellites play an instrumental role in enabling people from different countries and cultures who may speak different languages but still connect via video conferencing services like Skype; thereby breaking down barriers that may exist between them based on language differences alone which can lead us towards better understanding one another regardless of our native tongues!

Environmental Benefits

Finally, it is worth noting that satellite technology also provides environmental benefits by reducing carbon emissions associated with transportation (e.g., aircraft) used for long-distance travel or shipping. Satellites allow people to communicate globally without having to travel physically, reducing their carbon footprint.

Future Impact of Satellite Communication

In the future, we can expect even more significant impacts from satellite communication as new technologies emerge. For example, the potential for satellite-based telecommunications is limitless; future technologies may enable even faster data transfer speeds making it possible for people worldwide to stay connected like never before.

Moreover, satellites are already being used in other sectors such as agriculture where they provide valuable data about crop yields and soil moisture levels that can help farmers make informed decisions about planting and harvesting times leading to increased efficiency across farming operations.

Future of Satellite Communications: Shaping Our Society and Beyond

Satellite communication has come a long way since its inception, but what does the future hold for this technology? In this section, we will explore some potential future applications of satellite communication that could shape our society and beyond.

### Internet Connectivity

There are still many areas around the world where people lack access to reliable internet connectivity. Satellites can help bridge this gap by providing high-speed internet to remote locations, making it possible for people worldwide to connect with each other like never before regardless of their geographical location.

Space Exploration

Satellites have played an instrumental role in space exploration history from Sputnik 1 in 1957 to current missions being undertaken by NASA and other space agencies across the globe. As we continue exploring further into space, satellites will become even more critical as they provide valuable data transmission during these missions that would not be possible using traditional means.

Disaster Management

Satellites can play a vital role in disaster management situations by providing critical data transmission during times when traditional means would not suffice due to geographic barriers or other limitations resulting from natural disasters or conflicts.

Moreover, CubeSats which are smaller and more affordable satellites than traditional ones are currently being used for environmental monitoring purposes such as tracking pollution levels or deforestation patterns. This demonstrates how satellite technology has evolved over time leading us towards better environmental awareness through real-time data collection!

Remote Sensing

Remote sensing is another area where satellites have great potential; they can collect valuable information about our planet's environment including weather patterns climate change trends among others. This information can then be used to inform policy decisions made by governments worldwide regarding issues related to sustainable development strategies.

Telemedicine

Telemedicine is yet another application where satellite communications could prove invaluable; it allows medical professionals anywhere on earth instant access via video conferencing services like Skype enabling them diagnose patients remotely without having travel physically leading us towards better health outcomes overall!

The Future of Satellite Communications

Satellite communication will continue to evolve at a rapid pace with new innovations such as CubeSats that can be launched into space for lower costs than traditional satellites. These small satellites are opening up new possibilities for applications including Internet of Things (IoT) devices, remote sensing and Earth observation.

In summary, the future of satellite communications is bright and full of promise. From internet connectivity in remote locations to space exploration missions, disaster management scenarios and sustainable development strategies among others - this technology has come a long way since its inception but there are still many exciting developments we can expect in the years ahead!

What is satellite communication and how did it come into existence?

Satellite communication is the transmission of signals between Earth-based stations and satellite systems orbiting the planet. The idea of satellite communication was first introduced by Arthur C. Clarke in 1945, but the first satellite, Sputnik, was launched by the Soviet Union in 1957. In 1962, the Telstar satellite was launched, which marked the beginning of commercial satellite communications. Since then, the technology has advanced and satellite communication has become an essential means of communication around the world.

What impact has satellite communication had on society?

Satellite communication has had a significant impact on society. It has revolutionized the way people communicate, the way information is shared, and the way businesses operate. Thanks to satellite communication, people can now make phone calls and send messages from almost anywhere in the world. Satellite communication has also made it possible to transmit data, images, and videos over long distances quickly. It has also paved the way for more accurate weather forecasting, GPS navigation, and remote sensing. Overall, satellite communication has made the world a more connected and accessible place.

How has satellite communication changed the way we access media?

Satellite communication has played a crucial role in the development of media in recent years. Before the advent of satellite communication, the only way to access news and entertainment was through traditional media outlets such as television, radio, and newspapers. However, satellite communication has led to the proliferation of new media channels, such as direct-to-home (DTH) TV, internet streaming, and mobile TV. Now, people can access high-quality media content from almost anywhere in the world, thanks to satellite communication.

What advancements have been made in satellite communication technology?

Over the years, there have been several advancements in satellite communication technology. For example, the development of Ka-band communication satellites has led to faster and more efficient data transmissions . In addition, the size and weight of satellites have reduced, leading to reduced launch costs. Satellite manufacturers have also started using electric propulsion systems, which are more efficient than chemical propulsion systems and permit a longer lifespan for satellites. With these advancements, satellite communication has become more reliable and affordable, making it an essential communication tool for modern society.

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Definition and Use of Satellite Communications Report

Introduction.

Satellite communications are the kind of communications that are specifically targeted for communication between radio stations on earth through a radio station that is set up on spacecraft. Most of these communication systems use geostationary satellites. They provide a technology for microwave radio relay. They are also largely applicable for mobile applications like those used in communication to ships, planes et cetera. The development of satellite communication has been very rapid during the past 20 years.

Space and electronic technologies have also increased tremendously overtime. This has enabled the satellite to remain updated on the growing and changing needs of the users. The satellites have also been enabled to grow in many dimensions like capacity, performance and reliability among other related areas. According to Edelson & Cooper, Satellites have been widely used in “long-distance trunks for telephone circuits and television program distribution” [1].

They are also used in geographically remote areas with little communication infrastructure or where the infrastructures are not well poorly developed like in the cases of third world countries. They have also been in use for decades in television signals. They transmit signals from the television companies’ network hub to their affiliated networks and this has enhanced the efficiency in transmitting these signals.

The History of Satellites

The field of satellite communications then began on the experiments that used orbiting satellites. The first experiment, the Trans-Pacific television satellite-relay, took place in 1963. This was a great move in the field but it created a great shock since it put about the news of the tragic death of the former US president J.F Kennedy that occurred by assassination. According to Iida [5], the satellite communications by Geostationary was first proposed by a famous science writer, Arthur Clarke.

In his work, “wireless world” in 1945, he explained how man made satellites in a circular stationery orbit 36,000 kilometers above geostationary orbits and he suggests that such technologies could be launched around the same period. His suggestion was later worked on by innovators. The technology has since then been growing at a recommendable rate.

Satellite communications are a result of research that was that was carried out in the area of communication and space technologies. This research was carried out with the object to attain ever increasing ranges and capacities and capacities with the lowest possible costs. The emergence of the satellite communications technology has the roots in the missiles and the microwaves technology which expanded greatly following the stimulation of the Second World War.

The expertise that embarked on the effort to combine the two technologies, missiles and the microwaves technology opened up the era of satellite communications. This new technology provided the like services with terrestrial networks using radio and cables. Sputnik was the first artificial satellite to be launched by the former Soviet Union in 1957, the outset of the space error.

This first satellite worked with an on-board radio transmitter. There were two frequencies that aided the transmitter, that is, 20.005 and 40.002 MHz. In 1958 America launched Project SCORE as the first satellite to relay communication and which happened in the same year. This satellite relied on a tape recorder for it to work efficiently especially while storing and forwarding the voice messages.

This satellite was for used by President Eisenhower, D.D. of the United States of America in sending Christmas greetings from the US to the rest of the world. NASA, an agent of the US government in the executive branch launched in 1960 another satellite called Echo Satellite. The world’s first active repeater satellite was courier 1B that was put in place in 1960, around the same time Echo Satellite was launched.

Use of Satellites by the military, types of satellites used and their specifications

The extent of use of satellites by the military.

During the space age, satellites communication has been very paramount in the military. In the United States, for instance, beginning in 1946, the use of the satellite communications in the military has increased tremendously following achievement of radar with the moon. In 1954, the US navy conducted a communication experiment with the moon as the reflector. Following this experiment, there was put in place in 1959 an operational communication link that aided military communication between Hawaii and Washington, D.C.

Satellites have overtime gained prominence among the military activities and have become widely used. For instance, the security related activities of the military greatly require the use of satellites. Activities like verifying compliance with the arms control treaties requires intensive use of satellites.

There are also direct support military operations that require great input of the satellite communications technology. According to Postnote, “During the 2004 Iraq war, 68% of munitions were satellite guided (up from 10% in the 1991 Iraq War)” (Postnote, 2006, pg. 1). With the new technology of satellite communication, many countries have now embarked on military space activities.

This increasing adoption of satellite technology in space military activities has been enhanced by a number of factors which include: there has been increasing availability of commercial satellite data that are compatible and apt for use in the military, there is also availability of launch facilities in countries like US, Japan, Israel and India among others and other countries can pay to use, there is also move towards small satellites that are affordable to use.

In the UK also there is widespread use of satellite communication in the military. For instance, the British military launched a high-tech satellite for communication from Kourou in French Guiana, South America which is for use by the British military forces for communication with the UK armed forces. The Skynet 5C will be relaying communication signals between the armed forces in UK and British headquarters and those that have been deployed to various parts of the world.

The new satellites will facilitate the functioning of Skynets 5A and 5B sateklites which are already in existence. According to Staff Writers, following the launch of Skynet 5C, “Baroness Taylor, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support said that This important milestone is yet more good news for our armed forces and that The Skynet 5 constellation is a huge step forward in data capacity” [4].

He added that (p.g 1) “With the successful commissioning of Skynets 5A and 5B, and now the launch of Skynet 5C, we have a very significant improvement in our global communications systems and the means of assuring it.” [4]. this shows that the technology is very paramount in the military space activities. In the UK military forces, the satellites communication is also used in the field of welfare services in relaying messages from service personnel who are on operations to their family and friends and vice versa.

It has been noted by Postnote [3] that the UK’s main strength is in Telecoms and the Skynet network offers great support to the armed forces. These services have been provided through a private contractor called Paradigm since the year 2005. He also notes 3that the UK does not have its own military satellites but has been relying on the US for any space based form of security and defense technology.

The use of satellites in military activities has increased greatly over time and it seems that the trend will continue in the coming decades. About 45 countries had launched satellites by 2005 and other countries like china and India were coming up strongly. India had planned its first military satellite to take place by 2007.

Types of military satellites and their specifications

There are various types of satellites that are applicable to the military space activities. These are described below.

Anti-Satellite weapons

These satellites are made specifically to incapacitate other satellites used by the opponent or otherwise for strategic military purposes. These are not common satellites among countries but are currently found in countries like US, Russia and the republic of china. There are meant to disable other satellites where a need to do so fall due.

They are also used to destroy enemy warheads and other space assets as may be identified by the military. These satellites may be designed to have particle weapons, energy weapons, nuclear weapons among other components depending on the kind of weapon it is designed to disable.

Military communication satellites

These are satellites that are designed to link communications centers to the front line operators. These have been widely used in the in the USA ns Russia in the military systems. They are designed to provide reliable, continuous, interoperable and secure communications between different military units among themselves and between them and the command centers. They are meant to ensure military superiority in the battle field as well as streamlining military commands and control.

They are designed to provide services such as reliable networks of voice and broadband data services for command and control and telephony backbone services in the remote areas and where there is a wide network for data applications. There are also field services such as voice, data, and video services between military forces in the deployment area and the headquarters. Terrestrial back-up is another form of military communication satellites.

This is meant for barking up communication for services for disaster areas especially where there are no communications infrastructures or where they have been destroyed. There is also back-up for technical coordination links for critical locations. Another service is air craft control which provides secure and reliable communication among control towers as well as conveying information between pilots and towers.

There is also video conferencing and telemedicine network which provides a broadband communication between field medical crews and major hospitals. The other service is border control and custom network which provide secure global communication services for surveillance operation inside and outside the country.

The communication satellites are set up in space so as to accomplish their purpose of providing communication and coordination services to the military. They are designed to work compatibly with Low Earth Orbits, Molniya orbits or geosynchronous orbits depending on the purpose for which they are used.

Reconnaissance satellites

They are also called as spy satellites and they are used for gathering intelligence information on the military activities of foreign countries. They use their collection of electromagnetic sensors, electoral optical detectors high resolution imaging systems to collect specific types of information over denied area of interest to intelligence community analysts.

Reconnaissance satellites are of four types including: Image Intelligence (IMINT), Signal Intelligence (SIGINT), Early Warning satellites and Nuclear Explosion Detection Satellites all of which play a significant role in military activities. SIGINT satellites are used for detecting transmissions from both broad cast communications and non communications systems like radar, and such related electronic systems [2]. They intercept and decrypt government, military and diplomatic communications transmitted by radio and other sources.

These satellites also receive elementary signals during ballistic missile tests and relay radio messages from CIA agents in foreign counties. They are capable of capturing radio and microwave transmissions emitted from any country and send them to advanced stations equipped with supercomputers for analysis.

SIGINT satellites comprise a category individual or all COMINT, ELINT, and FISI. COMINT stands for communication intelligence, ELINT means electronic intelligence and then there is FISI which stands for foreign instrumentation signals intelligence. These are the main specifications of the SIGNIT satellite technology. It is recommended that for continuous and interception of communication channels, these satellites should be placed at higher attitudes for them to be able to carry out both COMINT and ELINT operations.

Military weather forecasting satellites

These satellites provide weather information which is very useful in planning military operations. These are used to gather data where it is not possible to get traditional data. In the Intelligent Preparation of Battlefield, there is dire need to analyze the weather conditions and terrain among other environmental factors. This is because of the impact they have on the military operations. These satellites have sensors that enable them to observe the earth in several discrete bands of the electromagnetic scale.

Military navigation satellites

These are navigation systems that indicate the exact location of soldiers, military aircraft, and military vehicles among others. Military navigations also guide a new generation of missiles to their targets.

Space weapons

These are weapons that travel through space to strike their intended targets. They are used in the warfare and are controlled from space or otherwise. They are designed to attach space systems in orbit, or in fighting the targeted group on the earth from the space. They may also include anti-satellite weapons that are used in incapacitating missiles that are travelling through space. These weapons may be classified on the basis of physical location of the weapon and also the intended target [3]. These categories include space-to-space weapons, earth-to-space weapons and space to earth weapons.

The latest technology in satellites communication field

The field of satellite communication is a fast growing field and has recorded significant advancement in the past few decades. The need to communicate using satellites in the world is steadily increasing. According to Toyoshima, “Within a few years, the data rate of such satellites will exceed 1 Gbps, the angular resolution of sensors will bless than 1 μrad, and the memory size of onboard data recorders will be beyond 1 Tbytes” [2].

GeoEye 1 is one of the latest technologies launched in the field of satellite technology. It was launched in 2008 on September and was meant to improve how satellite images are delivered. It is the most common and powerful commercial imaging satellites. GeoEye incorporated are strong and fast growing companies. They basically deal with satellite photography.

The US recently launched the latest high tech weather satellites to enable the military be able to analyze the weather conditions. The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-P is meant to keep watch on the storm development and also detect the weather conditions on earth from high in space. Despite GOES-P and GeoEye there are many other technologies that have come up in the field of satellite in many countries.

The field is also in tremendous dynamism that is adapting itself frequently with the other emerging technologies like the information communication technology.

Satellite communication systems are in great use in the military space activities. The increasing need to undertake space activities has greatly caused many countries to adopt the technology. This has made it easy for the military to undertake most of its activities. For instance, the military weather forecasting satellite enables the military to detect the weather conditions before planning for any space activity.

Some of the satellites used by the military include Anti-Satellite weapons Military communication satellites, Reconnaissance satellites, Military weather forecasting satellites, Military navigation satellites and Space weapons. The field has been growing over time and might continue to grow due to the increasing needs of use of satellites by the military.

Reference List

  • Edelson B.I. and Cooper R.S. Business Use of Satellite Communications. Virginia: Department of Defense; 1982. Web.
  • Toyoshima M. Trends in satellite communications and the role of Optical free-space communications . Koganei: Institute of Communications and Radio-Frequency Engineering, Vienna University of Technology; N. d. Web.
  • Postnote., Military uses of space . Parliamentary office of science and technology , Number 273, pp 1-3; 2006. Web.
  • Staff Writers., Launch of British Military Satellite Makes It A Skynet Hat-Trick . Delaware: SpaceDaily. 2008. [Web.
  • Iida T. Satellite communications: system and its design technology . Amsterdam: IOS Press; 2000.
  • Chicago (A-D)
  • Chicago (N-B)

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Essay on “Satellite Communications” Complete Essay for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.

Satellite communications.

Satellite communications are the outgrowth of development in two main areas, space technology and communication technology. The first requirement for any space activity has, however, nothing to do with the state of technology since it concerns the ability to compute the velocity needed to escape earth’s gravity and, as a next step, to a satellite in orbit. This knowledge comes out of a very old branch of science, celestial mechanics which began when man first studied the motion of stars. The key technology in space flight generally is propulsion since the problem of launching objects into space revolves itself into securing initial thrust required to escape the gravitational attraction of the earth and to give the space object the velocity necessary to hold its course by the inertia of its motion. The ability to provide transportation services for a wide variety of spacecraft has progresses rapidly. The early efforts of the late 1950s involved modest mission any pay load requirements and were generally concerned with the launching of relatively simple space research experiments. The programme of the early 1960s expanded into such areas as lunar and inter-planetary probes. Today, a wide variety of spacecraft are launched on a routine basis. A family of proven launch vehicles exists which can be adapted to specific mission needs.

Rocket technology is more capable of accelerating useful payloads to the very high velocities required to orbit the earth, to escape the earth and go to the moon and the other planets and also of providing a high degree of precision when placing objects in orbit around the earth.

The existing rocketry power, to place satellite in orbit would, however, be of no practical value in the absence of efficient communication with the spacecraft. No meaningful activity in space would be possible without these. Space communication and computer technology depend on innovations and advances in electronics which started with the transistors invented in 1948. Since then the trend has been towards ever smaller, more reliable and versatile electronic devices which have become essential in aviation equipment, computers, space and communication industry.

The communication satellite is described as the climax of the revolution in communication and information which is to change our world into a global village. Some regard satellite communication as a further step towards still more powerful and all pervasive mass media whose contact binds individuals to a technocratic order. Others foresee a global mass of individuals more or less helplessly reeling under the impact of constant floods of incoherent information. Changes in the communication system which make it possible for more people to get access to more and a greater selection of information, education or entertainment might in themselves have far-reaching consequences, regardless of the content at a given moment. The sheer presence of television is expected to break the feeling of isolation in remote communities. The anxieties and fears that have been expressed with regard to the possibility of unwanted television broadcasts via satellites recognise  the importance of both the medium and the message, whatever, the theoretical position is taken. There is also a recognition of the much greater impact of television as compared to such a medium as short-wave radio as well as the concept of certain kinds of content being more acceptable – or unacceptable-than others.

It is often said that one of the main consequences of modern communication technology, as specifically represented by satellite communication, would be instantaneously and universally available information. The problem would then be one, not of availability, but of selectivity. This would imply the recognition of the need for new kinds of education so that “people can cope efficiently, imaginatively and perceptively with information overload” or of the important place held by the mass media, the significance of their goals, principles and practices.

However, these issues cannot be dealt with without some indications of the trends and possibilities and implications of satellite communication in the light of more clearly defined aspects. The implications may be seen from various points over view such as in response to such questions as to what kind of information can be or need be transmitted over satellites, according to what patterns, by whom, and for what purpose, in which context. The introduction of satellite communication occurs in widely different socio-economic, political and cultural contexts. The implications will, therefore, vary from country to country and region to region. One of the basic differences will be between those countries already possessing a well developed telecommunications and broadcasting network and nations with limited, inadequate facilities where geographical and other factors add to the difficulties in establishing nationwide net works. These two categories would generally but not completely correspond to the industrialised and developing areas of the world.

It has been said that satellite technology would be particularly unsuited to developing countries because it is expensive, technologically sophisticated and presents new problems when the present ones have not been solved. While admittedly the cost factor is an essential consideration, the scale of expenditure should not distract from an evaluation in terms of development goals that can be served in this way and in some cases in no other way. Moreover, the satellite system costs have fallen low enough to be within reach of developing countries, and to represent at least an option that should seriously be taken into account.

It has been recognised in various international bodies, primarily in the United Nations, that all efforts should be made to assist developing nations to benefit from space technology. It has been emphasized that if the developing countries continue to rely upon traditional, conventional techniques without taking the plunge into new technology, the gap between them and the technologically advanced countries will not close but continue to widen.

“Several peaceful applications of outer space can be applied now in developing countries to provide a new stimulus for progress. Above all, it is necessary to ensure that they are not compelled to follow through the same steps as were taken during the past century by those countries which are technologically advanced today. Many traditional technologies become much more cost effective if combined with space applications. The population explosion and the rapidly shrinking world do not permit delaying the benefits arising from space until the older methods have been developed. The question is not whether developing countries can afford the peaceful uses of outer space. Rather it is whether they can afford to ignore them”.

Another great inequality in today’s world, that must be overcome, lies in the disparity between the urban centre’s and the rural areas, which is particularly evident in the case of information and communication media. Traditionally, they are first established in the cities from where they slowly, if at all, penetrate the countryside. Terrestrial telecommunication and television networks almost never achieve full coverage. Therefore, “until the advent of space technology, many benefits of a modern society were available only to communities residing in large metropolitan areas or to those linearly connected to such areas. Through communication satellites, it is now possible to reach isolated communities dispersed over a large region without suffering economic penalty. This aspect of space technology is of particular significance to developing countries where agriculture plays a preponderant role and substantial sections of the population are non-urban with a low level of literacy.

“Education as well as information inputs which might contribute to motivation for modernisation, the use of new techniques in the production of food, improved health and sanitation, can all be provided much more readily if reliable audio-visual communication link can be established nation-wide. Moreover, many developing countries face an acute problem arising from social force of disintegration. Their continued viability is dependent on the integration of many religious, tribal, and regional groups which have distinct cultural and political traditions. A single system of mass communications providing a common-shared experience to the entire population can perform an important role in making credible the oneness of the territory.”

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Dynamic Network Formation for FSO Satellite Communication

Satellite network optimization is essential, particularly since the cost of manufacturing, launching and maintaining each satellite is significant. Moreover, classical communication optimization methods, such as Minimal Spanning Tree, cannot be applied directly in dynamic scenarios where the satellite constellation is constantly changing. Motivated by the rapid growth of the Star-Link constellation that, as of Q4 2021, consists of over 1600 operational LEO satellites with thousands more expected in the coming years, this paper focuses on the problem of constructing an optimal inter-satellite (laser) communication network. More formally, given a large set of LEO satellites, each equipped with a fixed number of laser links, we direct each laser module on each satellite such that the underlying laser network will be optimal with respect to a given objective function and communication demand. In this work, we present a novel heuristic to create an optimal dynamic optical network communication using an Ant Colony algorithm. This method takes into account both the time it takes to establish an optical link (acquisition time) and the bounded number of communication links, as each satellite has a fixed amount of optical communication modules installed. Based on a large number of simulations, we conclude that, although the underlying problem of bounded-degree-spanning-tree is NP-hard (even for static cases), the suggested ant-colony heuristic is able to compute cost-efficient solutions in semi-real-time.

On the Security of LEO Satellite Communication Systems: Vulnerabilities, Countermeasures, and Future Trends

<div>In view of the development status of the security of LEO satellite communication system, a comprehensive review, induction, and summary is carried out.<br></div>

Virtualized High Throughput Satellite Gateway with a Global Bandwidth Management Method

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Effectiveness Evaluation Method of Constellation Satellite Communication System with Acceptable Consistency and Consensus Under Probability Hesitant Intuitionistic Fuzzy Preference Relationship

Abstract System effectiveness evaluation is an important part of constellation satellite communication system research, with applications in project verification and optimization as well as tactical and technical measurement argumentation. This paper presents a systematic and comprehensive effectiveness evaluation method for a constellation satellite communication system under a probabilistic hesitant intuitionistic fuzzy preference relationship (PHIFPR), aiming to better address the fuzziness and uncertainty in effectiveness evaluation. First, a proposed definition of PHIFPR describes the hesitancy of evaluators, provides hesitancy distribution information, and depicts the worst negative information and risk preferences in effectiveness evaluation. Then, we deduce the approximate consistency index of PHIFPR and establish a mathematical programming model to increase individual consistency when the approximate consistency index does not reach a predetermined level. In the sequel, a proposed group consensus index uses the PHIFPR-based Hausdorff distance to measure the closeness between evaluators' judgements. Afterwards, a consistency and consensus improvement model is designed to retain the original opinions of evaluators to make the consistency and consensus of PHIFPRs acceptable. Moreover, a goal programming model is established to gain the reliable scheme priority weights by regarding the approximate consistency condition of a PHIFPR as a fuzzy constraint. Finally, an experimental example is offered to highlight the practicability and feasibility of the proposed method, and some comparative analyses with other methods offer insights into the designed method.

Modeling and Fabrication of a Reconfigurable RF Output Stage for Nanosatellite Communication Subsystems

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Satellite Communication Networks

Communication satellite resource scheduling based on improved whale optimization algorithm.

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Analysis of key technologies for creating multisatellite orbital constellations of small spacecraft

One of the key areas of modern world cosmonautics is the development of cluster space systems for various purposes, consisting of a large number of functioning spacecraft. This became possible due to a decrease in the mass of spacecraft due to the creation and use of new materials, the development of electronics and microelectromechanical systems, the use of the group launch method, the development of multi-agent technologies and inter-satellite communication sys-tems. There are projects of systems consisting of a large number of space objects, such as OneWeb, Planet, Starlink, Satellogic, etc. The main classes of devices used to create such multi-satellite systems are small satellites, including the number of micro (up to 100 kg) and nano (up to 10-15 kg) classes, which have significant advantages over heavy space-craft, especially in terms of the timing and cost of their creation. The deployment of multi-satellite constellations, in-cluding hundreds and thousands of satellites, requires fundamentally new approaches to the creation of spacecraft and the system as a whole at all stages of the life cycle. The article discusses the key technologies used to create multi-satellite orbital constellations based on small satellites at different stages of the life cycle - from the early stages of de-sign to the stage of operation and disposal (information from orbit). The experience of a joint project of Samara Univer-sity and the Progress Rocket and Space Center on the creation of a constellation of small spacecraft of the AIST series is presented.

Load Balancing Routing Algorithm of Low-Orbit Communication Satellite Network Traffic Based on Machine Learning

Satellite communication has become an important research trend in the field of communication technology. Low-orbit satellites have always been the focus of extensive attention by scholars due to their wide coverage, strong flexibility, and freedom from geographical constraints. This article introduces some technologies about low-orbit satellites and introduces a routing algorithm DDPG based on machine learning for simulation experiments. The performance of this algorithm is compared with the performance of three commonly used low-orbit satellite routing algorithms, and a conclusion is drawn. The routing algorithm based on machine learning has the smallest average delay, and the average value is 126 ms under different weights. Its packet loss rate is the smallest, with an average of 2.9%. Its throughput is the largest, with an average of 201.7 Mbps; its load distribution index is the smallest, with an average of 0.54. In summary, the performance of routing algorithms based on machine learning is better than general algorithms.

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Tele-medicine

About Telecommunications

Telecommunication satellites: what for?

Just a few years ago two of every three intercontinental telephone calls were transmitted by telecommunication satellites. Satellites have proved particularly useful for communicating with many of the countries in the less developed parts of the world.

Today, new technology and different kinds of demand have changed the way communications satellites are used. More powerful satellites and the use of higher frequencies have made it possible for many people to receive directly signals from the sky. At the beginning of the 21st century more than 70 million European homes watch TV programmes through direct reception or through cable distribution systems.

Without us realising it, satellite communications permeate our lives. Many everyday actions that we take for granted happen because telecommunication satellites are in orbit, 36 000 km over our heads - they are reliable and can be used in a plethora of ways.

  • Did you know than when you listen to the radio most likely the signal that you receive has been distributed from the central studios by satellite?
  • Did you know that many newspapers and magazines are produced centrally but printed locally? The content of the paper is sent to the printing plants using satellite links.
  • Did you know that even when a news or sport event shown on the television takes place just a few kilometres away from the studios it has probably been transmitted via satellite?
  • Did you know that most news agencies use satellites to distribute text, audio or video to their affiliates?
  • In many countries access to the internet is by satellite communication. This is not to say that satellite communications are the origin of the long waiting times that we sometimes experience, since the delay they introduce is never more than a quarter of a second (the time the radio signal takes to reach the satellite and come down again at the speed of light).
  • There are many other ways in which satellites are used, some very specific such as communicating between the national lottery networks in the UK and Spain, retail chains or banks in many parts of the world, remote post offices in little villages or for the control of water, gas or oil pipelines. Increasingly satellites are being used for tele-education, tele-medicine or video conference systems. Plus, in most remote and not-so-remote parts of the world, satellite communications continue to play a fundamental role in the structure of telephone and other services.
  • The Inmarsat mobile satellite communications system has also changed the way in which mariners communicate with the rest of the world. Satellite systems for mobile communications are now an indispensable component of the global telecommunication infrastructure. In addition to Inmarsat other mobile satellite systems, regional and global, have been conceived to complement and to satisfy our demand to be connected anytime and in anyplace.

There are many types of telecommunication satellites and they vary in design according to their purpose. They use different orbits, different frequencies and they transmit very different type of signals using a variety of power levels.

A fundamental principle behind telecommunication satellites is the type of orbit they use. TA geostationary orbit was first proposed by the British science and science fiction writer Arthur C.Clarke. To understand it better we have to remember some basic physics:

If you throw an object with a speed of more than 10 km/sec towards the sky in the right direction you have an artificial satellite. This means the satellite will keep turning around the Earth without falling. The centrifugal force of the satellite is compensated by the attraction of the Earth. It will not need any propellant and will continue to orbit the Earth, although eventually friction with the upper layers of the atmosphere will bring it down.

Low Earth orbit satellites, such as the Space Shuttle, the International Space Station and many other scientific and Earth observation satellites have very high relative angular motion with respect to the Earth. In fact, they orbit the Earth in around 90 minutes at heights of just a few hundred kilometres. The distance from London to Paris does not seem very much when we compare it with the diameter of the globe.

If a satellite is launched with more energy, (i.e. more speed) it will go further and faster. However, the radius of the orbit will also be larger and the net result is that the angular motion is comparatively slower.

A telecommunication satellite in low Earth orbit will appear in the west and move towards the east, being visible for about 10 minutes at a time. This is fine if you only want to communicate for just a few minutes, but not very good if you want the satellite to beam to Earth a TV programme or a football match. Also your antenna would have to track the satellite to maintain contact.

Geostationary orbit is tremendously useful for telecommunications. It is in the same plane as the equator and at such a distance that satellites complete an orbit every 24 hours. This means that they orbit the Earth at the same angular speed at which the Earth is turning. Therefore, to the observer the satellite appears to be stationary and an antenna pointed at a geostationary satellite will remain pointed to the satellite year after year without any need to touch it.

The use of satellites in geostationary orbit allows permanent links to be established by just transmitting a radio-frequency signal (not very different for instance from the signals that are used to broadcast terrestrial television, i.e. UHF, but usually of a frequency 3 to 50 times greater). The signal is received, amplified and transmitted back to the Earth allowing communications between points that are thousands of kilometres away.

A particular property that makes geostationary satellites extremely attractive is their capacity to broadcast. Indeed, the signal that is transmitted by the satellite can be picked up by antennas anywhere in the coverage area of the satellite. This can be an area the size of a country, a region, a continent or the face of the Earth that the satellite can see. But the most important effect is that anyone with a relatively small antenna (some times as small as 40 or 50 cm in diameter), can become a direct user of the satellite.

In the last decade other system concepts have been developed around the use of constellations of low Earth orbiting satellites. These systems guarantee the continuity of their services by ensuring the constant availability of at least one satellite (in most cases two, three or even four satellites) over the users line of sight.

LEO systems, as they are generically called, require 48,66, 77, 80 or even 288 satellites to cover the whole planet and provide the required services. Several of these systems are designed to provide communications to mobile terminals. They use a relatively low frequency, and the fact that the user's antennas are not very selective is a plus for them: no careful tracking of the satellite is then needed. Also, the low altitude decreases the delay and the power needed to establish communications.

The market for satellite communications has been expanding at a sustained rate of more than 15% a year. When launchers, user terminals and specially derived services are taken into account this market, currently around €90 billion, is expected to grow to around €220 billion in the next 7-8 years. Satellite communications and launchers have been by far the most important application of the space programme both in Europe and other countries.

European industry and European telecommunication operators are at the forefront of this huge international market thanks in part to the vision of ESA and the effort the Agency and its Member States have put into developing new technology and satellite systems over the past three decades.

ESA mission

Road traffic monitoring

ESA's mission in this fast-moving area is to help make European industry and operators competitive on the world stage by supporting technological R&D and pioneering developments necessary for bringing new technologies near to market readiness, and helping to forge partnerships capable of creating wealth, jobs and new services for the citizens of Europe.

By investing in new technological avenues and new system concepts, ESA acts as a catalyst for European industry to develop and exploit emerging products, services and markets. In addition, ESA provides a framework and meeting point which facilitates the discussion, and the harmonization and generation of standards.

Historical perspective

Orbital Test Satellite (OTS) - artist's impression

Together with rocket launchers, communications satellites represent by far the largest commercial space market worldwide. Our planet is girded with a belt of over 100 satellites for radio, television and telephone communications. In 30 years, they have revolutionised society, changed the way our economies work and introduced new dimensions to television and entertainment.

ESA started to develop communications satellites in 1968 and launched an Orbital Test Satellite (OTS) 10 years later. The OTS satellite was used for more then 13 years by ESA and Eutelsat (Europe's organisation for satellite telecommunications) and by European national telecommunications companies to demonstrate new services, such as broadcasting to cable feeds and direct-to-home television. Its design inspired the conception of many subsequent satellites in Europe.

Following this pioneering work ESA developed and launched four European Communications Satellites (ECS) between 1983 and 1988 for use by Eutelsat. Each ECS allowed coverage of the whole European continent for cable television, telephone communications, specialised services and Eurovision transmissions. Two of those satellites are still in commercial service.

For communications with mobile stations, especially ships at sea, ESA developed two MARECS satellites. Launched in 1981 and 1984, they were later leased for operations to Inmarsat, the international maritime satellite organisation. Their L-band payloads, with global coverage, could handle just around 50 telephone circuits. One is still in service today.

A giant orbiting test bed

Olympus

ESA's Olympus experimental satellite was the largest civilian telecommunications satellite in the world at the time of its launch in 1989. Its design incorporated many key technologies and its direct-to-home TV broadcasting payload allowed national network programmes to be captured with antenna dishes as small as 30 cm in diameter.

Olympus also provided regular High Definition Television (HDTV) transmissions and capacity for digital broadcasting experiments. Small terminals, with antennas of up to 2.5 m, used a Specialised Business Services payload for two-way communications, exchanging data, images and video signals, or for broadcasting to a selected number of viewers (known as narrowcasting).

Control of Olympus was accidentally lost in May 1991 but a major recovery action enabled it to resume full service by the following August. Two years later the ambitious experimental mission ended when the spacecraft's fuel ran out.

Artemis

In 2001 a new telecommunications satellite, called Artemis, was launched to continue the technological development of Europe’s space infrastructure.

With an eye on the more distant future, ESA is also pursuing a programme called ARTES (Advanced Research on Telecommunication Satellites) that is looking at innovative ways of developing and using communications technology.

This is ESA's seed bed for developments that will become part of our everyday lives as the first decade of the 21st century moves into the second.

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Essay on Satellite

Students are often asked to write an essay on Satellite in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Satellite

Introduction to satellites.

Satellites are objects in space that orbit around larger bodies, like Earth. They can be natural, like moons, or man-made for various purposes.

Types of Satellites

There are many types of satellites. Communication satellites help in sending signals for television and phones. Weather satellites help predict weather changes. Navigation satellites assist in GPS systems.

Importance of Satellites

Satellites are important as they help us in communication, weather forecasting, navigation, and scientific research. They play a crucial role in our daily lives and scientific advancements.

Understanding satellites is fascinating. They are a testament to human ingenuity and our quest to explore the universe.

250 Words Essay on Satellite

Introduction.

Satellites, man-made objects orbiting celestial bodies, play a crucial role in modern society. They are instrumental in various fields including communication, weather forecasting, navigation, and scientific research.

The Science Behind Satellites

Satellites operate on the principle of gravity. Launched into space by rockets, they maintain their orbit around planets due to the balance between their forward motion and the gravitational pull of the planet. The height and speed of the satellite determine the nature of its orbit.

Satellites are broadly classified into natural and artificial. Natural satellites are celestial bodies that orbit a planet, like the moon. Artificial satellites, on the other hand, are man-made and serve specific purposes. They can be further divided into categories like communication, weather, navigation, and research satellites.

Applications of Satellites

Satellites have revolutionized our lives. Communication satellites enable global connectivity, facilitating television broadcasts, phone calls, and internet services. Weather satellites provide meteorological data, aiding in weather prediction and climate studies. Navigation satellites like GPS ensure accurate location and timing information. Research satellites contribute to space exploration and scientific discoveries.

In conclusion, satellites have become an indispensable part of our lives. They have not only advanced our understanding of the cosmos but also enhanced our capabilities in communication and navigation. As technology progresses, the potential applications of satellites are bound to increase, paving the way for a future where space technology is even more ingrained in our daily lives.

500 Words Essay on Satellite

Satellites, the celestial bodies orbiting around a planet, have become an integral part of our modern life. They are not only vital for scientific exploration but also for communication, weather monitoring, navigation, and numerous other applications. This essay aims to delve into the world of satellites, their types, uses, and significance.

Understanding Satellites

A satellite is any object that moves in a regular path around a planet. The Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite. However, since the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, by the Soviet Union in 1957, thousands of these man-made objects have been sent into space for various purposes.

Satellites can be broadly classified into two categories: natural and artificial. Natural satellites are celestial bodies like moons, while artificial satellites are human-made machines launched into space for specific tasks. Artificial satellites can be further categorized into communication satellites, weather satellites, navigation satellites, reconnaissance satellites, and scientific satellites, among others.

Satellites play a pivotal role in various aspects of our daily lives. Communication satellites have revolutionized global communication by facilitating television broadcasts, telephone calls, and internet services. Weather satellites help predict weather changes, enabling timely disaster warnings and facilitating agricultural planning. Navigation satellites, like those in the GPS system, provide precise positional data for navigation on land, sea, and air. Scientific satellites aid in astronomical observations and earth science studies, providing valuable data about our universe and our planet.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite their numerous benefits, the use of satellites comes with its own set of challenges. Space debris, also known as ‘space junk’, is a significant problem. It consists of defunct satellites and fragments from satellite collisions and explosions. This debris poses a threat to functional satellites and manned spacecraft.

Furthermore, the increasing dependence on satellites raises concerns about cybersecurity. As these satellites transmit sensitive data, they become potential targets for cyber-attacks.

Looking ahead, the future of satellites is promising. Developments in technology are paving the way for smaller, more capable satellites. The concept of satellite constellations, a group of satellites working together, is gaining traction. Companies like SpaceX with its Starlink project aim to provide global broadband coverage using these constellations.

Satellites, since their inception, have transformed the way we live, communicate, navigate, and perceive our world. As technology advances, the capabilities of satellites will continue to expand, unlocking new possibilities. However, it’s crucial that we address the challenges they pose to ensure a sustainable and secure future in space. The journey of satellites, from being a mere concept to becoming an indispensable tool, is a testament to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of knowledge.

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USC Viterbi School and School of Advanced Computing Announce Keynote Speakers for 2024 Satellite Commencement Ceremonies

Over 4,300 engineering students expected to participate in ceremonies..

Photo of graduating students from 2023 posting happily inside Galen Center

Graduating students in 2023 pose at the Galen Center

Each year, students from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering participate in satellite graduation ceremonies that complement USC’s main commencement ceremony. These include the Ph.D. hooding ceremony on Wednesday, May 8, and USC Viterbi-specific undergraduate and two master’s-level graduate ceremonies on May 10 following the main USC commencement ceremony. Over 4,300 engineering students are expected to participate in these four ceremonies. The USC Viterbi School and the new School of Advanced Computing satellite ceremonies will feature the following notable keynote speakers: For the undergraduate ceremony, Karen Dahut, CEO, Google Public Sector; for the master’s ceremony 1, Zohreh Khademi, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Devices; and for the master’s ceremony 2 for computer science, Computer Scientist and Entrepreneur Kevin Knight.

About the keynote speakers:

For the Undergraduate Ceremony:

Headshot of Karen Dahut

As CEO of Google Public Sector (GPS), Karen Dahut helps U.S., state, local, and federal agencies, and educational institutions accelerate their digital transformations. With her charge leading GPS, she works to bring Google technology to solve complex problems for U.S. public sector institutions. These technologies include Google’s data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) platform; infrastructure services for storage, compute, and networking; cybersecurity solutions; and Google Workspace for collaboration and communication.

Dahut was previously sector president at Booz Allen Hamilton, where she led the company’s $4 billion global defense business—representing half of the firm’s annual revenue—and global commercial business sector, which delivered next-generation cybersecurity solutions to Fortune 500 companies. Under her leadership, Booz Allen became the premier digital integrator, helping federal agencies use technology in support of their missions. Dahut also has deep experience in building innovative solutions that help organizations tackle their toughest challenges. For example, at Booz Allen, she served as chief innovation officer and built the firm’s Strategic Innovation Group that delivered new capabilities in cybersecurity, data science, and digital technologies. Dahut began her career as an officer in the U.S. Navy.

A respected and recognized public speaker and author, she’s an expert on technology, the future of work, innovation, and inclusive leadership. Also an experienced board director for nonprofit and private organizations, she serves on the boards of Dexcom, Eisner Advisory Group, and previously served on Tech Data Corporation’s board. She is a trustee of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum a board member for the USC Viterbi School of Engineering Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science.

Dahut received a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Mount St. Mary’s University and a master’s degree in systems management from the Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California. She lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with her family.

Master’s Ceremony 1

Headshot of Zohreh Khademi

Keynote Speaker: Zohreh Khademi, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Devices

Zohreh Khademi is a Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, leading the Cloud Infrastructure Solutions & Services (CISS) function within the Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) organization. CO+I harbor all Microsoft data centers that operate the most reliable, trusted, safe and secure cloud infrastructure in the world, Microsoft Cloud. During her 26 years at Microsoft, Khademi has held various technical and leadership roles within Microsoft’s Product Development, Manufacturing and Supply Chain and Devices business groups. Previously, she headed Microsoft Flexible Design & Manufacturing + New Product Introduction (XDM+NPI.) The Flexible Design & Manufacturing (XDM) team works to enable portfolio growth, profitability, and scalability. The New Product Introduction (NPI) team manages all aspects of cross-group programs, including manufacturing design and product engineering. Leveraging her experience to lead hardware products from development to production, Khademi applied those capabilities across the Devices portfolio, including products from Surface to Xbox and Accessories.

Prior to joining Microsoft, Khademi spent +10 years in various technical & engineering roles in the manufacturing and consumer products industries that specialized in Industrial, Product & Manufacturing Engineering, automation and robotics. Khademi’s personal passions center on diversity & inclusion and recruiting and developing early career talent for Microsoft. Currently, she is the Microsoft Executive Sponsor for the University of Southern California, where she is often invited as a guest lecturer and speaker at the Engineering School. She also sits on the advisory board of the Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at USC. From 2021 to 2023, Khademi served as Executive Sponsor for the Asian Employee Resource Group and represented this group on the Microsoft CEO’s Inclusion Council. For the past 15 years, Khademi has developed and created a college recruiting program targeting women and minority engineers. Khademi currently is Executive Sponsor of D&I for the Cloud Operation and Innovation group.

She is a graduate of the University of Southern California, where she earned a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in industrial and systems engineering. She also holds a certificate in microcomputer and systems networking from the University of Washington, Seattle, WA. She lives in the Seattle area with her husband and is a proud mother to three sons (Shawn, Ryan & Brandon).

Master’s Satellite Ceremony 2 (Computer Science)

Headshot of Kevin Knight

Keynote Speaker: Kevin Knight, Computer Scientist and Entrepreneur

Kevin Knight is an academic and entrepreneur. He has served on the faculty of the University of Southern California (26 years), as chief scientist at Language Weaver, Inc. (9 years), and as chief scientist for natural language processing at Didi Global (4 years). He received a Ph.D. in computer science from Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University. Knight’s research interests include natural language processing (NLP), machine translation, language generation, automata theory, decipherment of historical documents, and number theory. He has co-authored over 150 research papers on natural language processing, as well as a widely adopted textbook, “Artificial Intelligence.” Knight served as president of the Association for Computational Linguistics (ACL) in 2011, as general chair for ACL in 2005, as general chair for the North American ACL (NAACL) in 2016, and as co-program chair for the inaugural Asia-Pacific ACL (2020). He received an Outstanding Paper Award at NAACL 2018, and Test-of-Time awards at ACL 2022 and ACL 2023. He is a fellow of the ACL and the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI).

Knight was a pioneer in applying statistical methods to problems in natural language processing and AI. Working with Ph.D. students at USC, he wrote early papers on transliteration and generation that founded large bodies of research. Knight was one of the first researchers in statistical machine translation systems and co-founded Language Weaver, the first company to commercialize such software. In symbolic AI, Knight led the development of Abstract Meaning Representation, a method for capturing the semantics of English sentences, including manual annotation of tens of thousands of pieces of text. He also championed the use of finite-state string automata for NLP, and he developed the first connections between NLP and tree automata. While tracing the origins of NLP to World War II cryptography, Knight developed new algorithms for breaking classical ciphers, which he applied to crack a number of ciphers of historical significance, including the secret-society Copiale text and the military communications of General James Wilkinson. His cryptographic work also appears in Hollywood films such as “Under the Silver Lake.”

For information about the USC Viterbi School of Engineering ceremonies, please visit: https://viterbigrad.usc.edu/academic-services/commencement-information/

Published on April 9th, 2024

Last updated on April 9th, 2024

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China launch of relay satellite Queqiao-2 for lunar probe mission successful

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BEREC events 2024

Save the date: berec external workshop about the usage of satellite technologies in mobile communications.

Event location: Hybrid (Mainz, Germany, and Virtual)

Application deadline: 15-05-2024

On Wednesday, 22 May 2024, BEREC will hold a hybrid workshop on the usage of satellite technologies in mobile communications in Mainz, Germany. Provisional start and end: 10:00 CET- 16:30 CET (note that start and end times are not yet definitive and may be subject to changes).

Due to their unique characteristics, satellite communications (SatCom) can be an integral part of providing connectivity to remote locations where terrestrial networks are unable to reach and/or serve populations economically. During 2022, BEREC studied SatCom solutions for providing universal service (BoR (22) [1] ), which examined this particular SatCom role. To further BEREC’s understanding of SatCom, on 13 April 2023 BEREC organised an external workshop on secure and reliable connectivity from low earth orbit (‘LEO’) satellite feets (BoR (23) [2] ). The workshop gave BEREC an enhanced understanding of direct-to-device connectivity to International Mobile Telecommunication (‘IMT’) handhelds via satellite and identified some preliminary views on relevant regulatory issues that might arise. BEREC’s primary interest was to initiate discussions on the market access issues facing relevant industry stakeholders.

Some mobile operators have announced co-operation with satellite network operators to expand and complement coverage across rural parts of territories that they cover where the terrestrial infrastructure is limited or non-existent. The observations and discussions at the BEREC workshop in 2023 lead to the conclusion that stakeholder engagement should continue in 2024, as this will further enhance BEREC’s understanding of the relevant market access issues. It is also clear that SatCom, in particular, NGSO SatCom networks, and related services, are evolving fast, so it is reasonable to assume that there will be additional issues to consider. Therefore, on 22 May 2024 BEREC will hold another external workshop building on aspects of its earlier work.

To have a better understanding of relevant trends in Satellite Communication and potential opportunities and challenges for BEREC and NRAs, this workshop aims to examine a range of relevant issues, such as

  • potential regulatory issues associated with Non Terrestrial Networks (‘NTN’) in the context of extension of mobile/fixed communication networks (roaming, handover, numbering, interoperability and non-discrimination, market access and authorization, lawful interception, emergency calling, competition, consumer security and environmental sustainability).

The workshop will be a hybrid event, participants can either join via Webex, or in person at the BNetzA premises in Mainz, Germany.  On site participation will limited on a first come first served basis.

Preliminary Programme The program will roughly consist of the following segments, which will be alternated with interactive exchanges with speakers and audience:

  • Opening statements (associations tbc).
  • Status of Non-Terrestrial Networks and introduction to today’s regulatory challenges
  • Deeper dive into market access trends and the direct-to-device ecosystems
  • Future opportunities and challenges
  • Closing remarks and networking opportunities

We are currently working on further detailing program and contacting speakers. The program will be updated soon with more information.

Registration

Please register for this event by filling out the registration form below by 15 May COB . Please note that in case the interest is very high it may be necessary for us to limit registration for in-person participation.

If you have any questions please contact  [email protected]

[1] https://www.berec.europa.eu/en/document-categories/berec/reports/report-on-satellite-connectivity-for-universal-service , https://www.berec.europa.eu/en/document-categories/berec/reports/report-on-the-outcomes-of-public-consultation-on-the-report-on-satellite-connectivity-for-universal-service

[2] https://www.berec.europa.eu/en/events/berec-events-2023/berec-workshop-on-secure-and-reliable-connectivity-from-leo-satellite-fleets , https://www.berec.europa.eu/en/document-categories/berec/reports/summary-report-berec-workshop-on-secure-and-reliable-connectivity-from-leo-satellite-fleets-13-april-2023

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China's relay satellite ready to roll out communication service.

China's Queqiao 2, or Magpie Bridge 2, relay satellite is ready to provide communication service to missions operating on the Moon's far side, according to the China National Space Administration.

The administration said in a press release on Friday morning that the spacecraft has finished in-orbit communication tests. Ground controllers assessed the results and determined that the satellite's framework and mission payloads were running normally. Its capability and performance have proved to be good for signal relay tasks for Chinese and foreign lunar expeditions, the release said.

Queqiao 2 was lifted atop a Long March 8 carrier rocket from a coastal launchpad at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in China's southernmost island province of Hainan.

The spacecraft carried out a series of maneuvers, such as a midcourse trajectory correction and a braking operation, before it entered an elliptical frozen orbit on April 2 to become the world's second relay satellite above the Moon.

After its arrival in the predetermined orbital position, Queqiao 2 conducted two-way communication tests with the Chang'e 4 probe, which is on the lunar far side, and Chang'e 6, which is waiting to be launched at the Wenchang center, to examine its performance. All of the tests were completed before Wednesday, according to the administration.

Currently, the satellite is revolving around the Moon about every 24 hours and will soon start relaying signals for the Chang'e 4 and the upcoming Chang'e 6, it noted.

The Chang'e 4 probe, which landed in the South Pole-Aitken Basin in January 2019, is the world's first spacecraft that has landed on the Moon's far side, which never faces Earth.

The Chang'e 6, if everything goes according to plan, will embark on its journey in coming weeks and touch down in the South Pole-Aitken Basin. It is tasked with collecting dust and rock samples and sending them back to Earth. That will be a groundbreaking endeavor that is challenging, sophisticated and has never been done before.

Communication services between the Chang'e 4 and 6 probes and Earth require relay satellites due to their special locations.

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  1. (PDF) Understanding Satellite Communications

    essay about communication satellite

  2. Satellite Communication

    essay about communication satellite

  3. communication satellite

    essay about communication satellite

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    essay about communication satellite

  5. SATELLITE COMMUNICATION AND IT'S APPLICATION IN GPS

    essay about communication satellite

  6. Essay on Communication satellite 🛰

    essay about communication satellite

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  2. Find Communication Satellite Organization? #s&t #appscgroup2

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  4. Communication Satellite Course

  5. Introduction to Satellite Communication 2

  6. Satellite communication Unit 1 Lecture 5

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  1. Satellite communication

    Satellite communication has two main components: the ground segment, which consists of fixed or mobile transmission, reception, and ancillary equipment, and the space segment, which primarily is the satellite itself. A typical satellite link involves the transmission or uplinking of a signal from an Earth station to a satellite.

  2. Satellite Communication: Active and Passive Satellite

    Advantages of Satellite Communication. The following are the advantages of satellite communication: Installments of circuits are easy. The elasticity of these circuits is excellent. With the help of satellite communication, every corner of the earth can be covered. The user fully controls the network.

  3. Satellite Communications in the New Space Era: A Survey and Future

    Satellite communications (SatComs) have recently entered a period of renewed interest motivated by technological advances and nurtured through private investment and ventures. The present survey aims at capturing the state of the art in SatComs, while highlighting the most promising open research topics. Firstly, the main innovation drivers are motivated, such as new constellation types, on ...

  4. (PDF) Satellite Communications in the New Space Era: A ...

    Steven Kisseleff, Jor ge Querol, Lei Lei, Thang X. V u, George Goussetis. Abstract —Satellite communications (SatComs) have recently. entered a period of renewed interest motivated by ...

  5. The Satellite Of Communications Engineering Essay

    Essays. Engineering. Frequency range of satellite communications is (3-30) GHz and satellite is usually designed to have a typical operating life time of 10 to 15 years. The satellites are two types passive and active. Pa.

  6. (PDF) Understanding Satellite Communications

    The result of this communication satellite planning can provide services up to 74,746 user uplinks and 9,753 user downlinks. This paper also explores power variations of the power transmission ...

  7. Revolutionizing Communication: A Deep Dive Into The History and Impact

    Satellite communication is the transmission of signals between Earth-based stations and satellite systems orbiting the planet. The idea of satellite communication was first introduced by Arthur C. Clarke in 1945, but the first satellite, Sputnik, was launched by the Soviet Union in 1957. In 1962, the Telstar satellite was launched, which marked ...

  8. Introduction to Satellite Communications

    Abstract: The successful implementation of satellite wireless communications requires robust air links providing the uplink and downlink paths for the communications signal. A detailed knowledge of the types of atmospheric effects that impact satellite communications and the means to predict and model them for application to communications link design and performance is essential for wireless ...

  9. Definition and Use of Satellite Communications Report

    Introduction. Satellite communications are the kind of communications that are specifically targeted for communication between radio stations on earth through a radio station that is set up on spacecraft. Most of these communication systems use geostationary satellites. They provide a technology for microwave radio relay.

  10. History Of Satellite Communications Information Technology Essay

    Essay Writing Service. The history of satellite communications dates back to 1945 when a paper titled "Extra-terrestrial Relays" was written by Arthur C. Clarke who first describes the principle of satellite communications with satellites in geostationary orbits - a speculation realized 25 years later. The space era started in 1957 with ...

  11. Essay on "Satellite Communications" Complete Essay for Class 10, Class

    Essay on "Satellite Communications" Complete Essay for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes. Satellite Communications. Satellite communications are the outgrowth of development in two main areas, space technology and communication technology. The first requirement for any space activity has, however, nothing to do with the ...

  12. Communication Satellites

    The bands of interest for satellite communications lie above 100MHz including the VHF, UHF, L, S, C, X, Ku and Ka bands. Transponder is the key payload of any communication satellite. A brief outline on the basic satellite communication link set‐up is given in the chapter. The chapter provides a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages ...

  13. Communication Satellites And Computer Networks

    HISTORY OF COMMUNICATION SATELLTES. The first artificial satellite was the soviet sputnik 1, launched on October 4, 1957, and equipped with an onboard radio transmitter that worked on two frequencies, 20.005 and 40.002 MHz The first American satellite to relay communication was project score in 1958, which used a tape recorder to store and forward voice messages.

  14. The Impact Of Satellite Communication On Global Society

    Introduction. Satellite communication is undoubtedly ingrained into many facets of our global society. It provides an ability to relay voice communications of family members across the globe or transmit data from field locations to headquarters located across oceans. It has fundamentally changed how we communicate and share data with each other ...

  15. Satellite Communication Systems Overview

    The disadvantages of satellite communication are large propagation delay, communication cost and gradual increase in use of bandwidth. The basic factors to be considered in satellite communication are; elevation angle is the angle of the earth surface to the center line of the satellite transmission beam.

  16. satellite communication Latest Research Papers

    Satellite communication has become an important research trend in the field of communication technology. Low-orbit satellites have always been the focus of extensive attention by scholars due to their wide coverage, strong flexibility, and freedom from geographical constraints. This article introduces some technologies about low-orbit ...

  17. ESA

    In 30 years, they have revolutionised society, changed the way our economies work and introduced new dimensions to television and entertainment. ESA started to develop communications satellites in 1968 and launched an Orbital Test Satellite (OTS) 10 years later. The OTS satellite was used for more then 13 years by ESA and Eutelsat (Europe's ...

  18. Satellite Communications Essays

    A satellite is a device put into orbit around Earth that uses receivers, amplifiers, and transmitters to receive and send signals around the globe ("Communications Satellite Aug. 2007"). Satellites provide the signals to these and more devices. Satellites orbit Earth and provide global communications, as well as collect valuable data.

  19. Essay on Satellite

    250 Words Essay on Satellite Introduction. Satellites, man-made objects orbiting celestial bodies, play a crucial role in modern society. They are instrumental in various fields including communication, weather forecasting, navigation, and scientific research. The Science Behind Satellites. Satellites operate on the principle of gravity.

  20. How Chinese scientists made satellite calls on smartphones possible

    Satellite communication will gradually become popular among the general public Cui Wanzhao's team. The first satellite of the Tiantong-1 series was launched on August 6, 2016, with the second ...

  21. Satellite Communication For Computer Networks

    A multi-node, satellite communication system employing a modified broadcast system is disclosed for used with distributed computer networks. The system involves a plurality of network nodes (computer systems) each capable of transmitting to any other node at a single unique frequency, but capable of receiving from all other nodes simultaneously.

  22. Satellite Communication

    SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS - AN OVERVIEW. INTRODUCTION. The outer space has always fascinated people on the earth and communication through space evolved as an offshoot of ideas for space travel. The earliest idea of using artificial satellites for communications is found in a science fiction Brick Moon by Edward Evert Hale, published in 1869-70.

  23. USC Viterbi School and School of Advanced Computing Announce Keynote

    The USC Viterbi School and the new School of Advanced Computing satellite ceremonies will feature the following notable keynote speakers: For the undergraduate ceremony, Karen Dahut, CEO, Google Public Sector; for the master's ceremony 1, Zohreh Khademi, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Devices; and for the master's ceremony 2 for ...

  24. Satellite Communication System Essay

    Patent search US 7046934 B2 titled "Optical communication system using a high altitude tethered balloon" by Surjit S. Badesha, Andrew D. Goldfinger, Thomas W. Jerardi discloses the use of optical communication between tethered balloons and satellite, and fibre optic cable between tethered balloons and the ground station (Badesha, et al., 16 ...

  25. China launch of relay satellite Queqiao-2 for lunar probe mission

    A Long March-8 rocket, carrying the relay satellite Queqiao-2 for Earth-Moon communications, blasts off at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province, China March 20, 2024.

  26. Two-Way Satellite Communications

    United States and Canada. Receive severe weathers, wildfire, or other safety alerts directly on your Garmin inReach, Zoleo, Bivy Stick, or other satellite communicator. Your device can now also keep you safe, not only call for help. We give superpowers to the device you already have with you! Wherever your adventures take you in the United ...

  27. South Korea to Launch Second Home-Grown Spy Satellite on Monday

    South Korea plans to launch its second domestically made spy satellite Monday on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, enabling it to keep closer tabs on threats from the likes of nuclear-armed North Korea.

  28. Save the Date: BEREC external workshop about the usage of satellite

    On Wednesday, 22 May 2024, BEREC will hold a hybrid workshop on the usage of satellite technologies in mobile communications in Mainz, Germany. Provisional start and end: 10:00 CET- 16:30 CET (note that start and end times are not yet definitive and may be subject to changes). Background

  29. China Providing Geospatial Intelligence to Russia, US Warns

    3:30. The US is warning allies that China has stepped up its support for Russia, including by providing geospatial intelligence, to help Moscow in its war against Ukraine. Amid signs of continued ...

  30. China's relay satellite ready to roll out communication service

    China's Queqiao 2, or Magpie Bridge 2, relay satellite is ready to provide communication service to missions operating on the Moon's far side, according to the China National Space Administration.