Principles of Communications Satellites [Hardcover]

Explains the reasons, limitations and trade-offs inherent tocommunications satellites. The first half deals with link powerbudgets as well as communications hardware and examples of completelink budgets. Spacecraft technology and a description of theobjectives and basic operating methods of each of the majorsupporting subsystems are covered in the last half. Containsend-of-chapter exercises and solutions.

An Instructor's Manual presenting detailed solutions to all theproblems in the book is available from the Wiley editorialdepartment.Introduction to Link Budgets.

Orbits for Communications Satellites.

Radio Frequencies.

Modulation, Multiplexing, and Multiple Access.

Antennas.

Power, EIRP, and Illumination.

Transmission Losses and Power Flux Density.

Receivers and Noise Temperatures.

System Performance.

Telemetry, Tracking, and Command.

Electric Power.

Spacecraft Attitude.

Propulsion.

Structure.

Thermal Control.

Spacecraft Testing.

Reliability.

Index.

Gary D. Gordon is an Aerospace Consultant in Washington Grove, MD. He received his PhD in physics from Harvard University in 1954. Dr. Gordon was 14 years at COMSAT Laboratories as Senior Staff Scientist in the Spacecraft Laboratory. He was a member of the initial Editorial Board of the COMSAT Technical Review. He has taught courses on Spacecraft Technology, Satellite Orbits, Satellite Reliability, Spacecraft Thermal Design, and Computer Programming. He has made a 26-hour videotape on Spacecraft Technology. Earlier, at GE's Astro Space Division, he contributed to thermal design of the first weather satellite and l'