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View File - University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila

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position location in order to instantaneously return an upwardly transmitting(uplink) ranging waveform for tracking from an earth terminal (or station).The term earth terminal refers collectively to the terrestrial equipmentcomplex concerned with transmitting signals to <strong>and</strong> receiving signals fromthe satellite. The earth terminal configurations vary widely with various types<strong>of</strong> systems <strong>and</strong> terminal sizes. An earth terminal can be fixed <strong>and</strong> mobile l<strong>and</strong>based,sea-based, or airborne. Fixed terminals, used in military <strong>and</strong> commercialsystems, are large <strong>and</strong> may incorporate network control center functions.Transportable terminals are movable but are intended to operate from a fixedlocation, that is, a spot that does not move. Mobile terminals operate while inmotion; examples are those on commercial <strong>and</strong> navy ships as well as those onaircraft. Chapter 3 addresses a basic earth terminal configuration.Vast literature has been published on the subject <strong>of</strong> satellite communications.However, the available literature appears to deal specifically withspecialized topics related to communication techniques, design or partsthere<strong>of</strong>, or satellite systems as a whole.This chapter briefly looks at the development <strong>and</strong> principles <strong>of</strong> satellitecommunication <strong>and</strong> its characteristic features.1.1 THE ORIGIN OF SATELLITESThe Space Age began in 1957 with the U.S.S.R.’s launch <strong>of</strong> the first artificialsatellite, called Sputnik, which transmitted telemetry information for 21 days.This achievement was followed in 1958 by the American artificial satelliteScore, which was used to broadcast President Eisenhower’s Christmasmessage. Two satellites were deployed in 1960: a reflector satellite, calledEcho, <strong>and</strong> Courier. The Courier was particularly significant because itrecorded a message that could be played back later. In 1962 active communicationsatellites (repeaters), called Telstar <strong>and</strong> Relay, were deployed, <strong>and</strong> thefirst geostationary satellite, called Syncom, was launched in 1963. The race forspace exploitation for commercial <strong>and</strong> civil purposes thus truly started.A satellite is geostationary if it remains relatively fixed (stationary) in anapparent position relative to the earth. This position is typically about35,784 km away from the earth. Its elevation angle is orthogonal (i.e., 90 )to the equator, <strong>and</strong> its period <strong>of</strong> revolution is synchronized with that <strong>of</strong> theearth in inertial space. A geostationary satellite has also been called ageosynchronous or synchronous orbit, or simply a geosatellite.The first series <strong>of</strong> commercial geostationary satellites (Intelsat <strong>and</strong>Molnya) was inaugurated in 1965. These satellites provided video (television)Copyright © 2002 by Marcel Dekker, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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