Nowadays, the satellites in orbit are mainly divided into three large groups: LEO, MEO and GEO. Satellite orbits can be described with TLE (Two Line Elements) which is used for active satellite tracking. A satellite’s “see” time can differ from the observer’s point of view, from a few minutes to 15 or more. LEO and MEO satellites with low elevation angles need much higher pointing accuracy, and their “see” time can be very short. It should also be mentioned that the velocity of the satellite varies according to the observer’s point of view. The closer to the zenith it is, the faster it moves
Our company developed two overriding (dominant) antenna ground base tracking stations, known as X/Y and AZ/EL. For the universal tracking system, X/Y is the most suitable solution when the satellite orbit is not defined or for head-up tracking (near zenith). A more economical solution is AZ/EL, which is not suitable for tracking at high elevation but is more suitable for MEO and GEO satellites at lower elevations.