TEACHER: MS ANDERSON

DUE DATE: TUE 10/6/08

BY MONICA MEDJUMURAC

YEAR 12 ASSESSMENT TASK 4 2008

CORE 3 - INFORMATION SYSTEMS

GEOSTATIONARY SATELLITES
WEIGHTING: 20%
A Geostationary Satellite is a satellite that orbits at an altitude of approximately
35,786 Km that will maintain in the same position relative to the Earth's surface. They
relay and transmit information from the other side of the world.

1. Identify what information is transmitted by geostationary satellites. (3)

Geostationary satellites are used for weather forecasting, satellite TV, satellite radio
and most other types of global communications. The GOES, Geostationary
Operational Environmental Satellite, series provided data for severe storm evaluation,
information on cloud cover, winds, ocean currents, fog distribution, storm circulation
and snow melt, using visual and infrared imagery.

2. Explain the type of orbits that satellites can have and compare how these differ
from geostationary orbits. (10)

There are many types of orbits that satellites can have, and these are placed in
different categories according to their classification. The categories are:

Centric classifications Synchronous classifications

Galactocentric orbit
Heliocentric orbit Synchronous orbit
Geocentric orbit Semi-synchronous orbit (SSO)
Areocentric orbit Geosynchronous orbit (GEO)
Areosynchronous orbit
Altitude classifications Areostationary orbit (ASO)
Heliosynchronous orbit
Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) Special classifications
High Earth Orbit (HEO)
Sun-synchronous orbit
Inclination classifications Moon orbit

Inclined orbit Pseudo-orbit classifications

Eccentricity classifications Horseshoe orbit

Exo-orbit
Circular orbit Lunar transfer orbit (LTO)
Elliptic orbit Prograde orbit
Hyperbolic orbit Retrograde orbit
Parabolic orbit Halo orbit and Lissajous orbit:

Geocentric orbits may be further classified by their altitude, inclination and

eccentricity. The commonly used altitude classifications that satellites can have are
Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and High Earth Orbit (HEO).

A Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is a geocentric orbit ranging in altitude from 160-480 km
A Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) is a geocentric orbit ranging in altitude from 9600 to
just below geosynchronous orbit at 35786 km. Also known as an intermediate circular
orbit.

A High Earth Orbit (HEO) is a geocentric orbit above the altitude of

geosynchronous orbit 35859.4 km.

A Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) is a Geosynchronous orbit at an altitude of

about 35859.4 km that has an inclination of zero.

The Low Earth Orbit, Medium Earth Orbit and High Earth Orbit differs from a
Geostationary Orbit, as the LEO,MEO and HEO are geocentric orbits while the
Geostationary orbit is a geosynchronous orbit (further classified as a Synchronous
orbit). The LEOs, MEOs and HEOs have a lower or higher altitude than that of a
Geostationary Orbit and orbit over different parts of the Earth, whereas the
Geostationary orbit is placed over the equator where it orbits the Earth at a speed that
keeps it located over the same point on the Earths surface.

Further differences can be seen in the table below.

Type LEO MEO GEO

Description Low Earth Orbit Medium Earth Geostationary

Orbit Orbits

Height 160 - 480 Km 9600 - 19300 Km 35859.4 Km

Time in LOS 15 min 2 - 4 hrs 24 hrs

1. Lower launch 1. Moderate launch 1. Covers 42.2% of
Merits costs costs the Earths surface

2. Very short round 2. Small round trip 2. Constantly in

trip delays delays view

3. Small path loss 3. No problems due

to Doppler effect
1. Very short life 1. Larger delays 1. Very large round
Demerits 1- 3 months trip delays
2. Greater path loss
2. Encounters 2. Expensive ES
radiation belts due to weak signal
Optus-B and C
Example Iridium and Global positioning
Globalstar system (GPS)
satellites

3. Explain why geostationary satellites must be at a height where its revolution

period is the same as that of the Earths period of rotation. (5)
In order for a satellite to remain in orbit over the same point on the Earths surface at
all times, it must be located 36 000 kilometres above the equator. In this orbit, the
satellite travels at a speed that keeps it in the same position relative to the Earths
surface and so the signal can be sent directly to and from the dish antenna on the
Earth to the satellite.

The Earths gravitational pull keeps the satellite in orbit. Satellites dont fall towards
the Earth because of their tremendous speed. Although they are pulled towards the
Earth by gravity, their speed enables them to keep falling over the horizon. Thus, if
they are travelling with exactly the correct speed they never actually get any closer to
the Earths surface. Tracking stations on Earth use radio signals to activate small
rockets on the satellite to keep them in the correct orbit.

4. Identify the types of waves in the electromagnetic spectrum that geostationary

satellites transmit and receive and explain why only these waves are used. (2)

A satellite transmits information and signals by electromagnetic waves. The main

types of waves used are microwaves but television and radio waves are also used.
Microwaves are used as they travel in straight lines and television waves are used as
satellites are used for some pay TV channels.

5. Explain why the Earth-based satellite dishes must face a fixed direction if it
remains in the same location with respect to the geostationary satellite. (5)

A geostationary satellite is one that orbits the Earth once every 24 hours, in an
equatorial orbit, and therefore remains over the same point on the Earth at all times.
The size and weight of the antennae (transmission and receiving) is too great to allow
them to be easily or quickly moved to stay pointing at each other.

Communication satellites use microwaves (thus the signals are in the microwave
region). Microwaves, reflected from transmitting dishes, travel in straight lines and
are therefore very directional. This means the aerials that send and detect
microwaves must be pointing in the correct direction. The Earth-based satellite dish
is constantly receiving signals from the communication satellite. To maintain the
communication link (ensure that signals are received and retransmitted in the correct
directions to intended receivers), the Earth dishes and the satellite dish must face each
other. Therefore the satellite dish must face the same direction and must remain at the
same location with respect to the geostationary satellite.

6. Identify the satellites used for live telecasts from other regions of the world to
Australia and vice versa and explain reasons why communication satellites have
different aerials and positional orbits. (10)

Satellites that have been built or owned by Australia includes

Australis-OSCAR 5
WRESAT
AUSSAT A-series (Optus A-series)
Optus B-series
WESTPAC
 FedSat-1
Optus C-series.

However, some of these satellites have either been overused or were built for only a
certain period of time. Current communication satellites used by Australia are:

OPTUS B1 (Located at Longitude: 160.0E)

OPTUS B3 (Located at Longitude: 152.0E)
OPTUS C1 (Located at Longitude: 156.0E)

These satellites send and receive signals from most Asian countries and Australias
ground stations. For Australia to send or receive signals to or from a different location
on the planet, the signal can be relayed through these satellites to and from other
satellites.

Communication satellites have different functions and therefore require different

orbits and aerials. At different orbits different waves can be sent without being
damaged or decreased in quality of the signal. To receive these different waves, which
are at different wavelengths and frequencies, different aerials are needed.

BIBLIOGRAPHY (5)
Heffernan. D, Miller. R, Ross. S, Smith. V, Senior Science HSC, Australia: Science
Press, 2007

Wikipedia, Satellite [online] URL <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite#Orbit_

types>

Wilkinson. P, Senior Science - Stage 6 [online] URL <http://webs.mn.catholic.edu.

au/science/wilko/IS94/notes/no4.htm>

Charles Sturt University, NSW HSC Online [online] URL <http://www.hsc.csu.edu.

au/senior_science/core/info_systems/9_4_4/944net.html#net3>

Vu. K, Geostationary satellites [online] URL <http://www.boredofstudies.org/view.

php?course=14>

NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre, NASA Facts Online Satellites [online] URL
<http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/gsfc/service/gallery/fact_sheets/general/sat.htm>

The Reformation Online, Geostationary Satellites [online] URL <http://www.

reformation.org/geostationary-satellites.html>

NCTM Illuminations, Orbiting Satellites [online] URL < http://illuminations.nctm.

org/LessonDetail.aspx?id=L268>