MASINDE MULIRO UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ECE 521E - RADAR & SATELLITE ENGINEERING SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2026 SEMESTER SENATE APPROVED SYLLABUS

Pre-requisites:

ECE 321 – Principles of Communication Systems

ECE 424 – Digital Communication Systems

Course Purpose

To enable students be familiarize with modern radar and navigation systems and principles of design radio-navigation and location systems, as well as radar systems.

Expected Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this course, a student should be able to:

1. explain principles of operation of radar systems;
2. apply theoretical and practical knowledge about principles, methods and applications of modern radar systems;
3. measure and identify the parameters which determine the performance of radar systems;
4. explain the function of satellite subsystems;
5. apply orbital mechanics formula and tools to spacecraft mission design;
6. select appropriate launch systems and understand their effect on satellite and payload design and performance;
7. design and analyse satellite links;
8. evaluate satellite subsystem performance

Course Description

Basic Principles of Radar, Antenna parameters, Radar equation. Performance parameters, target cross-section, MTI and Doppler radar: Doppler Effect, CW radar, FM CW, Delay line cancellers, Pulse Doppler Radar. Scanning, Duplexers and Radar receivers: Sequential lobbing, Conical Scanning, Monopulse Tracking RADAR, Tracking with surveillance RADAR, Acquisition, Radar receiver, Radar Displays;  Duplexers. Introduction to satellite communication, international regulation & frequency coordination, satellite frequency allocation & band spectrum, active & passive satellites. Orbits and Launching Methods: Kepler’s laws, orbital elements, apogee and perigee heights, orbital perturbations, effects of non-spherical earth, atmospheric drag, the geostationary orbit, antenna look angles, polar mount antenna, limits of visibility, earth eclipse of satellite, sun transit outage, launches and launch vehicles, power supply, altitude control, station keeping, thermal control, transponders, antenna subsystem. Earth station: transmit/receive earth stations. Space links: Introduction, equivalent isotropic radiated power, transmission losses, link power budget equation, system noise, carrier-to noise ratio. Interference: interference between satellite circuits, combined (C/I) due to interference on uplink and downlink, antenna gain function, pass band interference. Applications: direct broadcast satellite (DBS) services, MSAT, VSATs, GPS.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures, Class discussions, e-learning and laboratory tests

Instructional Materials

Handouts, textbooks, lecture notes, e-materials, Chalkboard, Whiteboard, LCD/Overhead Projector, Computer with simulation software

Course Assessment

Continuous assessment:          40%

Written Examination:          60%

Recommended References

(i) Skolnik M. I, Introduction to Radar Systems, McGraw-Hill

(ii) Gerard Maral, Michel Bousquet, Satellite Communications Systems: Systems, Techniques and Technology, ISBN: 0-471-49654-5.

(iii)M. Richharia,, Satellite Communication Systems, 2^nd Edition, McGrawHill Telecommunication Series, ISBN: 0-07-134208-7.

(iv) Kadish J.E. and East T.W.R., Satellite Communication Fundamentals, Artech House Books, ISBN: ISBN-10: 1580531369