The distances involved in satellite-communications (SATCOM) links are quite long, so the link losses are significant. Since much of the link path is outside the Earth's atmosphere, there are also different considerations in the calculation of some of the sources of loss. We will consider spreading loss, atmospheric loss, and rain or fog loss. Under most circumstances, the sum of these losses (in dB) can be considered the total link loss. We will handle losses like antenna misalignment separately. Each of these losses applies to the links between satellite and ground station, as well as to losses in terrestrial transmitters intercepted by a satellite-based receiver payload.
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