INTRODUCTION TO SPACE COMMUNICATIONS

Instructor: Prof. Norbert Bartel, PSE 331 (Zoom) , bartel@yorku.ca www.yorku.ca/bartel

Course Number: PHYS 3250 3.0 F

Time/Location: MWF 12:30 – 13:30 / Zoom

Textbooks: Satellite Communications, 4^th edition, D. Roddy, McGraw-Hill, 2006

(Satellite Communication Systems Engineering, 2^nd edition, W. L. Pritchard,

H. G. Suyderhoud, R. A. Nelson, Prentice Hall, 1992

Satellite Communications, T. Pratt, C. W. Bostian, John Wiley & Sons, 1986)

Recommended: Video: Testing Einstein’s Universe – The Gravity Probe B Mission, N. Bartel

Course Contents: 1. History and Overview of Present Status

2. Orbital Aspects of Satellite Communications

2.1 Orbits

2.2 Perturbations

2.3 Visibility

2.4 Launches

3. Spacecraft

3.1 Power systems

3.2 Attitude and orbit control

3.3 Telemetry, tracking and command

3.4 Transponders

3.5 Antennae

4. Earth Station

4.1 Antennae

4.2 Transmitters/receivers

5. Communications Link

5.1 Transmission path

5.2 Noise temperature

5.3 Link equation

6. Modulation and Multiplexing Techniques

6.1 Analogue transmission

6.2 Digital transmission

7. Multiple Access to a Satellite

7.1 FDMA

7.2 TDMA

7.3 CDMA

Evaluation: In-class quizzes: 10% of final mark

Homework: 25% of final mark

Midterm exam: 25% of final mark

Final exam: 40% of final mark

Office hours: P331, MW 14:00-14:45 Zoom

Midterm exam: Wed. October 20, 2021, Final exam: TBA