525.640.81 - Satellite Communications Systems

Course Structure

The course materials are divided into modules which can be accessed by clicking Modules on Canvas course navigation. A module has several sections including the overview, content, readings, discussions, and assignments. You are encouraged to preview all sections of the module before starting. Please refer to assignments in Canvas for instructions, due dates, and grading criteria.

There is a Discussion Forum for each weekly module, and participation is decent sized chunk of your grade. The Discussion forums are routinely listed as a highlight of the course, the discussions are often lively and focused on late-breaking real world problems. I think you will find the forums interesting and stimulating!

Course Topics

1. Satellite Communications Introduction
2. Orbits
3. The RF Link – Signal
4. The RF Link – Noise
5. RF Link Analysis
6. Antennas
7. Modulation
   
8. Bit Error Rate
9. Coding
10. Propagation and Rain Loss
11. Multiplexing and Multiple Access
12. Polarization and Interference
13. Earth Stations, Flight Hardware, Navigation, and Optical Communications
14. Satcomm System Examples

Course Goals

To obtain a practical working ability to design, develop, and analyze satellite communications system, for both commercial and government applications, and to apply that knowledge to a system-design project.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• 1. Create a detailed satcomm link analysis that accurately accounts for the impact and importance of each term in the link.
• 2. Design a complete satcomm system that addresses important drivers and system trades (e.g., orbit, RF power, DC power, mass, aperture, coding, and bandwidth) for their effect on overall performance.
• 3. Select antenna types (for flight and ground) to meet mission requirements (considering, e.g., pointing accuracy, gain).
• 4. Bound the impact of losses due to propagation, noise effects, radio loss, polarization mismatch, and other confounding factors.
• 5. Optimize the selection of operating frequency with regard to antenna and link performance, propagation effects, and regulatory concerns.
• 6. Discuss satcomm industry state-of-the-art, emerging trends, tools and jargon, and issues discussed in industry trade publications.

Textbooks

Required

Unfortunately, the satellite communications field is littered with mediocre textbooks. Thankfully, the very good Pratt, Bostian, and Allnutt 2nd edition textbook from way back in 2003 was recently been updated. It is very well written and a good fit to the course:

Pratt and Allnutt (2019). Satellite communications (3rd ed.). Wiley. ISBN-13 978-1119482178

Textbook information for this course is available online through the appropriate bookstore website: For online courses, search the MBS website.

 Optional - Not Required

Maral, G., Bousquet, M., & Sun, Z. (2020). Satellite communications systems: Systems, techniques, and technology (6th ed.). Wiley. ISBN-13: 978-1-119-38207-2

(Optional) This book is a good, encyclopedic reference text for the subject.

Wertz, J. R., Everett, D. F., & Puschell, J. J. (2011). Space mission engineering: The new SMAD. Microcosm Press.

(Optional) This book is an excellent compendium of all the disciplines it takes to put a satellite mission together, including of course the communications subsystem. It's journey through export control must have been extraordinary!

Required Software

None.

Student Coursework Requirements

It is expected (your mileage will vary) that each module will take approximately 5–10 hours per week to complete. Here is an approximate breakdown: reading the assigned sections of the texts (approximately 3 hours per week) as well as some outside reading, listening to the audio annotated slide presentations (approximately 2 hours per week), and writing assignments (approximately 2 hours per week).

This course will consist of four basic student requirements:

The weekly discussion forums have been often cited as one of the best parts of this class. The topics are relevant, recent, and thought-provoking. Your energetic participation in the discussion forums is a very good thing, for you, for your grade, for your classmates, and for me, too!

You are responsible for carefully reading all assigned material and being prepared for discussion. The majority of readings are from the course text. Additional readings will be assigned to supplement text readings.

Post your initial response to the discussion questions by the evening of day 3 for that module week. Posting a response to the discussion question is part one of your grade for module discussions (i.e., Timeliness).

Part two of your grade for module discussion is your interaction (i.e., responding to classmate postings with thoughtful responses) with at least two classmates (i.e., Critical Thinking). Just posting your response to a discussion question is not sufficient; I’d like for you to interact with your classmates. Be detailed in your postings and in your responses to your classmates' postings ("That's a great point" is barely a response.) Feel free to agree or disagree with your classmates. Please ensure that your postings are civil and constructive.

I will monitor module discussions and will respond to some of the discussions as discussions are posted.

Evaluation of preparation and participation is based on contribution to discussions using the rubric posted in Canvas. Everybody, this is an easy part of the course to ace!

Assignments will include a mix of qualitative assignments (e.g. discussions of presented problems or real-world events and systems), quantitative problem sets, and case study updates. Please refer to the assignments in Canvas for specific instructions, due dates, and grading criteria.

Late submissions will be reduced by one letter grade for each week late (no exceptions without prior coordination with the instructor).

A basic link design project will be assigned in week 6. Completing this project will utilize elements covered from the first 6 modules.

This project is evaluated by the following grading elements and specific instructions, grading criteria, and due dates are in Canvas.

1. Student preparation and participation (20%)
2. Student technical understanding of the basic link design topic (40%)
3. Technical accuracy and thoroughness (40%)

A comprehensive course project will be assigned midway into the course. Significant portions of the next-to-last and last weeks of the course will be devoted to the course project.

The comprehensive course project is evaluated by the following grading elements:

1. Demonstrated student technical understanding of the course project topic (25%)
2. Accuracy and Relevance of Results and Conclusions (as described in Course Project Description) (50%)
3. Thoroughness and Professionalism in Preparation of Project Report (25%)

Grading

Assignments are due according to the dates posted on the Canvas course site. You can check these due dates in the Course Calendar or the Assignments in the corresponding modules. I will post grades one week after the assignment due dates.

Final grades will be determined by the following weighting:

Grading Policy

EP uses a +/- grading system (see “Grading System”, Graduate Programs catalog, p. 10).

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.

This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.

For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. 

For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. 
 
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.