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Design and Prototype of a Satellite Tracking and Antenna System
Atatreh, Dania Mohammed Ali
Atatreh, Dania Mohammed Ali
Date
2025-11
Author
Advisor
Type
Thesis
Degree
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35.232-2025.61a Dania Mohammed Ali Atatreh.pdf
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Description
A Master of Science thesis in Electrical Engineering by Dania Mohammed Ali Atatreh entitled, “Design and Prototype of a Satellite Tracking and Antenna System”, submitted in November 2025. Thesis advisor is Dr. Oualid Hammi and thesis co-advisor is Dr. Amer Zakaria. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).
Abstract
The main objective of this project was to design a satellite tracking system and build an antenna that operates at the Long-wavelength Band (L-band) frequency range. The main purpose of the satellite tracking system is to allow users from all levels of expertise to retrieve signals from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. To achieve this, a MATLAB-based predictor program was developed that uses Two-Line Element (TLE) data and the Simplified General Perturbations 4 (SGP4) propagation model to compute satellite visibility and the corresponding azimuth and elevation angles for a user-defined ground location. The system uses user-defined inputs to track satellites, predict future passes, and check the visibility of the satellites across various locations. The outputs of the predictor program were validated by comparing them against an established reference tracking source (N2YO). The azimuth and elevation values obtained showed a difference below 1° and percentage errors below 6%. The second component of the thesis is the antenna design. A conical horn antenna operating at the L-band frequency range of 1.6 GHz was designed theoretically, simulated on MATLAB and ANSYS, and later 3D printed. The antenna design was evaluated through simulations and testing to finally demonstrate a return loss of 36 dB near 1.5 GHz. Overall, the developed software and antenna prototype can support educational and experimental work in LEO satellite tracking for students and amateurs, which would allow them to work with satellite systems and learn more about them through hands-on experience. By doing so, it could attract more students to the field of space and satellites, particularly among youth.