Engineering topics

Carper, Richard

Publications and source records attributed to Carper, Richard.

3 records

NASA NTRS1988

Data interfaces to the Space Station information system

The general form of the information system to be implemented to provide the broad and flexible services required to support the diverse needs of the U.S. Space Station is discussed. Emphasis is placed on the interfaces to the SSIS (Space Station Information System) and major interfaces within the SSIS. A central theme of the SSIS is the use of international standards, where appropriate and available. These standards include those of the International Organization for Standards (ISO), the Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee (CCITT), and the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS). The specific standards selected or under consideration are enumerated. The effect of the selections on the interfaces visible to users of the SSIS are described, and a status report on the progress of official adoption of the standards is presented.

Carper, Richard↗

NASA NTRS1987

Mass storage systems for data transport in the early space station era 1992-1998

NASA's Space Station Program will provide a vehicle to deploy an unprecedented number of data producing experiments and operational devices. Peak down link data rates are expected to be in the 500 megabit per second range and the daily data volume could reach 2.4 terabytes. Such startling requirements inspired an internal NASA study to determine if economically viable data storage solutions are likely to be available to support the Ground Data Transport segment of the NASA data system. To derive the requirements for data storage subsystems, several alternative data transport architectures were identified with different degrees of decentralization. Data storage operations at each subsystem were categorized based on access time and retrieval functions, and reduced to the following types of subsystems: First in First out (FIFO) storage, fast random access storage, and slow access with staging. The study showed that industry funded magnetic and optical storage technology has a reasonable probability of meeting these requirements. There are, however, system level issues that need to be addressed in the near term.

Carper, Richard↗

NASA NTRS1987

Data capture and processing

A systems concept developed in response to the specific requirements imposed by the Space Station and affiliated instrumentation is described. Particular attention is given to those subsystems associated with initial data capture, handling, routing, and distribution control for return link data via the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. The conceived approach, designated the Customer Data and Operations System, includes a data interface facility and a data handling center whose functions are data capture, demultiplexing and routing, early preprocessing, and ancillary data handling.

Lyon, John↗