3 Satellite Books

Introduction to Satellite Communication (Artech House Space Applications) By Bruce R. Elbert

About the Author
Bruce Elbert is managing director of Application Strategy Consulting and was formerly vice president of Applications Systems Development of Hughes Space and Communications. He holds an M.S.E.E. in communications and computer science from the University of Maryland and an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University. He is also the author of The Satellite Communication Applications Handbook, Second Edition and The Satellite Communication Ground Segment and Earth Station Handbook (Artech House 2004, 2000).

Whether you are a technical or management professional, you can turn to this highly understandable and comprehensive overview of satellite technology, applications, and management. Thoroughly updated and expanded, this third edition boasts a wealth of new material, including added coverage of systems engineering as applied to satellite communications, clear explanations of all aspects of building and using a satellite systems, and discussions on digital communications and processing in modern satellite networks. The new edition also examines critical success factors and how to avoid the pitfalls in selecting satellite and ground resources.

The book covers all the fundamentals of satellites, ground control systems, and earth stations, considering the design and operation of each major segment. You gain a practical understanding of the basic construction and usage of commercial satellite networks--how parts of a satellite system function, how various components interact, which role each component plays, and which factors are the most critical to success. Moreover, the book explores the economic, legal, and management issues involved in running the business of satellite communications.

You can hear the reader reviews.

A good addition to your telecommunication references
This book is very useful if you are trying to pave your way into the field of satellite communications.
You will later find out that the book can still serve you as a handy reference when you are already involved and experienced with satellite communications.

"Must have" for anyone in Satellite Communications.
Bruce Elbert's Introduction to Satellite Communications is the very best starting point for learning the basics of communications by satellite. Its scope goes beyond generalities but deals with specific topics from the world of satellite. Well organized and readable, it is an excellent companion to Mr. Elbert's other book, The Satellite Communication Applications Handbook. Both are "must read" and "must have" references for engineers and non-technical types!

Thorough coverage of Satellite Communications
This book does a great job of discussing commercial satellite communications. It is up to date, and includes excellent industry examples and technical details. This book will fill in your knowledge gaps.

Map: Satellite By DK Publishing

Landscapes are brought to life in this uniquely spectacular atlas, in which extraordinary satellite images can be directly compared to state-of-the-art mapping, at a variety of scales, without having to turn the page.

Review from the readers

The best Atlas EVER

This is truly an amazing book, one for every coffee table. I have many atlas's, but one with Satellite images next to a map is fantastic. It could be more complete with every country, but still, an amazing book to flick thru with a hot Latte in hand.

Absolutely stuuning, gorgeous book.
Great coffee table book.

The hologram images on the cover set the trend for the rest of the book. A satellite image is compared to a corresponding cartographical map of the same area.

All the great cities of the world are included ... New York, Los Angeles, New Dehli, London, Paris, Moscow, Tokyo, etc.

The book dramatically highlights the damaging effects of the greenhouse effect, plus the recent Aceh Tsunami.

DK books continue their great pictorial format/standard. This book has enough maps covering the world, to be classed as an atlas.

Eye in the Sky: The Story of the Corona Spy Satellites (Smithsonian History of Aviation and Spaceflight)

Presenting the full story of the CORONA spy satellites' origins, "Eye in the Sky" explores the Cold War technology and far-reaching effects of the satellites on foreign policy and national security. Arguing that satellite reconnaissance was key to shaping the course of the Cold War, the book documents breakthroughs in intelligence gathering and achievements in space technology that rival the landing on the moon. 63 photos.

Review from From Scientific American

The cold war propelled the U.S. and the Soviet Union to stunning technological heights--both figuratively and literally. Among the most impressive--and most deeply concealed--of those achievements is satellite reconnaissance, on which the U.S. continues to spend billions of dollars every year. This book chronicles in satisfying detail the origins of U.S. satellite reconnaissance by focusing on the pioneering Corona program, under which some 800,000 satellite images were made between 1960 and 1972.

Review from the readers

The "little" program that helped win the Cold War...
"Eye in the Sky" is an excellent book on the Discover/CORONA satellite program. What sets this book apart from other CORONA texts (including the declassified CIA history) is the chapter on the Soviet ZENIT program and its similarities to CORONA. This chapter alone is worth the cost of the book, since this comparison is not covered in any depth in the other CORONA books.

The appendices are good, with similiar information found on the internet and in Curtis Peeble's book on CORONA. The scientific coverage on the camera development is good too. If you're a spy satellite buff, this is a definite addition to your library (with some Burrows, Richelson, Peebles).

Nice summary
This was a nice summary of the Corona program. There is some redundant text becuase of the way various chapters were written by different people but overall it was a fine book. It explained the Corona program well and had some funny anectdotes. I just am amazed that the government had the smarts to keep funding it even with all the early setbacks. Today, we'd probably just give up (if it isn't a quick fix, then it isn't worth doing).