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From the Introduction: "Each satellite may carry traffic for dozens of independent networks through an array of on-board transponders, each covering a diameter
by OnACoffeeBreak 1y ago
From the Introduction: "Each satellite may carry traffic for dozens of independent networks through an array of on-board transponders, each covering a diameter of thousands of kilometers (at most a third of Earth’s surface)".
Can someone help me understand the use of "diameter" in this sentence. I am guessing it refers to the satellite's signal coverage of the Earth's surface. If that's the case, wouldn't something like arc degrees be a better measure? I just can't figure out how "diameter" can be used to describe a coverage arc or area.
- jnovacho 1y agoThey mean the intersection between the cone produced by the satellite and "illuminated" surface. If the antenna beam is normal to the sphere, it will produce a disk which has an diameter.
- slow_typist 1y agoThis, and 1/3 of earth’s surface is the maximum you can see from geostationary orbit.
- alterom 1y agoYeah, diameter is ambiguous (is it the diameter of the disk in space, or in the geometry/topology of the Earth's surface?). Either way, they point is, it's a lot of coverage.