Every spacecraft relies on communications with the ground and/or other spacecraft, and for communications satellites, communications is the entire reason the spacecraft exists!

To engage in the business of space, you need to have a general understanding of how communications links work, and their practical and theoretical limits. We will not go into any mathematics or technical detail, but you will get an overview of:

• Why modern wireless communications are such amazing technology.
• The common ingredients of every digital communications link.
• The critical role of antennas.
• The eternal battle of signal vs noise.
• What is a link budget, why is it important.
• The effects of rain on earth-space links.