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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 289 records · Page 16
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NASA NTRS1990

The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System - The next decade

As currently envisioned, NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) will support the tracking and telecommunications requirements of LEO user satellites until the late 1990s, when existing TDRSS satellites will reach the end of their service lives. Spacecraft replacement is conceived as inseparable from network expansion for the accommodation of user population growth and the improvement of user services. The objective is to achieve a cost-effective/low-risk transition from TDRSS to Advanced TDRSS without interruption of user support. Attention is presently given to Advanced TDRSS architectural candidates studied and the choices which have emerged through technical tradeoff assessments.

Guion, William S.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) program Economic and programmatic, considerations

The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) represents the principal element of a new space-based tracking and communication network which will support NASA spaceflight missions in low earth orbit. In its complete configuration, the TDRSS network will include a space segment consisting of three highly specialized communication satellites in geosynchronous orbit, a ground segment consisting of an earth terminal, and associated data handling and control facilities. The TDRSS network has the objective to provide communication and data relay services between the earth-orbiting spacecraft and their ground-based mission control and data handling centers. The first TDRSS spacecraft has been now in service for two years. The present paper is concerned with the TDRSS experience from the perspective of the various programmatic and economic considerations which relate to the program.

Aller, R. O.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Tracking and data relay satellite system configuration and tradeoff study. Volume 1: TDRS system summary, part 1

A Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) concept for service of low and medium data rate user spacecraft has been defined. The TDRS system uses two geosynchronous dual spin satellites compatible with Delta 2914 to provide command, tracking, and telemetry service between multiple low earth orbiting users and a centrally located ground station. The low data rate user service capability via each TDRS is as follows: (1) forward link at UHF: voice to one user, commands to 20 users (sequential), range and range rate service, and (2) return link at VHF: voice from one user, data from 20 users (simultaneous), range and range rate return signals. The medium data rate user service via each TDRS is as follows: (1) forward link at S band: voice or command and tracking signals to one user, and (2) return link at S band: voice, data and tracking signals from one user "order wire" for high priority service requests (implemented with an earth coverage antenna).

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1977

Tracking and data system support for the Viking 1975 mission to Mars. Volume 1: Prelaunch planning, implementation, and testing

The tracking and data acquisition support for the 1975 Viking Missions to Mars is described. The history of the effort from its inception in late 1968 through the launches of Vikings 1 and 2 from Cape Kennedy in August and September 1975 is given. The Viking mission requirements for tracking and data acquisition support in both the near earth and deep space phases involved multiple radar tracking and telemetry stations, and communications networks together with the global network of tracking stations, communications, and control center. The planning, implementation, testing and management of the program are presented.

Mudgway, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Accurate orbit determination strategies for the tracking and data relay satellites

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has developed the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) System (TDRSS) for tracking and communications support of low Earth-orbiting satellites. TDRSS has the operational capability of providing 85% coverage for TDRSS-user spacecraft. TDRSS currently consists of five geosynchronous spacecraft and the White Sands Complex (WSC) at White Sands, New Mexico. The Bilateration Ranging Transponder System (BRTS) provides range and Doppler measurements for each TDRS. The ground-based BRTS transponders are tracked as if they were TDRSS-user spacecraft. Since the positions of the BRTS transponders are known, their radiometric tracking measurements can be used to provide a well-determined ephemeris for the TDRS spacecraft. For high-accuracy orbit determination of a TDRSS user, such as the Ocean Topography Experiment (TOPEX)/Poseidon spacecraft, high-accuracy TDRS orbits are required. This paper reports on successive refinements in improved techniques and procedures leading to more accurate TDRS orbit determination strategies using the Goddard Trajectory Determination System (GTDS). These strategies range from the standard operational solution using only the BRTS tracking measurements to a sophisticated iterative process involving several successive simultaneous solutions for multiple TDRSs and a TDRSS-user spacecraft. Results are presented for GTDS-generated TDRS ephemerides produced in simultaneous solutions with the TOPEX/Poseidon spacecraft. Strategies with different user spacecraft, as well as schemes for recovering accurate TDRS orbits following a TDRS maneuver, are also presented. In addition, a comprehensive assessment and evaluation of alternative strategies for TDRS orbit determination, excluding BRTS tracking measurements, are presented.

Oza, D. H.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Exchange of Standardized Flight Dynamics Data

Spacecraft operations require the knowledge of the vehicle trajectory and attitude and also that of other spacecraft or natural bodies. This knowledge is normally provided by the Flight Dynamics teams of the different space organizations and, as very often spacecraft operations involve more than one organization, this information needs to be exchanged between Agencies. This is why the Navigation Working Group within the CCSDS (Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems), has been instituted with the task of establishing standards for the exchange of Flight Dynamics data. This exchange encompasses trajectory data, attitude data, and tracking data. The Navigation Working Group includes regular members and observers representing the participating Space Agencies. Currently the group includes representatives from CNES, DLR, ESA, NASA and JAXA. This Working Group meets twice per year in order to devise standardized language, methods, and formats for the description and exchange of Navigation data. Early versions of some of these standards have been used to support mutual tracking of ESA and NASA interplanetary spacecraft, especially during the arrival of the 2003 missions to Mars. This paper provides a summary of the activities carried out by the group, briefly outlines the current and envisioned standards, describes the tests and operational activities that have been performed using the standards, and lists and discusses the lessons learned from these activities.

standards↗
NASA NTRS1990

Sensitivity of high-accuracy Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) user spacecraft orbit determination to tracking schedules

The results of a study to analyze the dependence of TDRSS user spacecraft orbit determination consistencies on varying tracking schedules are presented. In this study, the TDRS-East orbit determination results obtained utilizing Bilateration Ranging Transponder System data were evaluated. Six state parameters, three position and three velocity components and the solar radiation pressure coefficient, are estimated for TDRS-East. It is concluded that, in order to achieve high-precision orbit determination, the tracking coverage should not fall below 10 minutes every two orbits as decreasing it to every four orbits will significantly degrade the accuracy; present state-of-the-art consistency in orbit determination using TDRSS tracking is approximately 15 to 20 meters.

Doll, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Current concepts for a tracking and data relay satellite system.

Description of two varieties of a tracking and data relay satellite system utilizing geosynchronous relay spacecraft to provide telecommunications service to user spacecraft in low earth orbit. These users are categorized by their earth return data rates. The described system varieties are the two versions of a low and medium data rate system whose definition study is now complete. One of these versions utilizes a spin-stabilized spacecraft, while the other employs a three-axis stabilized one. Some of the communication problems peculiar to these system varieties are discussed.

Clark, G. Q.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Utilization of the Deep Space Atomic Clock for Europa Gravitational Tide Recovery

Estimation of Europa's gravitational tide can provide strong evidence of the existence of a subsurface liquid ocean. Due to limited close approach tracking data, a Europa flyby mission suffers strong coupling between the gravity solution quality and tracking data quantity and quality. This work explores utilizing Low Gain Antennas with the Deep Space Atomic Clock (DSAC) to provide abundant high accuracy uplink-only radiometric tracking data. DSAC's performance, expected to exhibit an Allan Deviation of less than 3e-15 at one day, provides long-term stability and accuracy on par with the Deep Space Network ground clocks, enabling one-way radiometric tracking data with accuracy equivalent to that of its two-way counterpart. The feasibility of uplink-only Doppler tracking via the coupling of LGAs and DSAC and the expected Doppler data quality are presented. Violations of the Kalman filter's linearization assumptions when state perturbations are included in the flyby analysis results in poor determination of the Europa gravitational tide parameters. B-plane targeting constraints are statistically determined, and a solution to the linearization issues via pre-flyby approach orbit determination is proposed and demonstrated.

Seubert, Jill↗
NASA NTRS1992

A gravity field to support Magellan navigation and science at Venus

The development and validation of the revised JPL Venus Gravity Model are described with attention given to the incorporation of data regarding the longitudinal coverage. The motivation for the JPL Venus Gravity Model 1B (VGM1B) is related to the determination of orbit-support requirements for the Magellan mission. Existing gravity models for Venus are reviewed, and the present model is based on orbit-prediction data taken from Doppler tracking data from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO). Revised information arrays are developed incorporating more complete data describing the longitudinal conditions of the gravity field. Improvements are noted in the Doppler residual statistics taken from field-validation fits to the PVO and Magellan tracking data by using the VGM1B harmonic field. The VGM1B gravity field is also shown to reduce the trajectory errors from PVO and Magellan navigation.

Mcnamee, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Autonomous onboard navigation using tracking and data relay satellite system (TDRSS) signals

Analyses have indicated that the NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) can furnish its orbital users accurate, low cost onboard navigation services via two different modes: (1) Forward-Link Scheduled Tracking, designated 'Block-I', and (2) Forward-Link Beacon Tracking, designated 'Block II'. Attention is presently given to the Block-I and Block-II system configurations, signal definition, and observation data descriptions. Projected accuracies for orbit-determination, time-determination, and frequency-determination are presented, in conjunction with user-navigation scenarios and covariance analysis results detailing error sources and magnitudes. The status of the two navigation service modes in both TDRSS and Advanced TDRSS is noted.

Engel, Cheryl↗
NASA NTRS2018

Commissioning of NASA's 3rd Generation Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS KLM)

In the summer of 2017, the third and final spacecraft of the 3rd generation of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS) launched aboard an Atlas V rocket from Complex 41 on the Eastern Test Range. Finishing final testing and integration in the first quarter of 2018, the TDRS-M communication and navigation satellite completes a constellation that began service in the early 1980s. The 3rd generation of spacecraft, TDRS-K, L, and M, not only provided beneficial systems engineering lessons in handling anomalous Radio Frequency and Doppler interference as well as integrating new spacecraft into an aging ground support infrastructure, but also supplies NASA with a valuable test bed for new operational concepts and technologies useful in defining the future architecture of the NASA Space Network. This paper presents an overview of the TDRS-K, L, and M missions, including transfer orbit, Level 5 bus and payload testing, and finally NASA-led Level 6 testing, which includes active TDRS System (TDRSS) users. Highlights include relevant testing results, commissioning challenges, and lessons learned. The final discussion includes a brief overview of future NASA communication and navigation technologies and network architectures.

Data Relay↗