Learning Outcomes
Satellite communication is an essential part of all satellite missions. The numerous small satellites of TU Berlin offer a unique insight into
this field. In the scope of this curricular project, the participants build ground station components within interdisciplinary teams. The course
covers topics from radio communication and signal processing as well as electrical, mechanical and software engineering. Students will be
able to summarize the working principles of hardware and software related to satellite communication. In combination with the knowledge
and skills gained in other courses in space and electrical engineering, the participants will be able to set up a a satellite communication link.
They will document and present their work at the end of the project.
After successful completion of this module, students will be able to
- work in an interdisciplinary project team,
- describe the general structure of satellite ground stations as well as their hard- and software components,
- organize small aerospace engineering projects,
- use open source soft- and hardware tools for management and development,
- recognize basic terms relevant for satellite communication,
- explain the architecture of a satellite link,
- use equipment for measuring the quality of a satellite link.
Content
- Applied technical know-how regarding satellite communications: e.g. characteristics of electromagnetic waves, components for transmitter
and receiver circuits, antennas, transmission path, modulation and encoding schemes, operating modes, EMC, electronics, mechanics,
programming, networking and other IT components etc.
- Practical hardware and/or software design as well as manufacturing and implementation
- Using electrical and RF measuring instruments and/or troubleshooting tools
- Methods for planning and organizing projects
- Technical and project documentation and presentation of the practical work
