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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 487 records · Page 27

Applications of Satellite Total Lightning Observations

Low-earth orbit satellite measurements of total lightning have diverse applications for lightning-related NOx production. Topics to be covered include: (1) current availability of gridded global and tropical lightning climatologies from the OTD and LIS sensors; (2) estimation of the IC:CG ratio from combination of satellite and surface network observations (relevant for net storm production); (3) determination of land and ocean storm flash rate spectra, and their implications for parameterized "scaling law" approaches to lightning NOx estimation; and (4) use of satellite observations to assess and correct for the range-dependent performance of groundbased systems, including LDAR and NLDN.

Boccippio, Dennis J.↗

New TDRSS communications options for small satellites

The NASA uses a space network which includes the tracking and data relay satellite system (TDRSS) for the provision of reliable low data rate and high data rate relay services between user spacecraft in earth orbit and the ground. In relation to future small satellite designs, new communication options for the TDRSS support of small spacecraft missions are reported on. The technologies considered include new transponder technologies, evolution to Ka band frequencies and a TDRSS demand access service capability. Multiple access aspects are considered.

Zillig, David J.↗

Burst-Compression And -Expansion For TDMA Communication

Burst-compression and -expansion technique enables interconnection of users transmitting and receiving data at rates asynchronous with respect to clocks within ground terminals of satellite-switched, time-division-multiple-access (TDMA) communication network. Matrix switch aboard satellite routes bursts of data from source users received on uplink antennas to downlink antennas illuminating ground areas containing destination users. TDMA ground terminal compresses streams of data from source users into rapid bursts for transmission and reexpands bursts of received data into slower streams of data for delivery to destination users. Greater flexibility in interconnecting widely dispersed users achieved by use of hopping beams.

Budinger, James M.↗

Implementation of a system to provide mobile satellite services in North America

This paper describes the implementation of the ground network to support Mobile Satellite Services (MSS). The system is designed to take advantage of a powerful new satellite series and provides significant improvements in capacity and throughput over systems in service today. The system is described in terms of the services provided and the system architecture being implemented to deliver those services. The system operation is described including examples of a circuit switched and packet switched call placement. The physical architecture is presented showing the major hardware components and software functionality placement within the hardware.

Johanson, Gary A.↗

A variable bandwidth assignment scheme for the Land Mobile Satellite experiment

The Mobile Satellite Experiment is a proposed experimental satellite-based communications network which provides data and voice communications to mobile terminals dispersed in geographically dispersed areas. In this paper, an analytical model is developed to calculate the performance of a Variable Bandwidth Assignment (VBA) Scheme. Under this scheme, the satellite channel bandwidth is dynamically reassigned so that a message may be transmitted in the shortest possible time. To transmit a long message, message channels will be reconfigured to have more bandwidth such that the transmission time is reduced, while to transmit a short message, the channel bandwidth will be shrunk such that the released bandwidth can be used to serve other messages. The model is illustrated with numerical examples. It is shown that a VBA scheme can achieve considerable improvement in transmission delays over a Fixed Bandwidth Assignment Scheme.

Yan, T.-Y.↗

A satellite system for land-mobile communications in Europe

There exists a great unsatisified demand for land mobile communications in Europe, particularly in sectors of business activity such as the road transport industry. This demand could best be satisfied by means of satellite-based private networks providing voice and data communications in a hub configuration. The potential market is estimated to encompass several hundred thousand road vehicles and the transmission capacity required would be several thousand channels. ESA is currently demonstrating the potential of satellite communications for this type of application, using a system called PRODAT. System studies are being performed with the aim of defining the architecture of a regional satellite system for Europe.

Bartholome, P.↗

Service offerings and interfaces for the ACTS network of Earth stations

The Advanced Communications Satellite (ACTS) is capable of two modes of communication. Mode 1 is a mesh network of Earth stations using baseband-switched, time-division multiple-access (BBS-TDMA) and hopping beams. Mode 2 is a mesh network using satellite-switched, time-division multiple-access (SS-TDMA) and fixed (or hopping) beams. The purpose of this paper is to present the functional requirements and the design of the ACTS Mode 1 Earth station terrestrial interface. Included among the requirements are that: (1) the interface support standard telecommunications service offerings (i.e., voice, video and data at rates ranging from 9.6 kbps to 44 Mbps); (2) the interface support the unique design characteristics of the ACTS communications systems (e.g., the real time demand assignment of satellite capacity); and (3) the interface support test hardware capable of validating ACTS communications processes. The resulting interface design makes use of an appropriate combination of T1 or T3 multiplexers and a small central office (maximum capacity 56 subscriber lines per unit).

Coney, Thom A.↗

Status of frequency and time support for NASA systems

NASA has frequency and timing systems at many facilities and centers. Timing systems with specifications tighter than several microseconds are covered. These ground based systems support scientific experiments and spacecraft tracking for the following programs; NASA Satellite Laser Ranging (NSLR); Network Mission Operations Support (NMOS); Kennedy Space Center (KSC); Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI); Tracking Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) Ground Terminal Network; and the Deep Space Network (DSN). Major equipment assemblies, specifications, performance, and requirements, both present and future, are presented.

Kuhnle, Paul F.↗

Service offerings and interfaces for the ACTS network of earth stations

The NASA Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) will use a network of about 20 earth stations to operate as a Mode 1 network. This network will support two ACTS program objectives: to verify the technical performance of ACTS Mode 1 operation in GEO and to demonstrate the types and quality of services that can be provided by an ACTS Mode 1 communications system. The terrestrial interface design is a critical element in assuring that these network earth stations will meet the objectives. In this paper, the applicable terrestrial interface design requirements, the resulting interface specifications, and the associated terrestrial input/output hardware are discussed. A functional block diagram of a network earth station is shown.

Coney, T. A.↗

The data distribution satellite system

The Data Distributed Satellite (DDS) will be capable of providing the space research community with inexpensive and easy access to space payloads and space data. Furthermore, the DDS is shown to be a natural outgrowth of advances and evolution in both NASA's Space Network and commercial satellite communications. The roadmap and timescale for this evolution is described along with key demonstrations, proof-of-concept models, and required technology development that will support the projected system evolution toward the DDS.

Bruno, Ronald C.↗

Integration of SPS with utility system networks

The integration of Satellite Power System (SPS) power in electric utility power systems is discussed. Specifically, the nature of the power output variations from the spacecraft to the rectenna, the operational characteristics of the rectenna power, and the impacts on the electric utility system from utilizing SPS power to serve part of the system load are treated. It is concluded that if RF beam control is an acceptable method for power control, and that the site distribution of SPS rectennas do not cause a very high local penetration (40 to 50%), SPS may be integrated into electric utility system with a few negative impacts. Increased regulating duty on the conventional generation, and a potential impact on system reliability for SPS penetration in excess of about 25% appear to be two areas of concern.

Kaupang, B. M.↗

Cloud-Based Demodulation and Data Distribution of a Satellite Downlink

Ground station networks connected to the cloud allow space missions to have global communications coverage without operating their own infrastructure. In this work, we describe the communications architecture for the TechEdSat-13 mission, which performed the first in-space characterization of a neuromorphic processor. The mission utilizes a commercial provider for S-band downlinks. A suite of cloud services and open-source software such as GNU Radio are leveraged to demodulate signals received by an AWS ground station during passes with TechEdSat-13 and store recovered data. Once a pass is scheduled, the entire process takes place without human intervention. On-orbit results the past year of operations are presented, demonstrating the advantages of this approach over traditional operator-owned ground stations. Use of software-defined radio makes possible custom signal processing. The homogeneity of apertures and their interfaces to the cloud simplifies scaling across many sites. This abundance of candidate links lays the groundwork for intelligent scheduling agents to optimize pass selection across several factors, automatically recover from failed contacts, and gather metrics to learn from past performance.

cloud demodulation↗

Satellite Communications for Aeronautical Applications: Recent research and Development Results

Communications systems have always been a critical element in aviation. Until recently, nearly all communications between the ground and aircraft have been based on analog voice technology. But the future of global aviation requires a more sophisticated "information infrastructure" which not only provides more and better communications, but integrates the key information functions (communications, navigation, and surveillance) into a modern, network-based infrastructure. Satellite communications will play an increasing role in providing information infrastructure solutions for aviation. Developing and adapting satellite communications technologies for aviation use is now receiving increased attention as the urgency to develop information infrastructure solutions grows. The NASA Glenn Research Center is actively involved in research and development activities for aeronautical satellite communications, with a key emphasis on air traffic management communications needs. This paper describes the recent results and status of NASA Glenn's research program.

Kerczewski, Robert J.↗

Design mobile satellite system architecture as an integral part of the cellular access digital network

The Cellular Access Digital Network (CADN) is the access vehicle through which cellular technology is brought into the mainstream of the evolving integrated telecommunications network. Beyond the integrated end-to-end digital access and per call network services provisioning of the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), the CADN engenders the added capability of mobility freedom via wireless access. One key element of the CADN network architecture is the standard user to network interface that is independent of RF transmission technology. Since the Mobile Satellite System (MSS) is envisioned to not only complement but also enhance the capabilities of the terrestrial cellular telecommunications network, compatibility and interoperability between terrestrial cellular and mobile satellite systems are vitally important to provide an integrated moving telecommunications network of the future. From a network standpoint, there exist very strong commonalities between the terrestrial cellular system and the mobile satellite system. Therefore, the MSS architecture should be designed as an integral part of the CADN. This paper describes the concept of the CADN, the functional architecture of the MSS, and the user-network interface signaling protocols.

Chien, E. S. K.↗