Information and Activities for students grades 7 - 12

Prepared by Dr. Regis Leonard for NASA's Lewis Research Center

Table of Contents:

SECTION 1 - SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS - A SHORT COURSE

1. Satellites in General

• What Keeps Objects in Orbit?
• Can We Imitate Nature? (Artificial Satellites)

2. Communications Satellites

• Why Satellites for Communications
• Low Earth-Orbiting Communications Satellites
• Geosynchronous Communications Satellites

3. Components for Communications Satellites

• Basic Components
• Transmitters
• Antennas
• Power Generation

4. Future Communications Satellites

SECTION 2 - SUGGESTED CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

1. Satellites in General

2. Communications Satellites

3. Components for Communications Satellites

SECTION 3 - BACKGROUND MATERIALS FOR A VISIT TO NASA's ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY SATELLITE (ACTS) FACILITY

1. General Description

2. New Communications Technology

• Higher Frequencies
• Moveable Beams
• Switching and Routing Capabilities

3. ACTS Ground Station

4. Potential Applications of ACTS Technology

5. Questions to be Answered During a Visit to ACTS

Arrange a Visit to the ACTS Facility

SECTION 4 - BACKGROUND MATERIAL FOR A VISIT TO NASA's APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY SATELLITE (ATS-3) FACILITY

1. General Description

• Orbit
• Specifications
• Ground Terminal

2. Present Users

3. Questions to be Answered During a Visit to ATS-3

4. Suggested ATS-3 Activities

Arrange a Visit to the ATS-3 Facility

About the AuthorLinks

Original Document Transformed into Web Pages by Larry Nagy