20IO 3rd International Conference on Advanced Computer Theory and Engineering(ICACTE)

Mathematical Modelling of Antenna Look Angles of Geostationary

Communications Satellite Using Two Models of Control Stations

Akoma Henry E.C.A

Ogundele Daniel Ayansola Centre for Satellite Technology
Engineering and Space Systems (ESS) Development (CSTD)
National Space Research and Development National Space Research and Development
Agency (NASRDA) , Abuja, Agency (NASRDA)
Nigeria Abuja, Nigeria
delesolad@yahoo.com, akomahenry@yahoo.com
ayansoladaniel@gmail.com

Adediran Yinusa A.
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Federal University of Technology
Minna, Nigeria
yinusaade@yahoo.com

Abstract Antenna look angles of geostationary low or shallow look angles usually face obstructions from
communications satellite provide the information required to trees, nearby buildings, or other objects and are more
ensure that control station antenna is directed towards the subject to interference, particularly in heavy rain. The
satellite; more specifically to ensure that the main lobe of the antenna of a satellite ground control station needs to be
antenna is aligned with the main lobe of the satellite's antenna, properly positioned in order to be able to track
and to ensure that the largest amount of energy is captured
geostationary satellite.
from the satellite. To optimize the performance of a satellite
With geosynchronous satellites, the look angles of
communications system, the directions of maximum gain of a
control earth station antennas only need to be adjusted once
satellite ground control station antenna (referred to as
as the satellite will remain in a given position permanently,
boresight) must be pointed directly at the satellite. To ensure
except for occasional minor variations [5]. To communicate
that the earth station antenna is aligned, two angles must be
with a satellite, ground-based reflector (dish) antennas are
determined: the azimuth and the elevation angle. Azimuth
angle and elevation angle are jointly referred to as the antenna
used. Reflector parabolic antennas can focus the transmitted
look angles. This paper describes in detail, the mathematical power from/to a narrow region of the sky. This allows for
modelling of antenna look angles of two models of satellite establishment of communication links over long distances,
ground control station. The mathematical models developed thus minimiZing transmitted electromagnetic power
are abstract models that use mathematical equations to requirements. However, because the signal is concentrated
describe the antenna look angles. The mathematical in a narrow region of the sky, the antenna must be precisely
representations presented takes into consideration the pointed at the emitting/receiving source. The problems in
redundancy of the control stations. Two models are used in pointing an antenna can range from simple to complex,
order to pave way for redundancy so that if one fails the other depending on the motion of the satellite in its orbit [4].
takes over. Mathematical model of antenna look angles is a Look angles are most commonly expressed as azimuth
mathematical representations of the equations governing them. (Az) and elevation (EI), although other pairs exist. For
example right ascension and declination are standard for
Keywords-component; azimuth; boresight; radio astronomy antennas. Azimuth is measured eastward
geosynchronous satellite vehicle (GSV); satellite ground (clockwise) from geographic north to the projection of the
control station; satellite look angles; sub-satellite point; satellite path on a (locally) horizontal plane at the earth
elevation. station. Elevation is measured upward from the local
horizontal plane at the earth station to the satellite path. In
I. INTRODUCTION all look angle determinations, the precise location of the
The orbital slot of a geostationary communications satellite is critical. A key location in many instances is the
satellite determines the look angles at which a ground subsatellite point [3].
station antenna needs to be positioned to see the satellite. The location of a satellite is generally in terms of
Higher look angles provide greater reliability by improving latitude and longitude similar to the way the location of a
the quality of the communication link. On the other hand, point on earth is described. However, because a satellite is

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 2010 3rd International Conference on Advanced Computer Theory and Engineering(ICACTE)

orbiting many miles above the earth's surface, it has no Figure 1 Geometry of the range and elevation angle
latitude or longitude. Therefore, its location is identified by calculation
a point on the surface of earth directly below the satellite.
This point is called the sub satellite point (SSP). II. MATHEMATICAL MODELLING OF THE
Angle of elevation (sometimes called elevation angle) is ANTENNA LOOK ANGLES
the vertical angle formed between the direction of travels of
The mathematical representations of the antenna look
an electromagnetic wave radiated from an earth station
angles of geostationary communications satellite are
antenna pointing directly toward a satellite and the
developed for two models of satellite ground control station
horizontal angle. The smaller the angle of elevation, the
designed. The look angles are separately developed for
greater the distance a propagated wave must pass through
each of the models.
earth's atmosphere. As with any wave propagated through
earth's atmosphere, it suffers absorption and may also be A. Modell: For Satellite Ground Control Station X
severely contaminated by noise. Azimuth angle is the From b�f) : Using cosine formula, we have
horizontal angular distance from a reference direction,
either the south or northern most point of the horizon. It is
also referred to as the horizontal pointing angle of an earth q. )
station antenna. For navigation purposes, azimuth angle is ( 2)
usually measured in a clockwise direction in degrees from
true north.
In the geometry of the range and elevation angle
calculation shown in Fig. I, two models of satellite ground
(�).
�-
?:,
t/if:)
- 2 �-
�.
�1. ]L (3)
control stations are presented for the determination of
antenna look angles. One satellite ground control station can Similarly, from b�f)
be used as main station while the other can be used as the
back-up or redundant system, or vice-versa. The redundant
system will take over the control of the satellite whenever
the main control system failed or its link is being obstructed
by the rain attenuation. The models will aid availability of 4)
the system at all time. The two ground control stations are
linked by a geostationary satellite for continuous
communications. Model 1 is for Satellite Ground Control
Station X while model 2 is for Satellite Ground Control
Station Y. The antenna look angles of the satellite ground
control stations X and Y are modelled using Fig. 1.

'•• distancefrom the center of the earth to the

satellite
Also, from bz:.if)

II
'•• diSlancerfrom the center of the earth to the
earth station

, and 2 are angles between '. and '.

a,
and (,and d1
\1.1, and \jJ2 are angles between ',and
'.

cos V

Subsatellite poin o------f-+---=���

t ( 0)

Satellite Ground Control Satellite Ground Control

Applying sine formula to bZXf), we have
Station Slation

or,

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 2010 3rd International Conference on Advanced Computer Theory and Engineering(ICACTE)

Figure 2 Position of a hypothetical geosynchronous

satellite vehicle (GSY), its respective subsatellite point
(SSP), and an arbitrary selected earth station (ES).

Therefore, Once angle A is determined, the azimuth angle Az can

be found. Four situations must be considered, the results for
which can be summarized as follows:
1) I. e ..: 0,: B ..: 0: .'lz = .
2) s ..: O· B ;;.- 0: Az = 3 6(1 f.l -
3) I. e (I
;;.- .: B ..: 0 : .'lz = &l •.

4) I.e ;;., (I; B �� 0: .'lz = &l A. -

= I>�- (. 3) B. Model 2: For Satellite Ground Control Station Y
From bz}ll : Using cosine formula, we have
Fig. 2 shows the positIOn of a hypothetical d = 1ii­
geosynchronous satellite vehicle (GSY), subsatellite point
(SSP), and an earth station (ES) all relative to Earth's ttl; = 1!r-
geocenter. The SSP has 300E longitude and 0° latitude.
The earth station has a location of 30 0W and 20�
latitude. Ls and Is and are respectively the latitude and
= 1ii- [:�
longitude of the subsatellite point, while Le and Ie are the Similarly, from b!ID
latitude and longitude of the Earth station respectively.
q ]J g
From bAB � in Fig. 2, using Napier's rule for a spherical }
right-angled triangle which states that the sine of an angle is {ZO)
equal to the product of tangents of the two adjacent angles;
then {2J!}
�2 2)
Also, from bZ1f!Jl
Therefore, d - Zd.� cm.(gO E! - �23 )
d Zd 1.l 1>'t� E� 1 �24)

Z (: ) I> � E r qZS)

�1l 5 )

or,

Therefore,

Similarly, from LlA B C in Fig. 2, using Napier's rule for a

spherical ri,l?;ht triangle
I>�(�,J� = ma A�GI� ,I = taa �4 tad l� l,� 1 { Z g') -
wprime" meridian
Greenwich Therefore,
(00 longitude)

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 2010 3rd International Conference on Advanced Computer Theory and Engineering(ICACTE)

TABLE I COMPARISON OF THE REAL VALUES AND O'ol<b''1) = O'od�) 0'01« &,:. - &�
.,
VALUES OBTAINED THROUGH MODELLING
( 3"3" )
0'01« ) = co l:�) CfQ &,:. - &�., (34)

Parameter Real Values Values from the Percentage

model Difference III. COMP ARISON OF RESULTS
Range (km) a T,l£iBUl& U,.Z.M.M.1 - ru!I"IJ
The comparison is done using the real parameters of
Elevation 4S1..6Z 1 ? 4M�e « (Ij,�a!l6-f'1'Id) 1.f!6-T
angle Abuja Satellite Ground Control Station and Nigerian
(degree) Communication Satellite (Nigcomsat-I) and the results
Azimuth l1M.. iiStl " l�,iia Z' � ( 1.'rSiS'f'iffi;! - Mfl6 obtained using the mathematical models developed. The
angle parameters of Abuja Satellite Ground Control Station and
(degree) Nigcomsat-I, given by [I] are as follows: satellite longitude
(sub-satellite point), fJ = -42 ,5 E ; satellite latitude, Ls =
O D ; satellite ground control station longitude, � = '1",313.9
and satellite ground control station latitude"", = �,99 � .."r ;
Azimuth angle, Az = 101,581 ; Elevation angle, EI =

(SO) 4a , �1 and Range, R S'1"/ � lim. =

Substituting the values above into

Once angle A is determined, the azimuth angle Az can 1iq,t'IIil:, (33)/ (S'/ (2 3)/ ( 30� and using radius of the Earth
be found in the same manner as in Model I. For a satellite 'r.. = �/S,�, 4. 1im , and orbital radius � = 42 / 6:4. 7.1im
to be visible from a satellite ground control station, 1'tand
we have, the central angle as
Y2 must satisfy the inequalites [3]: 1. . co&(6:. - &...)ij.o = 3�, 002
Y1. = CW'- qcol< .... ..)
( ) 0 S Y1. S ,3�, �,(O S Y1. S 1! ,4 gr] rod) = O,�O 'Pad

(2) 2'1 ,'1"0 S 'Y! S 36:0 �, �, �4,8M9i S Y! S

�2Et4� ro�
From Fig. I, using ..;: XD Q = f\ = 90 - Ytand
..;: FlW = f\, = 90 - Y2 ' the following are obtained:

a) For 0 S Yt S all ,3 , we have (il,;'O S f\ S 90 ,

i.e. (0,1!59. S f\. S . ,5'1" rod).
b) For 2,'�,'1"0 S S 3�Cl ,we have
(-2'1"0 S S -l!8�, '1 ) i.e.
(-4. '1" SO S S,29S9' rod).
Considering the values obtained in (a) and (b), =
n,4�7� = 1!,352:Z rod
additional assumptions to the ones in (1) and (2) for a
B = 1 &:. - J = '),5 - 7,3891 1
satellite to be visible from a Satellite Ground Control
Station are that 9t and 62 must satisfy the following
= .35,1109 f-, 'i,E ;;., OJ
inequalities:
Since l:� �� 0 am B :;.. 0 , then
1) ( S:;l O s 1\ s gO ) ,e-,
( 0 , Sg S f\ � , 5 7' rod) and Az = ao - n,4�7� = 1!02,5324P = 1!,7a93rGid
2) (-2'1"0 S S - 8 " ) i.e.
( -4.'1. SO S S - 3,29g 9 rod). The real values of Abuja Satellite Ground Control
Station and Nigcomsat-I given by [I] are compared using
Angles Yt and 1" are related to the earth station north Table 1 . As seen in the table, the values of range, elevation
latitude Le and west longitude Ie and the subsatellite point at angle and azimuth angle obtained through modelling are
north latitude Ls and west longitude Is by [3] very close to the real values given by [1] indicating that the
results obtained using the mathematical models developed
for the antenna look angles of geostationary
communications satellite are in comformity with the real
values provided by [I].
(3 )
)
(32) IV. CONCLUSION
For most geostationary satellites, the subsatellite point is The mathematical modelling presented in this paper is a
on the equator at longitude I" while latitude Ls is O. good tool that can be used to determine look angles for
... q�, (S ) and (32) therefore simplify to
pointing satellite ground control station antenna to true

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geostationary satellites. The real values of Abuja Satellite REFERENCES

Ground Control Station and Nigeria Communication [I] J Chai, Ground Control Station (GCS) System Design, Beijing Institute
Satellite (Nigcomsat-l) were compared with the values of Telemetry, Tracking and Telecommand (BITTT), Beijing, 2005,
obtained through modelling. The real values and those pp. 1-48.

obtained through modelling are very close, indicating that [2] B.G. Evans, Satellite Communication Systems, The Institution of
the modelling can be used to determine look angles of Electrical Engineers, London, 1999, pp. 68- 260.

satellites moving in orbits. [3] P. Timothy, B. Charles and A. Jeremy, Satellite Communications, John
Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 2003, pp. 1 - 43.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT [4] S Tomas and W. David, "Determination of Look Angles to
Geostationary Communication Satellites", National Geodetic Survey,
The authors acknowledge financial support from the Silver Spring, MD 20910, 1994, pp. 115-126.
National Space Research and Development Agency [5] T. Wayne, Electronic Communications Systems: Fundamentals
(NASRDA), Nigeria and the assistance rendered by the Through Advanced, 4th ed., Pearson Education, Inc., 2001, pp. 790-
Federal University of Technology Minna, Nigeria in the 800.
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