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Ground station network for tracking satellites
How do we determine the location of satellites from here on earth? And what kinds of technologies are used to receive satellite data and send commands to satellites?
Tracking satellites with a ground station network
Wireless communication with satellites is carried out using a network of ground stations with large parabolic antennas located in and outside Japan. This network provides a broad array of services ranging from the transmission and reception of satellite monitoring and control data to the reception of acquired data and the measurement of distance and velocity between the earth and the satellite. The tracking of various satellites at different distances, from earth-orbiting satellites to planetary probes, is made possible with state-of-the-art technologies.
What do ground station networks do?
Ground stations are used to not only track the location of satellites but also transmit and receive data.
- Satellite tracking
A high-precision antenna can track satellites with an angular accuracy of 0.01°. The time difference between transmission and reception is used to measure distance while the Doppler effect is used to measure velocity. For planetary probes, measurement accuracy is within 2m for distance and within 1 cm/sec for velocity even at distances of hundreds of millions of kilometers and velocities upwards of 30 km/sec.
- Transmission and reception of monitoring and control data
Satellite status is monitored with telemetry signals and operating commands are transmitted using command signals. To combat cyber-attacks, new telecommunications techniques such as spread spectrum have been introduced and continue to constantly evolve. - Reception of mission data
The image and observation data acquired by satellites is received, stored, and transmitted. To keep pace with rising data volume, NEC has developed high-speed, large-capacity communication technology enabling 4Gbps speed on a single channel.
In-house development of a secure communication system
NEC’s strength lies in its ability to offer long-term provision of advanced communication systems with equipment developed in-house. Moreover, the integrated development of satellites and ground stations allows us to provide optimal space solutions.
Through the development and operation of a ground station network featuring secure, cutting-edge communication performance, NEC is creating new social value and contributing to the sustainable development of a safe and secure society.
Ground Systems Supporting Satellite Operations (NEC Technical Journal)