SURYA GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF ECE

SUB CODE/TITLE : CEC352 / SATELLITE COMMUNICATION

YEAR / SEM : III / V

UNIT - I

SATELLITE ORBITS

PART - A

1. What is meant by satellite.

2. What are the types of satellite?
3. What is Communications Satellite?
4. What is an active satellite?
5. What is passive satellite?
6. Explain Satellite system.
7. What are advantages and disadvantages of satellite communication? (Nov/Dec2010)
[May 2022]
8. What are the different applications of satellite systems? (AU Apr/May 2008)
9. What are the different services provided by the satellites?
10.List out the frequency bands used for satellite services. (AU April / May ’08)
11.Mention the 3 regions to allocate the frequency for satellite services.
12.State Kepler’s first
13.State Kepler’s second law of planetary motion. (AU May/June2012), (AU April /
May ’08)
14.State Kepler’s third law.
15.State Newton’s law.
16.Define polar-orbiting satellites. (AU May/June2009)
17.A satellite moving is orbiting in the equatorial plane with a period from period from
perigee to perigee of 12hr.given the eccentricity is 0.002.calculate the semi major
axis. The earth’s equatorial radius is 6378.1414km. (AU Nov/Dec2013)
18.Why are uplink and downlink frequencies different? (AU Nov/Dec 2010)
19.Define sub satellite point (SSP). (AU Nov/Dec 2009)
20.Define apogee and perigee. (AU April’ 14)
21.What is line of apsides?
22.Define ascending, descending node and line of nodes
23.Write about inclination.
24.What is argument of perigee?
25.Define mean anomaly and true anomaly. (AU April/May2010

26.What are the Orbital Elements (or) Keplerian elements? (or) Name the six orbital
elements used to coordinate the satellite. (AU May/June2013) [Nov/Dec 2022]
27.Mention the apogee and perigee heights.
28.Differences between Prograde and Retrograde orbit. (AU April/May 2011)

29.What is the impact of atmospheric drag on satellite systems?(AU April/May2011)

30.What is meant by station keeping? (AU Nov/Dec2010)
31.What is the need for station keeping? (AU Nov/Dec2012)

32. What are the conditions for geo-stationary satellite? (or) What is geo-stationary
satellite? (AU Apr/May 2008) (AU April 2014)

33. Distinguish geosynchronous & non-geosynchronous orbit?(AU Nov/Dec

2013, April/May 2010,Nov/Dec 2009)
34. Define sun transit outage.(AU Nov/Dec2011) (or) What is sun transit outage?(AU
Nov/Dec2009
35. State the condition for visibility of satellite to an observer standing on earth surface?
(AU May/June2012)
36. How can sun transit outage be prevented? [Nov/Dec 2022]
37.What is meant by Hohmann transfer orbit? (AU April/May2010)
38.What is the impact of atmospheric drag on satellite systems? (AU April/May2011)
39.A satellite is in an elliptical orbit with eccentricity of 0.6 and perigee altitude 1000
Km. Determine :
a) The semi major axis

b) The period of revolution [Dec 2020, May 2021]

40.Determine the orbital radius for a geo-stationary satellite as the earth rotates once per
sidereal

day μ=3.986004418x105km3/s2. (AU Nov/Dec 2010)

41.A satellite is in a circular orbit around the earth. The altitude of the satellite’s orbit
above the surface of the earth is 1,400 km. What is the orbital period of the satellite
in this orbit? Give your answer in hours. Assume the average radius of the earth is

6,378.137 km and Kepler’s constant has the value 3.986004418×105 km3/s2. [May
2022]
PART – B & C

1. Explain how Kepler’s and Newton’s laws are used to describe the orbit.(April
2014,Nov/Dec 2011,Nov/Dec 2010,April/May 2010,Nov/Dec 2009,May/June 2009)
2. Explain in detail about the definitions and terms related to Earth orbiting satellites.
3. Explain about various Orbital perturbations.*(April 2014,Nov/Dec 2012, Nov/Dec
2011, Nov/Dec 2010, Nov/Dec 2009)
4. Discuss the effects of non-spherical earth and atmospheric drag on satellite
communications. (April/May 2011, April/May 2010, May/June 2009)
5. Explain about station keeping.*
6. Discuss about Geostationary orbit.*(May/June 2009)
7. Discuss about near Geostationary orbit.*(May/June 2009)
8. What are known as sun synchronous orbits? How will you determine the look angles
for the Geostationary orbit? Or What are look angles and derive the expression for
azimuth and elevation* ( May/June 2013, , May/June 2012, Nov/Dec 2009,
April/May 2008)
9. Write a note on
(a) Limits of visibility

(b) Eclipse

(c) Sun transit outage.

10. How will you determine the sub satellite point? Or Explain the determination of
sub satellite point. (May/June 2013,April/May 2011,April/May 2010, April/May
2008)*
11.Discuss the launching orbits in detail.*(April/May 2011)
12.Write a brief note on Launch vehicles and propulsion.*( April 2014,May/June 2013,
May/June 2012)
13.Give a detailed note on launching vehicles and the procedures employed for
launching spacecraft in GEO orbits. (May/June 2012)
14.Derive from basic principles, the orbital velocity of a satellite and calculate the same
if it is a circular orbit.( Nov/Dec 2012)
(or)
Discuss the launching orbits in
detail.*(April/May 2011)
15.Write a brief note on Launch vehicles and propulsion.*( April 2014,May/June 2013,
May/June 2012)
16.With a neat sketch show the various stages involved in satellite launch.*(Nov/Dec
2012, May/June 2012)
17.Give a detailed note on launching vehicles and the procedures employed for
launching spacecraft in GEO orbits. (May/June 2012)
 UNIT II
SPACE SEGMENT
PART – A

1. What is a transponder? [May 2009]

2. Give the differences between bent pipe and base band processing
transponders? [Dec 2021] Write short note on the two types of transponders
used in satellites. [Nov/Dec 2022][Apr 2023]
3. Write short notes on station keeping.(AU Nov/Dec 2010)
4. Write short notes on attitude control system? [Nov/Dec 2022]
5. What is meant by momentum wheel stabilization? [Nov 2023] (AU April / May
’08)
6. What is a body-stabilized satellite? [Dec 2021]
7. Draw the block diagram of antenna subsystem. [Dec 2020, May 2021]
8. What is meant by Intermodulation distortion? (or)
What is meant by Intermodulation noise? (AU Nov/Dec 2009, AU
May/June 2009), (AU Nov/Dec 2012)
9. Define input back off.(AU April/ May ’08)
10.Define EIRP. [Nov 2023]
11.Write the equations of losses for clear sky conditions.
12.What are the types of losses in satellite communication? (AU Nov/Dec 2010)
13.A satellite downlink at 12GHZ operates with a transmit power of 6w & an antenna
gain of 48.2db.Calculate the EIRP in dBW. (AU May/June
14.What is meant by antenna noise temperature and system noise temperature?
15.What is the need for thermal control and propulsion? (AU
Nov/Dec 2013) Need for thermal control and propulsion
16.List some antennas used in the communication sub system of space craft.
(AU May/June ’12)
17.What is noise power?(AU Nov/Dec 2010)
18.What is noise figure. (AU Nov/Dec(2009)
19.The range between ground station and a satellite is 42000km. Calculate the
free space loss at a frequency of 6GHz. (AU Apr/May 2010)
20.A LNA is a connected to a receiver which has a noise figure of 12dB. The
gain of LNA is 30dB and its noise temperature is 120K. Calculate the overall
noise temperature referred to the LNA input . (AU Apr/May 2010)

21.Calculate the gain in dB of a 5 meter paraboloidal antenna operating at 12

GHz. Assume an aperture efficiency of 0.55. (AU Apr/May 2011)

22.Why is noise temperature a useful concept in communication receiver? (AU

April’ 14)

23.Write the objectives with which the down link of any satellite
communication systems must be designed. (AU April’ 14)
24.For a given satellite and signal transmission, What are the earth station
parameters affecting the C/N ratio. (AU April’ 14)

25.What are the factors need to be considered for the selection of launch vehicles?
[May 2022]
26.Define orbit control system in a satellite. [Nov/Dec 2022]
27.A spacecraft engine ejects mass at a rate of 30 kg/s with an exhaust velocity of

3000 m/s. The pressure at the nozzle exit is 5 kPa and the exit area is 0.7m2. What
is the thrust of the engine in vacuum?

PART – B & C

1. Explain in detail about the Structure of space craft.

2. Explain in detail about the Primary power of space craft.
3. Discuss about the AOCS (Attitude and Orbit Control) subsystems with neat
block diagrams. (May/June 2013, Nov/Dec 2012, May/June 2012, April/May
2011, Nov/Dec 2010, April/May 2010, May/June 2009, April/May 2008)
4. What is thermal control? Why it is required?* (May/June 2009)
5. What is Propulsion Subsystem? Why it is required?
6. How does the TT & C (Telemetry, Tracking and Command) subsystem
perform aboard the spacecraft? Or Discuss about the TT & C subsystems with
neat block diagrams (May/June 2013, Nov/Dec 2012,May/June 2012, Nov/Dec
2011, Nov/Dec 2010, April/May 2010, Nov/Dec 2009)
7. Explain the working of a transponder unit. Or Write a note transponder.
*(May/June 2013,Nov/Dec 2011, April/May 2010)
8. Explain the Communication Payload and supporting subsystems (May/June
2013,Nov/Dec 2011, April/May 2010)
9. What is the chief advantage of TWTA used aboard satellites compared to
other types of high power amplifiers? What are the main disadvantages of
TWTA? * (May/June 2009)
10. Describe the antenna subsystems with appropriate diagrams.* (Nov/Dec
2011, April/May 2011, Nov/Dec 2010)

UNIT III
SATELLITE LINK DESIGN
 PART – A

1.State Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP). [Nov / Dec 2022] [Nov 2023]
2. Explain what is meant by noise factor. [May 2021]
3. What are the different types of interferences that affect in satellite link performance?
[Apr 2023]
4. State the need of earth station antenna. [May 2022]
5. Given: noise temperature of a receiver is 70 K and receiver noise figure == 8 dB.
Calculate the noise temperature at 290 K room temperature. [May 2022]
6. Why frequency reuse is employed? Give reasons. [Nov 2023]
7. What is meant by spatial frequency reuse? [Dec 2021]
8. What is ionospheric scintillation? [Dec 2021] [Nov/Dec 2022]
9. What do you mean by intermodulation noise. How it occurs in a link? [Nov 2023]
10. Define system noise temperature. [Apr 2023]
11. An earth station has a diameter of 30 m, has an overall efficiency of 68%, and is used
to receive a signal at 4150MHz. At this frequency, the system noise temperature is 79 k
when an antenna points at the satellite at an elevation angle of 28o. What is the earth
station G/T ratio under these condition? If heavy rain Cause the sky temperature to
increase so that the system noise temperature rises to 88 k, what is the new G/T value?
[Nov/Dec 2022]
12. Given: noise temperature of a receiver is 70 K and receiver noise figure == 8 dB.
Calculate the noise temperature at 290 K room temperature.
13. State the need of earth station antenna. [May 2022]
14. Give the expression for EIRP?
15. What is terrestrial Interference?
16. What is the Effect of Rain Attenuation on System Noise Temperature?
17. List the satellite link parameters.
18. Give the expression for Sky noise temperature.
19. Give the expression for Transmit antenna gain (without frequency reuse)?
20. Calculate the effective area of a 10-ft parabolic reflector antenna at a frequency of
(a) 4 GHz (b) 12 GHz.

PART – B & C

1. Explain in detail about the basic link analysis.

2. Explain in detail about Carrier-to-Noise plus Interference Ratio and Interference into or
from Adjacent Satellite Systems.
3. (i) Explain in detail about terrestrial Interference.
(ii) Explain in detail about Cross-polarization Interference.
4. Write short notes on Adjacent Channel Interference, Intermodulation Interference,
Intersymbol Interference.
5. (i) Explain in detail about Prediction of rain attenuation.
(ii) Derive the Carrier-to-Noise plus Interference Ratio Including Rain-Induced
Attenuation.
6. Describe the Effect of Rain Attenuation on System Noise Temperature.

7. Explain brief about Path Diversity.

8. Describe the Uplink Power Control in detail.

9. Explain the rain-induced cross-polarization interference. Outline how the signal
propagation are affected during rainy season and also Explain ionospheric effects in
details.
10. Explain in detail about Link Design with and without frequency reuse.

UNIT IV
SATELLITE ACCESS AND CODING TECHNIQUES
 PART – A

1. What is meant by satellite accessing?

2. Define signal access.
3. What is meant by multiple access?
4. List the types of multiple access.
5. Mention a few disadvantages of using FDMA in satellite communication. [Dec 2021]
6. Differentiate TDMA and FDMA.
7. Define CDMA or SSMA. (AU May/June 2009)
8. Define SDMA. (AU Apr/May 2010)
9. Differentiate Pre-assigned and Demand assigned technique in FDMA.
10. How demand assignment is carried out using polling method?
11. What do you mean by demand assignment access and state the methods used for the
access?
12. What is meant by centrally controlled random access? (AU Apr/May 2010)
13. Define Distributed control random access.
14. What is the function of SPADE system?
15. State the advantages and limitations of TDMA system. (or)
16. Mention the merits and demerits of TDMA over FDMA. (AU Nov/Dec 2009)
17. Compare SDMA, TDMA, FDMA and CDMA. [Apr/May 2023] [Nov / Dec 2023]
18. Determine the voice channel capacity of a TDMA system with the following
characteristics:
(a) Transmission bit rate = 60 Mbps
(b) Voice channel bitrate = 64 kbps
(c) Number of bursts / frame = 10
(d) Number of bits in each preamble = 150
(e) Frame time (microseconds) = 750
19. What is the use of control bits in the data frame?
20. List the issues in satellite digital transmission.
21. Which are the preferred modulation schemes in DVB-S2 standard and why?
22. What is DAMA? Where it is useful?
23. What is constraint length of convolutional code? What is code rate?
24. Differentiate block code and convolutional code
25. What are the advantage and disadvantages of cyclic code?
26. What is meant by syndrome of linear block code?
27. Define cyclic code. Write its properties.
28. Define Hamming weight, Hamming distance and minimum distance.
29. Give the reasons for implementing FDMA/TDMA in satellite links
30. A 10 KHz tone is used to frequency modulate a carrier, the peak deviation being
75KHz.
31. Compare AM and FM.

PART – B & C

1. Briefly discuss about analog voice transmission.

2. Briefly discuss about digital transmission systems.
3. Explain in detail about Digital Video Broadcast.
4. Elaborate on FDMA satellite networks and preassigned(PAMA), demand assigned
system (DAMA). Put forth it advantages and limitations with justification.
5. Discuss about SPADE system along with the reference burst and data burst format.
6. Explain about the implementation of TDMA and its frame structure in detail. Describe
the TDMA preassigned and demand assigned system.

7. Discuss the features of “On board signal processing and switching” methods. Discuss
the onboard signal processing for FDMA/TDMA operation.
8. Explain the principle behind spectrum spreading and dispreading and how it is used to
 minimize the interference in CDMA system. Explain the principle of CDMA satellite
system and list the application in satellite communication.
9. In detail, give an account of various compression standards used in satellite context.
10.Explain ii detail about encryption and its significance.
11.Explain in detail about Coding Schemes.
12.Compare and contrast multiple access techniques.

UNIT V
SATELLITE APPLICATIONS
 PART – A
1. What is meant by INTELSAT?
2. Bring out the salient features and applications of INTELSAT series of satellites.
3. List out the INTELSAT series.
4. List out the INSAT series.
5. What is INMARSAT?
6. List out the regions covered by INMARSAT.
7. What is VSAT? In which frequency band it is operated?
8. What are the two types of networks used in VSAT?
9. What is the various compression standards used in satellite applications?
10.Give the applications of satellites.
11.What is the orbital spacing of the satellite?
12.What are services rendered by DTH?
13.Write the four kinds of communications that the network structures of MSAT can
accommodate.

14.Write the two areas of satellite communications which are gaining major thrust
from leading satellite industries and organization in recent years.
15.Mention the two types of codes used in GPS.
16.What is the difference between active and passive satellites?
17.What are the applications of VSAT?
18.Compare and contrast LEO, MEO and GEO satellites.

PART – B &C

1. Explain what the terms centrifugal and centripetal forces mea with regard to a
satellite in orbit around the earth and develop the equations for the orbit using
 Newton’s law. A satellite is in a circular orbit around the earth. The altitude of the
satellite’s orbit about the surface of the earth is 1400 Km. [May 2022]
(i) What are the centripetal and centrifugal accelerations acting on the satellite in its
orbit? Give your answer in m/s.
(ii) What is the velocity of the satellite in this orbit? Give your answer in km/s.
(iii) What is the orbital period of the satellite in this orbit? Give our answer in
hours, minutes, and seconds. Assume the average radius of the earth is 6378.137
km and Kepler’s constant has the value 3.986004418×105 km3/s.
2. Explain the types of INTELSAT satellites with respect to basic spacecraft
characteristics and vehicle type.
3. Describe the operation of a typical VSAT system with necessary sketches.
4. Enumerate how GSM and GPS deploying satellites have improved the mobility of
the customer. (May/June 2013, Nov/Dec 2012)
5. Explain INSAT in detail.
6. Explain in detail about INMARSAT.
7. Compare and contrast on the advantages and disadvantages of using satellites in
LEOs, MEOs and GEOs for mobile satellite communications.
8. Explain Differential Global Positioning System (GPS) in detail.
9. With a neat diagram, explain the home receiver for direct broadcast satellite (DBS)
services.
10.Explain home receiver indoor unit (IDU) and outdoor unit (ODU) in detail with
necessary diagrams.
11.With a block schematic explain about DTH system.