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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mouton!karn
From: karn@mouton.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: SATCOM polarization
Message-ID: <153@mouton.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 12-Sep-84 00:05:16 EDT
Article-I.D.: mouton.153
Posted: Wed Sep 12 00:05:16 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 14-Sep-84 05:31:49 EDT
References: <13249@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Inc
Lines: 15

The direction of polarization of a radio wave always refers to the electric
field. (It's easy to remember, a vertical whip antenna produces vertical
polarization.)

The "vertical" and "horizontal" polarizations of a geostationary communications
satellite are referenced to the spacecraft as you would see it if you were
lying down directly under it (on the equator) with your head pointed north.
For the spin-stabilized birds (HS-376, SBS, Westar, etc) this is also the
position in which you usually see the spacecraft in ground tests, and when
it is mounted on the launcher.

Of course, you have to do a coordinate rotation when adjusting your TVRO
feed horn, but it is easy when you visualize what is going on.

Phil