Space-based Communication Systems

Description

The objectives of this subject are:

• Acquiring knowledge of the radio frequency components in a satellite, as much for maintenance reasons as payload.
• The satellites under study will mainly be telecommunication and radio navigation satellites.
• Studying the design, manufacturing and validation techniques of the aforementioned components, especially antennas and passive microwave devices, that exhibit more restrictive specifications than their equivalents for terrestrial applications due to the special adverse space environment (e.g. high temperature variations, high radiation in space, vacuum, particle impact, etc).

Recommended knowledge

It is recommended to have studied the Communications intensification of the Telecommunications Engineering degree, and the subjects related to radio science.

Evaluation

Exams are 80% of the global mark. There are questions about the lab practice in the final exam. The rest of the mark is obtained by a proportional system of attendance, daily evaluation and practice report (maximum 20%, minimum 0%).

Learning Units

• 1. Introduction
  • 1.1. History and Engineering of space systems
  • 1.2. Satellite components, space environment
• 2. Passive devices
  • 2.1. Microwave filters
  • 2.2. Input and output multiplexers. Design practice.
  • 2.3. Polarizers and orthomodes
• 3. Satellite antennas
  • 3.1. Low gain antennas TT&C: horns and dipoles
  • 3.2. UHF and VHF antennas
  • 3.3. Antenna reflectors un Ku and Ka bands
  • 3.4. Beam forming network antennas with active modules
  • 3.5. Satellite examples and antenna technologies
• 4. Measurement of passive devices
  • 4.1. Rounded corner filter in rectangular waveguides
  • 4.2. Waveguide polarizer for LMDS systems
• 5. Antenna measurement
  • 5.1. Antenna measurement systems. Anechoic chambers

Professor

Vicente E. Boria Esbert

Santiago Cogollos Borrás Miguel Ferrando Bataller