Natural Resources CanadaGovernment of Canada
 
 Français ÿ  Contact us ÿ  Help ÿ  Search ÿ  Canada site
 ESS Home ÿ  Priorities ÿ  Products &
 services
ÿ  About the
 Sector
ÿ  Site map
Satellite image of Canada
Natural Resources Canada
Outreach Materials
.Home
.Tutorials
Satellite data reception
.Introduction
.Remote sensing satellites
.Constellation
.Orbits
.Sensors
.Tracking the satellites
.Receiving stations
.Station coverage
.Transmission bands
.CCRS antennas
.Antenna control
.Data stream handling
.Recording
.Conclusion
Related links
.Canada Centre for Remote Sensing
.Glossary of remote sensing terms
.Optical Imaging Systems
.Radar Imaging Systems
.Earth Observation Data Services


Proactive disclosure


Print version Print versionÿ
ÿCanada Centre for Remote Sensing
Natural Resources Canada > Earth Sciences Sector > Priorities > Canada Centre for Remote Sensing
Tracking the satellites
Antenna control
Previous (CCRS antennas)Index (Tutorial: Satellite Data Reception)Next (Data stream handling)

To record the data transmitted by the satellite, the receiving antenna must follow and continually point directly at the satellite. How is this done?

Ephemeris data (left monitor), signal strength (right monitor)

2.5.1. Ephemeris data (tables of the predicted location of the satellite) are used to aim the antenna at the expected location (azimuth and elevation) of the satellite as it appears over the horizon.

2.5.2. A computer moves the antenna, following along the predicted orbit of the satellite and searches for its X-band transmission. If a transmission is detected and if the signal is strong enough, the computer will track the satellite, using the X-band signal, rather than the ephemeris data.

Top

Previous (CCRS antennas)Index (Tutorial: Satellite Data Reception)Next (Data stream handling)


2006-09-03Important notices