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At least 19 records

Space Shuttle communications - Wideband direct link signal and system design

This paper describes the design of a wideband S-band communications link from the Space Shuttle Orbiter to a ground-based terminal. This link will be used for transmission of television, digital data (various rates), or analog data, and is of interest because of the presence of bandwidth, power, and hardware constraints. The procedure followed to arrive at an overall signal and system design is outlined, and system performance margins are presented for various operational configurations. Finally, the growth potential of this link for digital data transmission is discussed.

Batson, B. H.

The ERTS wideband image communication system.

The ERTS payload includes a three camera return beam vidicon (RBV) television system and a four channel multispectral scanner system (MSS). The communications system described includes spacecraft wideband equipment plus unique payload processing equipment located at three NASA tracking stations. The RBV information, transmitted as analog FM with a baseband response of dc to 3.2 MHz, is telemetered, processed and recorded on a wideband video recorder. The MSS data, consisting of 24 analog sensor outputs, is digitized and encoded as 15 megabit per second PCM. The MSS data is then transmitted as analog FM, demultiplexed, and recorded on a 25 channel recorder. It is shown that bit error rate is an excellent indicator of MSS link performance while signal-to-noise ratio and distortion vs frequency adequately define RBV link performance.

Pandelides, J.

High-sensitivity receiver for CO2 laser communications

Wideband heterodyne receiver provides detection and demodulation of incident frequency modulated laser signal; search and acquisition circuitry to align two stations; tracking circuitry to maintain spatial alignment; and laser frequency monitor to frequency lock the transmit and local oscillator lasers.

Peyton, B.

GSFC Relay Communications Satellite Test Station

Telemetry, command, wideband communications transmitter, receiver, video, frequency-division multiplex telephone, and tracking and antenna systems for Relay I satellite test stations

WIDEBAND COMMUNICATION

Survey of timing/synchronization of operating wideband digital communications networks

In order to benefit from experience gained from the synchronization of operational wideband digital networks, a survey was made of three such systems: Data Transmission Company, Western Union Telegraph Company, and the Computer Communications Group of the Trans-Canada Telephone System. The focus of the survey was on deployment and operational experience from a practical (as opposed to theoretical) viewpoint. The objective was to provide a report on the results of deployment how the systems performed, and wherein the performance differed from that predicted or intended in the design. It also attempted to determine how the various system designers would use the benefit of hindsight if they could design those same systems today.

Mitchell, R. L.

Open-loop nanosecond-synchronization for wideband satellite communications

A synchronization technique for use with an onboard processing satellite communication system is discussed. The satellite oscillator is used both as the system time reference and as the frequency source for all downlink carriers and data clocks. Downlink timing is established at each system earth terminal through a combination of carrier and data-clock tracking and a downlink timing epoch signal consisting of one bit per TDMA data burst. Uplink timing is established by an open-loop range prediction process using precision ephemerides calculated and distributed by the central control station. Overall timing accuracy of the uplink signal at the satellite receiver of + or - 7 nanoseconds permits unambiguous identification of each data bit position in a 128 Mbps TDMA burst. This is accomplished by means of simple, inexpensive terminal hardware using available crystal oscillators for time/frequency references and digital synthesis techniques that may be implemented in digital LSI chips.

Holmes, W. M., Jr.

Integrated source and channel encoded digital communication system design study

This study investigated the configuration and integration of a wideband communication system with a Ku-band rendezvous radar system. The goal of the study was to provide as much commonality between the two systems as possible. The antenna design was described with the only change being the requirement for dual polarization (linear for the radar system and circular for the communication system).

Huth, G. K.

A Short Note on the Derivation of the Atmospheric Transfer Function for a Communications Channel and its Connection to Associated Propagation Parameters

The systems engineering description of a wideband communications channel is provided which is based upon the fundamental propagation aspects of the problem. In particular, the well known time variant description of a channel is formulated from the basic multiple scattering processes that occur in a random propagation medium. Such a connection is required if optimal processing methods are to be applied to mitigate the deleterious random fading and multipathing of the channel. An example is given which demonstrates how the effective bandwidth of the channel is diminished due to atmospheric propagation impairments.

Manning, Robert M.

Shuttle communications design study

The design and development of a space shuttle communication system are discussed. The subjects considered include the following: (1) Ku-band satellite relay to shuttle, (2) phased arrays, (3) PN acquisition, (4) quadriplexing of direct link ranging and telemetry, (5) communications blackout on launch and reentry, (6) acquisition after blackout on reentry, (7) wideband communications interface with the Ku-Band rendezvous radar, (8) aeroflight capabilities of the space shuttle, (9) a triple multiplexing scheme equivalent to interplex, and (10) a study of staggered quadriphase for use on the space shuttle.

Cartier, D. E.

Preliminary Results from NASA/GSFC Ka-Band High Rate Demonstration for Near-Earth Communications

In early 2000, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) commenced the Ka-Band Transition Project (KaTP) as another step towards satisfying wideband communication requirements of the space research and earth exploration-satellite services. The KaTP team upgraded the ground segment portion of NASA's Space Network (SN) in order to enable high data rate space science and earth science services communications. The SN ground segment is located at the White Sands Complex (WSC) in New Mexico. NASA conducted the SN ground segment upgrades in conjunction with space segment upgrades implemented via the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS)-HIJ project. The three new geostationary data relay satellites developed under the TDRS-HIJ project support the use of the inter-satellite service (ISS) allocation in the 25.25-27.5 GHz band (the 26 GHz band) to receive high speed data from low earth-orbiting customer spacecraft. The TDRS H spacecraft (designated TDRS-8) is currently operational at a 171 degrees west longitude. TDRS I and J spacecraft on-orbit testing has been completed. These spacecraft support 650 MHz-wide Ka-band telemetry links that are referred to as return links. The 650 MHz-wide Ka-band telemetry links have the capability to support data rates up to at least 1.2 Gbps. Therefore, the TDRS-HIJ spacecraft will significantly enhance the existing data rate elements of the NASA Space Network that operate at S-band and Ku-band.

Wong, Yen

The Communications Technology Satellite and the associated ground terminals for experiments

The CTS project is a joint effort between the Communications Research Centre in Canada and National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the United States with both nations equally sharing available spacecraft communication time. The CTS spacecraft will be placed in synchronous orbit at 116 deg west longitude. General spacecraft operational characteristics are discussed with particular emphasis on communication system parameters. The associated Canadian and United States user ground terminals are reviewed with particular emphasis on wideband communications. In Canada the experimenter (user) ground terminal communication equipment is government owned whereas in the United States the user terminal equipment is the responsibility of each user.

Wright, D. L.

The NASA communications R & D program

About two years ago, NASA decided to reactivate its communications R&D Program, which had been phased down in 1973. The new program focuses on three major areas: (1) technology development in the 30 and 20 GHz bands for wideband communications; (2) system definition for an integrated terrestrial and satellite-aided system for land mobile communications in the 860 MHz band; and (3) development of system concepts and pilot networks for applications data services. The paper summarizes the new activities in the three areas and describes their status and plans.

Durrani, S. H.

Space Communications Artificial Intelligence for Link Evaluation Terminal (SCAILET)

A software application to assis end-users of the Link Evaluation Terminal (LET) for satellite communication is being developed. This software application incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) techniques and will be deployed as an interface to LET. The high burst rate (HBR) LET provides 30 GHz transmitting/20 GHz receiving, 220/110 Mbps capability for wideband communications technology experiments with the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS). The HBR LET and ACTS are being developed at the NASA Lewis Research Center. The HBR LET can monitor and evaluate the integrity of the HBR communications uplink and downlink to the ACTS satellite. The uplink HBR transmission is performed by bursting the bit-pattern as a modulated signal to the satellite. By comparing the transmitted bit pattern with the received bit pattern, HBR LET can determine the bit error rate BER) under various atmospheric conditions. An algorithm for power augmentation is applied to enhance the system's BER performance at reduced signal strength caused by adverse conditions. Programming scripts, defined by the design engineer, set up the HBR LET terminal by programming subsystem devices through IEEE488 interfaces. However, the scripts are difficult to use, require a steep learning curve, are cryptic, and are hard to maintain. The combination of the learning curve and the complexities involved with editing the script files may discourage end-users from utilizing the full capabilities of the HBR LET system. An intelligent assistant component of SCAILET that addresses critical end-user needs in the programming of the HBR LET system as anticipated by its developers is described. A close look is taken at the various steps involved in writing ECM software for a C&P, computer and at how the intelligent assistant improves the HBR LET system and enhances the end-user's ability to perform the experiments.

Shahidi, Anoosh

An overview of Space Communication Artificial Intelligence for Link Evaluation Terminal (SCAILET) Project

A software application to assist end-users of the link evaluation terminal (LET) for satellite communications is being developed. This software application incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) techniques and will be deployed as an interface to LET. The high burst rate (HBR) LET provides 30 GHz transmitting/20 GHz receiving (220/110 Mbps) capability for wideband communications technology experiments with the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS). The HBR LET can monitor and evaluate the integrity of the HBR communications uplink and downlink to the ACTS satellite. The uplink HBR transmission is performed by bursting the bit-pattern as a modulated signal to the satellite. The HBR LET can determine the bit error rate (BER) under various atmospheric conditions by comparing the transmitted bit pattern with the received bit pattern. An algorithm for power augmentation will be applied to enhance the system's BER performance at reduced signal strength caused by adverse conditions.

Shahidi, Anoosh K.