Satellite Applications and Types
Prepared by:
Eng. Ahmed Hassan Abd-Elaziz
Eng. Ahmed Hassan
Satellites Applications and Types
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Brief history on satellite systems
1957 Sputnik: U.S.S.R first satellite which transmitted telemetry
information for 21 days.
1958 Score: USA first satellite which was used to broadcast
President Eisenhower’s Christmas greetings message.
1960 Echo: Reflector satellite.
1960 Courier: Store and forward transmission.
1962 Telstar & Relay: Repeater satellites.
1963 Syncom: USA first geostationary communication satellite.
1965 Intelsat “Early Bird”: USA constellation of communication
satellites providing international broadcast services.
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Brief history on satellite systems
1965 Molniya: First Soviet military communications satellite.
1972 Synphonie: Communication satellite built by France and
Germany.
1972 Anik: Canadian communication satellite, Anik means "little
brother.
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Orbit Height:
Satellite orbits
Geostationary Orbit (GEO): 35,786 km above the Earth, 24 hour
period, Circular Equatorial
Medium Earth Orbit (MEO): 8,000 – 20,000 km above the Earth.
Low Earth Orbit (LEO): 500 – 2,000 km above the Earth.
Orbit Shape:
Circular
Elliptical
Three Basic Orbits:
Circular Polar
Elliptical Inclined
Circular Equatorial
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Satellite orbits
Elliptically Inclined
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Satellite applications and types
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Satellite applications and types
TV broadcast satellites.
Weather satellites.
Military satellites.
Navigation satellites.
Mobile Satellites.
Disaster monitoring satellites.
Search & rescue satellites.
Store & Forward satellites.
Mineral Exploration and Mining satellites.
Lunar exploration satellites.
Deep space exploration satellites.
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TV Broadcast Satellites
Satellite television is television delivered by the means of
communication satellites, as compared to conventional terrestrial
television.
In many areas of the world, satellite television services
supplement older terrestrial signals, providing a wider range of
channels and services, including subscription-only services.
The first satellite television signal was relayed from Europe to the
Telstar satellite over North America in 1962. The first geostationary
communication satellite, Syncom 2 was launched in 1963. The
world's first commercial communication satellite, called Intelsat (Early
Bird) was launched into synchronous orbit on 1965.
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TV Broadcast Satellites
Satellites used for television signals are generally in either
naturally highly elliptical (with inclination of +/- 63.4 degrees and
orbital period of about 12 hours) or geostationary orbit 37,000 km
(22,300 miles) above the earth’s equator.
Satellite television, like other communications relayed by satellite,
starts with a transmitting antenna located at an uplink facility. Uplink
satellite dishes are very large, as much as 9 to 12 meters in diameter.
The increased diameter results in more accurate aiming and
increased signal strength at the satellite. The uplink dish is pointed
toward a specific satellite and the uplinked signals are transmitted
within a specific frequency range, so as to be received by one of the
transponders tuned to that frequency range aboard that satellite.
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TV Broadcast Satellites
The transponder 'retransmits' the signals back to Earth but at a
different frequency band.
The downlinked satellite signal, quite weak after travelling the
great distance is collected by a parabolic receiving dish. A LNB
device amplifies the relatively weak signals, filters the block of
frequencies in which the satellite TV signals are transmitted, and
converts the block of frequencies to a lower frequency range. The
evolution of LNBs was one of necessity and invention.
The advantages of using an LNB are that cheaper cable could be
used to connect the indoor receiver with the satellite TV dish and
LNB.
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TV Broadcast Satellites
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TV Broadcast Satellites
In GEO orbits, there are 318 Television satellites.
Examples of TV satellites:
 NileSat.
 ArabSat.
 Hot Bird.
 Galaxy.
 Astra.
 Spaceway.
 ChinaSat.
 Atlantic Bird.
 TurkSat.
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Weather Satellites
EUMETSAT_METOP
Eng. Ahmed Hassan
GOES-8 USA Weather Satellite
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Weather Satellites
A weather satellite is a type of satellite that is primarily used to
monitor the weather and climate of the earth.
Satellites can be either polar orbiting, seeing the same swath of
the earth every 12 hours, or geostationary hovering over the same
spot on Earth by orbiting over the equator while moving at the speed
of the Earth's rotation.
These meteorological satellites, however see more than clouds
and cloud systems; City lights, fires, effects of pollution, sand and
dust storms, snow cover, ice mapping, boundaries of ocean currents,
etc., are other types of environmental information collected using
weather satellites.
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Weather Satellites
The first weather satellite, Vanguard
2 was launched on 1959. It was
designed to measure cloud cover and
resistance, but a poor axis of rotation
kept it from collecting a notable amount
of useful data.
The first weather satellite to be
considered a success was Tiros-1,
launched by NASA on 1960. TIROS
operated for 78 days and proved to be
much more successful than Vanguard 2.
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Weather Satellites
Observation is typically made via different channels of the
electromagnetic spectrum, in particular, the Visible and Infrared
portions.
Visible-light images from weather satellites during local daylight
hours are easy to interpret even by the average person; clouds, cloud
systems such as tropical storms, lakes, forests, mountains, snow ice,
fires, and pollution such as smoke and dust are readily apparent.
Even wind can be determined by cloud patterns, alignments and
movement from successive photos.
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Weather Satellites
Image from the GOES-9 weather satellite
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Eumetsat-Satellite-Loop-Europe_1
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Weather Satellites
The
thermal
or
infrared
images
recorded by sensors called scanning
radiometers enable a trained analyst to
determine cloud heights and types, to
calculate
land
and
surface
water
temperatures, and to locate ocean surface
features. Infrared satellite imagery can be
used effectively for tropical cyclones with a
visible eye pattern.
The eye of a storm is a roughly circular
Cyclone Catarina from the ISS
on March 26 2004
area and typically 30–65 km in diameter.
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Weather Satellites
Geostationary weather satellites orbit the Earth above the equator
at altitudes of 35,880 km. They remain stationary with respect to
Earth, so they can record or transmit images of the entire hemisphere
below continuously with their visible-light and infrared sensors.
The news media use the geostationary photos in their daily
weather presentation as single images or made into movie loops.
Polar orbiting weather satellites circle the Earth at a typical
altitude of 850 km. Polar satellites are to observe any place on Earth
and will view every location twice each day. Polar orbiting weather
satellites offer a much better resolution than their geostationary
counterparts due their closeness to the Earth.
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Weather Satellites
There are16 Geostationary and 11 polar weather satellites.
For geostationary weather satellites, the United States has two
satellites in operation; GOES-11 and GOES-12. The Japanese have
one in operation; MTSAT-1R. The Europeans have several Meteosat
series. The Russians operate the GOMS over the equator south of
Moscow. India also operates geostationary satellites which carry
instruments for meteorological purposes. China operates the FengYen satellites, FY-2C, FY-2D and FY-2E.
For polar weather satellites, The United States has the NOAA
series. Europe has the Metop-A satellite. Russia has the Meteor and
RESURS series of satellites. China has FY-1D and FY-3A.
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Military Satellites
A military satellite is used for a military purpose, often for
gathering intelligence as a communication satellites used for military
purposes, or as a military weapon.
A satellite by itself is neither military nor civil. It is the kind of
payload it carries that enables one to arrive at a decision regarding its
military or civilian character. For example, a civilian satellite can carry
military transponders and vice versa. Civil commercial satellites are
also known to carry out military tasks including enabling military
communications, imagery etc. At the same time, military satellites like
the NAVSTAR GPS have more civilian users than military users.
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Military Satellites
A spy satellite is an earth observation
satellite or communication satellite deployed
for military or intelligence applications. The
first generation type (i.e. Corona 1 - 2 and
Zenit)
took
photographs
then
ejected
canisters of photographic film, which would
descend to earth. Corona capsules were
retrieved in mid-air as they floated down on
parachutes. Later spacecraft had digital
imaging
systems
and
downloaded
Corona-119 aircraft the film
dropped on a parachute
the
images via encrypted radio links.
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Military Satellites
Examples of spy satellite missions:
 High resolution photography
(IMINT) .
 Communications
eavesdropping (SIGINT) .
 Covert communications.
 Monitoring of nuclear test ban
compliance.
 Detection of missile launches .
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Military Satellites
There are 37 LEO, 5 MEO and 6 GEO military satellites.
U-2 photo over a military air base
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Satellites Applications and Types
Pentagon
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Navigation Satellites
Global Navigation Satellite System
(GNSS) is the standard generic term for
satellite navigation systems that provide
autonomous geo-spatial positioning with
global coverage. A GNSS allows small
electronic receivers to determine their
location (longitude, latitude and altitude)
to within a few metres. Receivers on the
ground with a fixed position can also be
Satellite navigation using a
laptop and a GPS receiver
used to calculate the precise time as a
reference for scientific experiments.
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Navigation Satellites
The United States NAVSTAR Global
Positioning System (GPS) is the only fully
operational GNSS. The Russian GLONASS
is a GNSS in the process of being restored
to full operation. China has indicated it will
expand
its
regional
Beidou
navigation
system into the global COMPASS navigation
system 2015. The European Union’s Galileo
positioning system is a GNSS in initial
deployment
phase,
scheduled
to
GPS Navigation Satellite
be
operational in 2013.
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Navigation Satellites
NAVSTAR GPS
The
NAVSTAR
global
positioning
system (GPS) satellites provides latitude,
longitude, altitude, direction of travel, travel
velocity and correct time of day to anyone
anywhere, day or night, in any weather.
The
U.S.
Air
Force
created
the
constellation of 24 NAVSTAR satellites
circling Earth twice a day. At least four of
GPS Constellation Satellites
the space beacons are in view from any
spot on Earth at any time.
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Navigation Satellites
NAVSTAR GPS
NAVSTAR
is
short
for
Navigation
System using Timing And Ranging.
Ships, planes, trains, trucks, cars and
even persons on foot can know their
positions in latitude, longitude, and altitude
within 58 feet or 328 feet anywhere in any
weather, along with their velocity within
0.45 mph, or better than one foot per
second, and correct time to within oneGPS Satellite Status
millionth of a second.
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Navigation Satellites
NAVSTAR GPS
A receiver on the ground has to hear
from only three NAVSTAR satellites to find
its own latitude and longitude location.
Hearing from a fourth satellite lets the
receiver calculate its own altitude.
Each satellite also monitors its own
navigation data errors, signal availability,
and clock failures.
Army and Marine troops followed their
hand-held GPS receivers during wars.
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Satellites Applications and Types
Casio GPS Watch
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Navigation Satellites
GLONASS Satellites
GLONASS satellite system is a radio-based
satellite navigation system, developed by the former
Soviet Union and now operated for the Russian
government by the Russian Space Forces.
Development on the GLONASS began in 1976,
with a goal of global coverage by 1991. Beginning on
1982, numerous rocket launches added satellites to
the system until the constellation was completed in
GLONASS Satellite
1995. Following completion, the system rapidly fell into
disrepair with the collapse of the Russian economy.
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Navigation Satellites
GLONASS Satellites
Beginning in 2001, Russia
committed to restoring the
system, and in recent years
has diversified, introducing
the Indian government as a
partner, and accelerated the
program
with
a
goal
of
restoring global coverage by
2009.
GLONASS Satellite Mounting
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Navigation Satellites
Galileo Satellites
Satellite navigation users in Europe today
have no alternative other than to take their
positions
GLONASS
from
US
satellites.
GPS
or
Russian
Yet
the
military
operators of both systems give no guarantee
to maintain an uninterrupted service.
As far back as the early 1990s, the
European Union saw the need for Europe to
Galileo Satellite
have its own global satellite navigation
system.
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Mobile Satellites
The Global Mobile Satellite
System (GMSS) is a general term
referring
to
the
selection
of
satellite phone providers available
to private customers.
Geostationary Systems:
 INMARSAT
 MSAT
 Thuraya.
Mobile Satellite System
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Mobile Satellites
Big “LEO” Systems
 ARIES
 ELLIPSO
 IRIDIUM
 ODYSSEY
Little “LEO” Systems
 Orbcomm
 LEOSAT
 STARNET
 VITASAT
Thuraya Mobile Satellite
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Disaster Monitoring Satellites
The Disaster Monitoring Constellation
(DMC) consists of five remote-sensing
satellites constructed by Surrey Satellite
Technology Ltd (SSTL) and operated for the
Algerian, Nigerian, Turkish, British and
Chinese governments. The DMC provides
emergency Earth imaging for disaster relief
under the International Charter for Space
and Major Disasters. Other DMC Earth
Fire image
imagery is used for a variety of civil
applications by a variety of governments.
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Disaster Monitoring Satellites
Colima Volcano, Mexico
Flood disaster
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Disaster Monitoring Satellites
The DMC has monitored the effects and aftermath of the Indian
Ocean Tsunami (December 2004), Hurricane Katrina (August 2005),
and many other floods, fires and disasters.
Merapi volcano, May 11, 2006
Captured by Space Imaging’s
IKONOS satellite
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Disaster Monitoring Satellites
Tsunami Disaster
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Search & Rescue Satellites
Search and rescue satellites are designed to provide a way for
vessels at sea and in the air to communicate from remote areas.
These satellites can detect and locate emergency beacons carried
by ships, aircrafts, or individuals in remote or dangerous places.
Satellites equipped with search and rescue equipment fly over a
beacon that is releasing an emergency signal. Using mathematical
calculations involving the doppler effect, scientists can translate that
signal into coordinates, and determine the location of the distress
signal within four kilometres.
Satellites can assist search and rescue (SAR) activities on a
worldwide basis by providing accurate, timely, and reliable alert.
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Search & Rescue Satellites
Cospas-Sarsat system aims to reduce, as far as possible, delays
in the provision of distress alerts to SAR services, and the time
required to locate a distress and provide assistance, which have a
direct impact on the probability of survival of the person in distress
at sea or on land.
To achieve this objective, Cospas-Sarsat Participants implement,
maintain, co-ordinate and operate a satellite system capable of
detecting distress alert transmissions from radio-beacons that
comply
with
Cospas-Sarsat
specifications
and
performance
standards and of determining their position anywhere on the globe.
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Store & Forward Satellites
A satellite in low Earth orbit has only limited coverage, with a footprint
diameter near 6000km. However, with a suitable choice of orbital
inclination, it can cover each part of the globe within 24 hours. Store and
Forward communications is a concept different from that employed in trunk
communications.
It stores signals received from the uplink, recording the message
transmitted to the satellite. The message can then later be broadcast or
retransmitted it on demand.
A single satellite in low Earth orbit can therefore provide a true global
messaging service. This concept was first proposed by Brandon in 1957,
and implemented on the COURIER satellite in 1960 using onboard tape
recorders.
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Mineral Exploration and Mining Satellites
Satellite
aerial
imagery
and
photography
has
proven to be an important
tool in assessing mineral
exploration tenements, it
provides the geologists and
field
crew
location
of
tracks, roads, fences and
habitation.
Morenci Mine in Arizona
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Mineral Exploration and Mining Satellites
Imagery from satellite sensors such as ASTER and LANDSAT-7
have benefited geologists, scientists and exploration managers in
earth sciences due to the sensor containing multiple band colours
which allows them to interpret wavelengths that cannot be seen by
the human eye, such as near infrared, short wave infrared and
thermal infrared to identify the difference in structural features of the
earth's surface.
Multispectral imaging and thematic mapping allows researchers
to collect data of reflection and absorption properties of soils, rock,
and vegetation. This data could be utilized to interpret actual surface
lithologies to identify clays, oxides and soils from satellite images.
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Mineral Exploration and Mining Satellites
Saline Valley, California — ASTER
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Lunar Exploration Satellites
The physical exploration of the
Moon began when Luna-2, a space
probe launched by the Soviet Union,
impacted the surface of the Moon on
1959.
In
1969,
Project
Apollo
first
successfully landed people on the
Moon.
They
placed
scientific
experiments there and returned rocks
and data that suggested the Moon is
of a similar composition to the Earth.
Eng. Ahmed Hassan
Apollo-12 Lunar module
Intrepid prepares to descend
towards the surface of the
Moon. NASA photo
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Deep Space Exploration Satellites
The exploration of Mars has been
an
important
part
of
the
space
exploration programs of the Soviet
Union, United States, Europe and
Japan.
Dozens of robotic
spacecrafts,
including rovers have been launched
toward Mars since the 1960s. These
missions were aimed at gathering data
about current conditions and answering
questions about the history of Mars.
Eng. Ahmed Hassan
Computer-generated image of
one of the two Mars Exploration
Rover, which touched down on
Mars in 2004
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Deep Space Exploration Satellites
Mars
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