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Planetary science cubesats are being built. Insight (2018) will carry 2 cubesats to provide communication links to Mars. EM-1 (2019) will carry 13 cubesat-class missions to further smallsat science and exploration capabilities. Planetary science cubesats have more in common with large planetary science missions than LEO cubesats- need to work closely with people who have deep-space mission experience
As an intern for Priscilla Elfrey in the ITC-1 department, I was involved in many activities that have helped me to develop many new skills. I supported four different projects during my internship, which included the Center for Life Cycle Design (CfLCD), SISO Space Interoperability Smackdown, RTI Teacher Mentor Program, and the Discrete Event Simulation Integrated Visualization Environment Team (DIVE). I provided the CfLCD with web based research on cyber security initiatives involving simulation, education for young children, cloud computing, Otronicon, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education initiatives. I also attended STEM meetings regarding simulation courses, and educational course enhancements. To further improve the SISO Simulation event, I provided observation feedback to the technical advisory board. I also helped to set up a chat federation for HLA. The third project involved the RTI Teacher Mentor program, which I helped to organize. Last, but not least, I worked with the DIVE team to develop new software to help visualize discrete event simulations. All of these projects have provided experience on an interdisciplinary level ranging from speech and communication to solving complex problems using math and science.
This paper will discuss a proposed CubeSat size (3 Units / 6 Units) telemetry system concept being developed at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in cooperation with Auburn University. The telemetry system incorporates efficient, high-bandwidth communications by developing flight-ready, low-cost, PROTOFLIGHT software defined radio (SDR) payload for use on CubeSats. The current telemetry system is slightly larger in dimension of footprint than required to fit within a 0.75 Unit CubeSat volume. Extensible and modular communications for CubeSat technologies will provide high data rates for science experiments performed by two CubeSats flying in formation in Low Earth Orbit. The project is a collaboration between the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Auburn University to study high energy phenomena in the upper atmosphere. Higher bandwidth capacity will enable high-volume, low error-rate data transfer to and from the CubeSats, while also providing additional bandwidth and error correction margin to accommodate more complex encryption algorithms and higher user volume.
Optical communicatons is ready for serious development and implementation. NASA's missions need the capabilities and benefits enabled by optical communications.
There is a growing interest among scientists to coordinate diverse and temporally responsive measurements from multiple space and ground-based observatories in order to obtain greater insights into transient scientific events than would otherwise be possible. Many transient scientific events of interest occur randomly and the scientific value of follow-up observations decays with time. As a result, transient science operations among distributed observatories require timely access to communications network services. This paper develops two complimentary methods to improve users’ network access timeliness using the NASA Space Network (SN). Descriptive models of each method are developed using Systems Modeling Language. Pathfinder experiments are designed and executed. Suitability of the methods is discussed in light of the experimental results. Innovative applications of the methods are presented. This research establishes that the as-built SN systems have adequate capabilities and capacity to support infusion of the methods to current and future users with emergent time-sensitive service needs. The minimum service access wait time was determined to be approximately 10 min and is achievable 84% of the time. An average access wait time of approximately 14 min is expected when SN resource blocking occurs. A roadmap to improve SN access timeliness is presented.
NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) has identified key technologies needed for future crewed and robotic exploration and science missions. STMD is helping to build the civilian technology base by working with other NASA Mission Directorates, other United States government agencies, commercial industry, and academia to identify technology shortfalls and to develop plans to address them. One critical area of shortfalls lies with deep space communications and navigation. While NASA had huge success to date with the Deep Space Network (DSN), recent studies have shown that without enhancements to current systems, the DSN will be unable to support the anticipated increases in the pace of space exploration or the expected higher data rates from deep space needed soon without severely impacting other missions. High-rate communications from the Moon and beyond is needed to enable future exploration and science missions currently being developed or under consideration. For example, a robust communications infrastructure will be needed to support a sustained human presence on the Moon and its eventual industrialization. High data rate trunk lines between the Earth and the Moon are needed to reduce the number of individual links. The human exploration of Mars will also require high-rate communications between Earth and Mars. Return data rates to Earth from Mars for a single link, for example, are anticipated to be greater than 100 Mb/s; forward data rates to Mars, based on experience from the International Space Station, are anticipated to be greater than 20 Mb/s. Future deep space science missions will also require higher data rates than possible with today’s technology and the current capabilities of the DSN. To support future exploration and science needs, it will be necessary to upgrade the DSN to enhance its radio frequency (RF) capabilities. In addition, it is envisioned that NASA will gradually introduce optical communications to augment its RF systems. Optical communications will enable new science and exploration missions by providing high data rates and better navigation over long distances. This paper will briefly describe STMD’s envisioned future for deep space communications in the 2030+ timeframe and the technology roadmaps being developed for both radio frequency and optical systems.
A number of laser communication link demonstrations from near Earth distances extending out to lunar ranges have been remarkably successful, demonstrating the augmented channel capacity that is accessible with the use of lasers for communications. The next hurdle on the path to extending laser communication and its benefits throughout the solar system and beyond is to demonstrate deep-space laser communication links. In this paper, concepts and technology development being advanced at JPL in order to enable deep-space link demonstrations to ranges of approximately 3 AU in the next decade, will be discussed. Considerations for ranges extending farther will also be discussed briefly. The potential for light science (the optical equivalent of radio science) with the advancement of deep-space laser communications will also be touched upon.
Abstract Optical communication is the standard for high-bandwidth information transfer in today’s digital age. The increasing demand for bandwidth has led to the maturation of coherent transceivers that use phase- and amplitude-modulated optical signals to encode more bits of information per transmitted pulse. Such encoding schemes achieve higher information density, but also require more complicated receivers to discriminate the signaling states. In fact, achieving the ultimate limit of optical communication capacity, especially in the low light regime, requires coherent joint detection of multiple pulses. Despite their superiority, such joint detection receivers are not in widespread use because of the difficulty of constructing them in the optical domain. In this work we describe how optomechanical transduction of phase information from coherent optical pulses to superconducting qubit states followed by the execution of trained short-depth variational quantum circuits can perform joint detection of communication codewords with error probabilities that surpass all classical, individual pulse detection receivers. Importantly, we utilize a model of optomechanical transduction that captures non-idealities such as thermal noise and loss in order to understand the transduction performance necessary to achieve a quantum advantage with such a scheme. We also execute the trained variational circuits on an IBM-Q device with the modeled transduced states as input to demonstrate that a quantum advantage is possible even with current levels of quantum computing hardware noise.
Final document is attached. In 2018, the International Space Station (ISS) [Figure 1] partnership completed a revision for the third edition of the International Space Station Benefits for Humanity, a compilation of case studies of benefits being realized from ISS activities in the areas of human health, Earth observations and disaster response, innovative technology, global education, and economic development of space. The revision included new assessments of economic value and scientific value with more detail than the second edition. The third edition contains updated statistics on the impacts of the benefits as well as new benefits that have developed since the previous publication. This presentation will summarize the updates on behalf of the ISS Program Science Forum, which consists of senior science representatives across the ISS international partnership. An independent consultant determined the economic valuation (EV) of ISS research benefits case studies and the third edition contains the results. The process involved a preliminary assessment of economic, social, and innovation factors. A more detailed assessment followed, which included factors such as addressable market, market penetration, revenue generation, ability to leverage across other applications or customer groups, quality of life improvements, health benefits, environmental benefits, cultural and community cohesion, inspiration, new knowledge, novel approaches, creation of a unique market niche, and research leadership. Because of the unique microgravity environment of the ISS laboratory, the multidisciplinary and international nature of the research, and the significance of the investment in its development, analyzing ISS scientific impacts is an exceptional challenge. As a result, the ISS partnership determined the scientific valuation (SV) of ISS research using a combination of citation analyses, bibliometrics, and narratives of important ISS utilization results. Approximately 2,100 ISS results publications comprised of scientific journal articles, conference proceedings, and gray literature, representing over 5,000 authors and co-authors on Earth were used in this evaluation to enable the communication of impacts of ISS research on various science and technology fields across many countries. The publication also updates and expands the previously described benefits of research results in the areas of space commerce, technology development, human health, environmental change and disaster response, and education activities. Distinct benefits return to Earth from the only orbiting multidisciplinary laboratory of its kind. The ISS is a stepping-stone for future space exploration while also providing findings that develop low Earth orbit as a place for sustained human activity and improve life on our planet.
In 2018, the International Space Station (ISS) [Figure 1] partnership completed a revision for the third edition of the International Space Station Benefits for Humanity, a compilation of case studies of benefits being realized from ISS activities in the areas of human health, Earth observations and disaster response, innovative technology, global education, and economic development of space. The revision included new assessments of economic value and scientific value with more detail than the second edition. The third edition contains updated statistics on the impacts of the benefits as well as new benefits that have developed since the previous publication. This presentation will summarize the updates on behalf of the ISS Program Science Forum, which consists of senior science representatives across the ISS international partnership. An independent consultant determined the economic valuation (EV) of ISS research benefits case studies and the third edition contains the results. The process involved a preliminary assessment of economic, social, and innovation factors. A more detailed assessment followed, which included factors such as addressable market, market penetration, revenue generation, ability to leverage across other applications or customer groups, quality of life improvements, health benefits, environmental benefits, cultural and community cohesion, inspiration, new knowledge, novel approaches, creation of a unique market niche, and research leadership. Because of the unique microgravity environment of the ISS laboratory, the multidisciplinary and international nature of the research, and the significance of the investment in its development, analyzing ISS scientific impacts is an exceptional challenge. As a result, the ISS partnership determined the scientific valuation (SV) of ISS research using a combination of citation analyses, bibliometrics, and narratives of important ISS utilization results. Approximately 2,100 ISS results publications comprised of scientific journal articles, conference proceedings, and gray literature, representing over 5,000 authors and co-authors on Earth were used in this evaluation to enable the communication of impacts of ISS research on various science and technology fields across many countries. The publication also updates and expands the previously described benefits of research results in the areas of space commerce, technology development, human health, environmental change and disaster response, and education activities. Distinct benefits return to Earth from the only orbiting multidisciplinary laboratory of its kind. The ISS is a stepping-stone for future space exploration while also providing findings that develop low Earth orbit as a place for sustained human activity and improve life on our planet.
Scientific instrumentation for satellite communication and radio tracking systems in the outer planet exploration mission is discussed. Mission planning considers observations of planetary and satellite-masses, -atmospheres, -magnetic fields, -surfaces, -gravitational fields, solar wind composition, planetary radio emissions, and tests of general relativity in time delay and ray bending experiments.
Contents include the following: Computing Information and Communications Technology (CICT) Systems Analysis. Our modeling approach: a 3-part schematic investment model of technology change, impact assessment and prioritization. A whirlwind tour of our model. Lessons learned.
NASA’s human exploration program is currently working towards landing astronauts on the surface of the Moon by 2024, close the lunar South Pole. To guarantee astronaut safety and maximize science data return, NASA is in the process of defining the communication architecture that will support all astronaut activities from launch to surface operations. Of particular interest to this paper are links from the lunar surface back to Earth without any intermediate relays. We show that the system geometry is such that antennas on the landing system will need to be pointed at low elevation angles, thus potentially causing multi-path fading effects not typically encountered in space communications. This paper is organized in three parts. First, we characterize the multi-path fading effects expected in links between the lunar South Pole and Earth and show that for moderate data rates (less than 1 Mbps) the links suffer from slow fading. We then show that for this operations regime the performance of forward error correction schemes is significantly worse for traditional Additive White Gaussian Noise channels. Finally, we investigate multi-copy mechanisms to mitigate the effects of fading, most notably repetition schemes and Automatic Repeat Request.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN)Program enables high speed, robust, secure and cost-effective space communications and navigation services to current and future science and exploration missions. Consistent with National Space Policy, NASA is pursuing the use of demonstrated commercial services for all its future near-Earth requirements through a flexible, multi-provider approach that minimizes risks to the user missions and ensures costs to user missions are reasonable. Progress toward this goal is advancing in multiple key areas including direct to Earth (DTE), space-based relay, technology investments, required spectrum regulatory changes and mission engagement and infusion. The transition to commercial DTE services is already underway, with a target for transition by 2024. The primary functions to execute SCaN’s DTE strategy include increasing commercial service allocations by leveraging current commercial network providers and enabling seamless onboarding of additional providers into the network. Furthermore, moving away from government DTE services will allow operational costs to be optimized. A more gradual approach is planned for the transition to commercial space-based relay services to allow for demonstration and operationalization of commercial services for future users by 2030. In June of 2022, six American SATCOM vendors were awarded a combined $278.5 million through Funded Space Act Agreements (FSAAs) for the first cycle of demonstration and validation activities. The end-to-end service capabilities being targeted are based on existing NASA mission operational needs. Accordingly, each company has proposed a technical approach to lower costs, increase flexibility, and improve performance for a broad range of missions. Successful user mission transition to commercial services, both DTE and space-based relay, are dependent on the technologies and capabilities that address gaps in commercial capability. NASA is investing in technology development and pursuing a new strategic approach to the creation or adoption of space communications standards to move the agency toward a commercial paradigm. Wideband and multi-lingual user terminals are being developed to bridge differences in industry services. Building on ground demonstrations completed in 2021, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab (APL) will be flight testing a multi-lingual wideband terminal (payload) and demonstrating connectivity to both government and commercial relay services. NASA holds a leadership role in multiple civil space standards bodies and international coordination groups to ensure that standards supporting interoperability are developed with defined functions, interfaces, and performance. However, to successfully meet commercialization objectives, NASA seeks to collaborate with industry, and as applicable adopt or adapt to commercially defined standards. As such, NASA joined the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) as an official member in 2021 to advocate for the inclusion of space missions as a unique user segment in future 5G non-terrestrial networks, and to better understand the scope of 3GPP releases and implications for space users. Further, engagement in Spectrum regulatory bodies is being undertaken to augment existing space-Earth and inter-satellite frequency allocations available for both government and commercial space systems. This paper addresses the recent progress toward NASA’s commercial space communications transition objectives and how key challenges are being navigated.
A special task force was formed by the National Academy of Sciences to examine the applications of Manned Space Station (MSS) platforms, communications and information systems, MSS operations and satellite assembly and repair capabilities on seven areas of space research. The task force reached several conclusions, including comprehensive space science planning by NASA with the MSS being one element of the plan. The STS is to provide a test bed for space research technologies and its basic design should be studied for conversion to an extended duration flight vehicle. The MSS could be categorized as a national facility, and payloads should be developed which specifically take advantage of its capabilities. The repair and maintenance capabilities which the MSS will furnish are concluded to be a significant asset to any future space science activities, and participation in those activities by the international science community is to be encouraged.
The NASA Moon-to-Mars (M2M) Architecture will enable the return of humans to the Moon, establish a long-term presence there, and open more of the lunar surface to exploration than ever before. This growth of lunar activity requires robust and resilient communications, position, navigation, and time capabilities for crew safety, the command and control of spacecraft, the return of science data, and the precise telerobotic maneuvering of assets both in space and on the lunar surface. Within the M2M Architecture, the sub-architecture for Communications, Position, Navigation, and Time (CPNT) details the specific CPNT systems and infrastructure required to meet the M2M objectives. Two objectives most fundamental to the CPNT sub-architecture are: (1) develop a lunar surface, orbital, and Moon-to-Earth communications architecture that scales to support long term science, exploration, and industrial needs and (2) develop a lunar position, navigation, and timing (PNT) architecture that also scales to support long term needs. The subject presentation provides an overview of the M2M Architecture, planned mission activities, and infrastructure development underway by NASA. The presentation provides overview of the surface wireless network and the challenges associated with operating on the lunar surface.
The development of new space communications technologies by NASA has included both commercial applications and space science requirements. At NASA's Lewis Research Center, methods and facilities have been developed for evaluating these new technologies in the laboratory. NASA's Systems Integration, Test and Evaluation (SITE) Space Communication System Simulator is a hardware-based laboratory simulator for evaluating space communications technologies at the component, subsystem, system, and network level, geared toward high frequency, high data rate systems. The SITE facility is well-suited for evaluation of the new technologies required for the Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) and advanced commercial systems. This paper describes the technology developments and evaluation requirements for current and planned commercial and space science programs. Also examined are the capabilities of SITE, the past, present, and planned future configurations of the SITE facility, and applications of SITE to evaluation of SEI technology.
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