To compute the free space path loss (FSPL) for a satellite in a certain orbit, we can use the Friis

transmission equation, which relates the received power to the transmitted power, frequency,
distance, and antenna gains. The formula for free space path loss is given by:

Where,
● d:is the distance between the satellite and the ground station,
● f:is the frequency of the signal,
● c:is the speed of light.

Case 1
The elevation angle (shown in Fig. 1) is given by:

where sr is the distance from satellite to geocentric, Re is the radius of the

Earth and E represents arc between an earth station and a sub-satellite
point, it is expressed as:

Where øg is the latitude of the earth station while MS is the latitude of the
sub-satellite point, 'O' is the difference between the longitude of a
sub-satellite point and an earth station.

Figure 2. Elevation angle from earth station to satellite.

Case 2: Slant Range for LEO Satellites

The basic geometry between a LEO satellite and ground station is depicted in Figure 2.
The parameter d is the slant range (distance from the ground station to the satellite).
This parameter will be used during the link budget calculation, and it is expressed
through elevation angle 0 . Applying cosines law for triangle at Figure 3 yields:

Figure 3.Ground station geometry.

Figure 2. Ground station geometry.

Elevation E0 expressed for known slant range d:

d:
r=Re+H.