Page 19 - Satellite Communications, Fourth Edition

Dennis Roddy xi

Preface

As with previous editions, the fourth edition provides broad coverage of satellite communications, while
maintaining sufficient depth to lay the foundations for more advanced studies. Mathematics is used as a
descriptive tool and to obtain numerical results, but lengthy mathematical derivations are avoided. In setting
™
up numerical problems and examples the author has made use of Mathcad , a computer program, but the
worked examples in the text are presented in normal algebraic notation, so that other programs, including
programmable calculators can be used.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows. In Chap. 1 the sections on INTELSAT
and polar orbiting satellites, including environmental and search and rescue, have been updated.
Sun-synchronous orbits have been treated in more detail in Chap. 2. A new section on planar antennas and
arrays, including reflectarrays, and array switching has been added in Chap. 6. Chapter 8 includes additional
details on C-band reception of television signals. In Chap. 11, a more detailed description is given of linear
block codes, and new sections on the Shannon capacity and turbo and low density parity check (LDPC) codes
have been included. Chapter 12 has a new section on intersatellite links (ISLs), including optical links.
Chapter 15 has been extensively rewritten to include more basic details on networks and asynchronous
transfer mode (ATM) operation. Chapter 16 covers high definition television (HDTV) in more detail, and the
Iridium mobile satellite system, which is now under new ownership, is described in Chap. 17.
In this age of heightened security concerns, it has proved difficult to get detailed technical information on
satellite systems and equipment. Special thanks are, therefore, due to the following people and organizations
that provided copies of technical papers, diagrams, and figures for the topics listed:

Planar antennas and arrays, reflectarrays, and array switching: Jacquelyn Adams, Battelle/GLITeC; Dr.
Luigi Boccia, Universita della