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At least 109 records · Page 6

Processes and Methods used for Nasa Communications Services Project Conceptualization and Formulation

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is partnering with the commercial SATCOM industry to demonstrate the industry’s capabilities to provide services to NASA’s near-Earth missions. Leveraging commercial capabilities will become increasingly necessary for NASA, as its incumbent Government-owned-and-operated near-Earth satellite network, the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS), will approach retirement towards the end of the current decade. NASA is actively taking the first steps to making the vision of using commercial SATCOM a reality. For more than two years, NASA’s Communication Services Project (CSP) has been evaluating the feasibility of employing commercial satellite communication (SATCOM) networks for near-Earth operations. This past April, CSP awarded US$278.5 million in Funded Space Act Agreements to select commercial SATCOM providers, so they may begin developing and demonstrating their specific near-Earth space communication services that may support future agency missions. Each company will match or exceed agency contributions during the five-year development and demonstration period, totaling more than $1.5 billion of cost-share investment. The companies will complete technology development and in-space demonstrations by 2025, after which NASA intends to seek multiple long-term contracts to acquire these kinds of services. The six companies (Inmarsat Government Inc., Kuiper Government Solutions (KGS), SES Government Solutions, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), Telesat U.S. Services and Viasat Inc.) will shortly begin developing and demonstrating their capabilities to provide services, ranging from launch to standard on-orbit operations. The demonstrations will be across multiple spectrum regimes from L-Band to optical, and will utilize Geostationary Orbit (GEO), Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) and Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations. This paper discusses methodologies and processes used over the past two years to reach the point of entering into these partnerships. It also includes CSP’s goals and objectives going forward, following the award of six Funded Space Act Agreements to commercial SATCOM providers to develop and demonstrate these capabilities.

Communications Services Project↗

Mesoscale to Synoptic Scale Cloud Variability

The atmospheric circulation and its interaction with the oceanic circulation involve non-linear and non-local exchanges of energy and water over a very large range of space and time scales. These exchanges are revealed, in part, by the related variations of clouds, which occur on a similar range of scales as the atmospheric motions that produce them. Collection of comprehensive measurements of the properties of the atmosphere, clouds and surface allows for diagnosis of some of these exchanges. The use of a multi-satellite-network approach by the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) comes closest to providing complete coverage of the relevant range space and time scales over which the clouds, atmosphere and ocean vary. A nearly 15-yr dataset is now available that covers the range from 3 hr and 30 km to decade and planetary. This paper considers three topics: (1) cloud variations at the smallest scales and how they may influence radiation-cloud interactions, and (2) cloud variations at "moderate" scales and how they may cause natural climate variability, and (3) cloud variations at the largest scales and how they affect the climate. The emphasis in this discussion is on the more mature subject of cloud-radiation interactions. There is now a need to begin similar detailed diagnostic studies of water exchange processes.

Rossow, William B.↗

Attitude Determination and Control Systems

In the year 1900, Galveston, Texas, was a bustling community of approximately 40,000 people. The former capital of the Republic of Texas remained a trade center for the state and was one of the largest cotton ports in the United States. On September 8 of that year, however, a powerful hurricane struck Galveston island, tearing the Weather Bureau wind gauge away as the winds exceeded 100 mph and bringing a storm surge that flooded the entire city. The worst natural disaster in United States history even today the hurricane caused the deaths of between 6000 and 8000 people. Critical in the events that led to such a terrible loss of life was the lack of precise knowledge of the strength of the storm before it hit. In 2008, Hurricane Ike, the third costliest hurricane ever to hit the United States coast, traveled through the Gulf of Mexico. Ike was gigantic, and the devastation in its path included the Turk and Caicos Islands, Haiti, and huge swaths of the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Once again, Galveston, now a city of nearly 60,000, took the direct hit as Ike came ashore. Almost 200 people in the Caribbean and the United States lost their lives; a tragedy to be sure, but far less deadly than the 1900 storm. This time, people were prepared, having received excellent warning from the GOES satellite network. The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites have been a continuous monitor of the world's weather since 1975, and they have since been joined by other Earth-observing satellites. This weather surveillance to which so many now owe their lives is possible in part because of the ability to point accurately and steadily at the Earth below. The importance of accurately pointing spacecraft to our daily lives is pervasive, yet somehow escapes the notice of most people. But the example of the lives saved from Hurricane Ike as compared to the 1900 storm is something no one should ignore. In this section, we will summarize the processes and technologies used in designing and operating spacecraft pointing (i.e. attitude) systems.

Starin, Scott R.↗

Delay Tolerant Network Routing as a Machine Learning Classification Problem

This paper discusses a machine learning-based approach to routing for delay tolerant networks (DTNs) [1]. DTNs are networks which experience frequent disconnections between nodes, uncertainty of an end-to-end path, long one-way trip times, and may have high error rates and asymmetric links. Such networks exist in deep space satellite networks, very rural environments, disaster areas and underwater environments. In this work, we use machine learning classifiers to predict a set of neighboring nodes which are the most likely to deliver a message to a desired location based on message history delivery information.We use the Common Open Research Emulator (CORE) [2] to emulate the DTN environment based on real-world location traces and collect network traffic statistics from the Bundle Protocol implementation IBR-DTN [3]. The software architecture for classification-based routing, analysis and preparation of the network history data and prediction results are discussed.

Delay Tolerant Networks↗

Application of Machine Learning Techniques to Delay Tolerant Network Routing

This dissertation discusses several machine learning techniques to improve routing in delay tolerant networks (DTNs). These are networks in which there may be long one-way trip times, asymmetric links, high error rates, and deterministic as well as non-deterministic loss of contact between network nodes, such as interplanetary satellite networks, mobile ad hoc networks and wireless sensor networks. This work uses historical network statistics to train a multi-label classifier to predict reliable paths through the network. In addition, a clustering technique is used to predict future mobile node locations. Both of these techniques are used to reduce the consumption of resources such as network bandwidth, memory and data storage that is required by replication routing methods often used in opportunistic DTN environments. Thesis contributions include: an emulation tool chain developed to create a DTN test bed for machine learning, the network and software architecture for a machine learning based routing method, the development and implementation of classification and clustering techniques and performance evaluation in terms of machine learning and routing metrics.

Dudukovich, Rachel M.↗

VSAT networks - An overview

This paper examines the technology and constraints of very small aperture terminals (VSAT) networks, a special type of wide-area thin-route satellite network that represents a recent innovation in the field of satellite communications. VSAT network architectures suitable for both data and voice communications are studied in this paper. Several issues concerning the frequency of operations, that is, C-band versus Ku-band are examined, and trade-offs between nonspread spectrum and spread spectrum techniques, as well as modulation and multiple access schemes, are considered in detail. Link design examples are given to illustrate the performance of various types of VSAT networks.

Maggenti, Mark↗

Simulator design for advanced ISDN satellite design and experiments

This simulation design task completion report documents the simulation techniques associated with the network models of both the Interim Service ISDN (integrated services digital network) Satellite (ISIS) and the Full Service ISDN Satellite (FSIS) architectures. The ISIS network model design represents satellite systems like the Advanced Communication Technology Satellite (ACTS) orbiting switch. The FSIS architecture, the ultimate aim of this element of the Satellite Communications Applications Research (SCAR) program, moves all control and switching functions on-board the next generation ISDN communication satellite. The technical and operational parameters for the advanced ISDN communications satellite design will be obtained from the simulation of ISIS and FSIS engineering software models for their major subsystems. Discrete events simulation experiments will be performed with these models using various traffic scenarios, design parameters and operational procedures. The data from these simulations will be used to determine the engineering parameters for the advanced ISDN communications satellite.

Pepin, Gerald R.↗

Web Transfer Over Satellites Being Improved

Extensive research conducted by NASA Lewis Research Center's Satellite Networks and Architectures Branch and the Ohio University has demonstrated performance improvements in World Wide Web transfers over satellite-based networks. The use of a new version of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) reduced the time required to load web pages over a single Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection traversing a satellite channel. However, an older technique of simultaneously making multiple requests of a given server has been shown to provide even faster transfer time. Unfortunately, the use of multiple simultaneous requests has been shown to be harmful to the network in general. Therefore, we are developing new mechanisms for the HTTP protocol which may allow a single request at any given time to perform as well as, or better than, multiple simultaneous requests. In the course of study, we also demonstrated that the time for web pages to load is at least as short via a satellite link as it is via a standard 28.8-kbps dialup modem channel. This demonstrates that satellites are a viable means of accessing the Internet.

Allman, Mark↗

Leo satellite-based telecommunication network concepts

Design considerations are discussed for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite based telecommunications networks. The satellites are assumed to be connected to each other via intersatellite links. They are connected to the end user either directly or through gateways to other networks. Frequency reuse, circuit switching, packet switching, call handoff, and routing for these systems are discussed by analogy with terrestrial cellular (mobile radio) telecommunication systems.

Aiken, John G.↗

NASA GSFC's Role in the US Space Program

The paper discussss the GSFC research interests and how GSFC contributes to solve some of most basic questions Humans having been asking for thousands of years. How big is universe? How old is the universe? Will Humans and industrialization of the Earth change the climate significantly? Can Humans live in space? How does the Sun affect life on Earth? Goddard s role in Earth Science is very unique. We buy and build instruments that collect data about weather around the world. By flying those instruments on spacecraft, we have a unique vantage point to observe the weather patterns on a global scale. The best example is a satellite network called GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) which produces the weather pictures and videos you see on the nightly news and weather channel. Earth Science is another area of great interest to Goddard scientists and spacecraft designers. This photo of an oil fire in Iraq taken on March 2Ist of this year shows the down range effect pollution will have on entire region. Space Weather has become extremely important in the Space business. Satellites not only can become inoperable due to the occasional high level of radiation but astronauts can be exposed to dangerous levels of radiation. Space Weather is actually an issue when planning Extra Vehicular Activities (EVA). At Goddard, our operation of the Hubble Space Telescope has meant we have worked closely with several Shuttle crews over the years.

Simpson, James E.↗

Satellite time synchronization of a NASA network.

A satellite time synchronization technique has been used for synchronization of remotely separated clocks during the past several years. The NASA network has been successfully synchronized to an accuracy of tens of microseconds via the NASA Geodetic Earth Orbiting Satellite GEOS-11. The results indicate that a polar orbit satellite having an onboard clock can effectively be used to synchronize clocks on a global basis.

Laios, S. C.↗

The control networks of the satellites of Jupiter

Geodetic control networks are being computed photogrammetrically for the large satellites of Jupiter, using pictures from the Voyager 1 and 2 encounters. Control points have been identified on the satellites and their coordinates computed by single-block analytical triangulation. The data sets have been converted from the B1950 to the J2000 inertial coordinate system to be compatible with future flight missions.

Davies, Merton E.↗

Triple-Error-Correcting Codec ASIC

Coder/decoder constructed on single integrated-circuit chip. Handles data in variety of formats at rates up to 300 Mbps, correcting up to 3 errors per data block of 256 to 512 bits. Helps reduce cost of transmitting data. Useful in many high-data-rate, bandwidth-limited communication systems such as; personal communication networks, cellular telephone networks, satellite communication systems, high-speed computing networks, broadcasting, and high-reliability data-communication links.

Jones, Robert E.↗

ACTS T1-VSAT - The intelligent earth station

The functional design of the software for NASA's Advanced Communication Technology Satellite (ACTS) T1-VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) is described. The design provides a flexible interface to allow customized control of a satellite network and to provide external processes with access to network capabilities without requiring modification to the network hardware or software. Some of the envisioned features are: automatic number location; dynamic reconfiguration of the number plan tables; security features of call priority, call preemption, and remote verification; automatic reconfiguration of least cost routing tables; circuit availability verification prior to call setup; audio and video conferencing; on demand broadband dial-up service; on demand dial-up broadband broadcast service; and ISDN. A brief review is also given of the ACTS satellite and network, the network management, and the ACTS T1-VSAT earth station.

Manning, John R.↗

Issues for the integration of satellite and terrestrial cellular networks for mobile communications

Satellite and terrestrial cellular systems naturally complement each other for land mobile communications, even though present systems have been developed independently. The main advantages of the integrated system are a faster wide area coverage, a better management of overloading traffic conditions, an extension to geographical areas not covered by the terrestrial network and, in perspective, the provision of only one integrated system for all mobile communications (land, aeronautical, and maritime). To achieve these goals, as far as possible the same protocols of the terrestrial network should be used also for the satellite network. Discussed here are the main issues arising from the requirements of the main integrated system. Some results are illustrated, and possible future improvements due to technical solutions are presented.

Delre, Enrico↗

Advanced avionics concepts: Autonomous spacecraft control

A large increase in space operations activities is expected because of Space Station Freedom (SSF) and long range Lunar base missions and Mars exploration. Space operations will also increase as a result of space commercialization (especially the increase in satellite networks). It is anticipated that the level of satellite servicing operations will grow tenfold from the current level within the next 20 years. This growth can be sustained only if the cost effectiveness of space operations is improved. Cost effectiveness is operational efficiency with proper effectiveness. A concept is presented of advanced avionics, autonomous spacecraft control, that will enable the desired growth, as well as maintain the cost effectiveness (operational efficiency) in satellite servicing operations. The concept of advanced avionics that allows autonomous spacecraft control is described along with a brief description of each component. Some of the benefits of autonomous operations are also described. A technology utilization breakdown is provided in terms of applications.

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