Why are ground stations important?

Ground stations enable us to manage, monitor and control satellites from the ground as well as receive data collected in space. It’s been continuously noted however, that despite the importance of ground stations, many satellite vendors—especially smaller vendors—plan this portion of their operations too late.

What is a ground station?

Ground (or Earth) stations are terrestrial radio stations designed for extraplanetary telecommunication with spacecraft. They are a physical location that has an antenna allowing a satellite operator to down link imagery from their satellite after it’s been collected.

What is a base station & how does it work?

The base station is the central element of the device. It is through it that the operations centre can communicate with the satellite. The link between the satellite and the base station carries three different types of information: payload (payload), telemetry (TT&C) and Command & Control (C2).

How do satellites communicate with ground stations?

Satellites communicate with ground stations through a complex process involving antenna alignment, signal modulation, data transfer, frequency bands, signal reception, weather interference, and power supply. Antennas on satellites and ground stations must be precisely aligned to establish a strong communication link.

How is a ground station network designed?

A ground station network is designed by strategically placing antennas worldwide to maximize satellite coverage. Key considerations include site selection for optimal signal reception, frequency compatibility, infrastructure setup, and adherence to regulatory requirements.

Why do ground stations need EO data?

As the request for EO data increases, so does the need to transmit large amounts of satellite data to ground stations. Orbit availability – Ground stations can communicate with satellites only when the satellite is in their visibility region.