TDRS Press Release
This material is released to both local and national broadcast media showing the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS). The tape has split audio to facilitate ease of customizing for individual broadcast formats.
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Utilizing a TDRS satellite for direct broadcast satellite-radio propagation experiments and demonstrations
The NASA/VOA Direct Broadcast Satellite - Radio (DBS-R) Program will be using a NASA Tracking Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) at 62 deg West longitude to conduct live satellite S-band propagation experiments and demonstrations of satellite sound broadcasting over the next two years (1993-1994). The NASA/VOA DBS-R program has applied intensive effort to garner domestic and international support for the DBS-R concept. An S-band DBS-R allocation was achieved for Region 2 at WARC-92 held in Spain. With this allocation, the DBS-R program now needs to conduct S-band propagation experiments and systems demonstrations that will assist in the development of planning approaches for the use of Broadcast Satellite Service (Sound) frequency bands prior to the planning conference called for by WARC-92. These activities will also support receiver concept development applied to qualities ranging from AM to Monophonic FM, Stereophonic FM, Monophonic CD, and Stereophonic CD quality.
Hollansworth, James E.↗
Utilizing a TDRS satellite for direct broadcast satellite-radio propagation experiments and demonstrations
The NASA/VOA Direct Broadcast Satellite - Radio (DBS-R) Program will be using a NASA Tracking Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) satellite at 62 deg West longitude to conduct live satellite S-band propagation experiments and demonstrations of satellite sound broadcasting over the next two years (1993-1994). The NASA/VOA DBS-R program has applied intensive effort to garner domestic and international support for the DBS-R concept. An S-band DBS-R allocation was achieved for Region 2 at WARC-92 held in Spain. With this allocation, the DBS-R program now needs to conduct S-band propagation experiments and systems demonstrations that will assist in the development of planning approaches for the use of Broadcast Satellite Service (Sound) frequency bands prior to the planning conference called for by WARC-92. These activities will also support receiver concept development applied to qualities ranging from AM to Monophonic FM, Stereophonic FM, Monophonic CD, and Stereophonic CD quality.
Hollansworth, James E.↗
STS-43 Atlantis/Breakfast & Suit-Up, Depart O&C, Ingress, Launch with Isolated Views, TDRS-E Deploy, and Landing with Isolated Views
Footage of various stages of the STS-43 Atlantis launch is shown, including shots of the crew at breakfast, getting suited up, and departing to board the Orbiter. The launch is shown from many vantage points, as is the landing. Atlantis is shown from space and the deployment of the fifth Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-E) is also shown.
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STS-43 TDRS at the PCR/Cannister Doors Opening
Footage shows the cannister doors opening to reveal the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) for the Atlantis mission.
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STS-43 TDRS-E Sharp Edge Inspection at VPF
Footage shows the inspection of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) at the Vertical Processing Facility (VPF).
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STS-54 TDRS-F in Cargo Bay at Pad B
Footage shows close-up shots of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) in the Endeavour Orbiter's cargo bay at Launch Pad B.
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Measurement of Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) to Characterize the Impairment of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) Channel
A digital signal is transmitted via a carrier wave, it demodulates at a receiver, and locates at an ideal constellation point. However, noise distortion, carrier leakage, and phase noise can force a signal to divert from its ideal position to a new position. Consequently, the performance of the signal is decreased. Bit Error Rate (BER) and Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) measurement techniques are used to enable the analysis and assessment of the extent to which the performance of a signal has been decreased. In this paper, we present the EVM measurement technique as a figure of merit to analyze and evaluate the performance of a User Services Subsystem Component Replacement (USSCR) modem. Also, we demonstrate the use of the EVM measurement technique in a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) system to measure and evaluate channel impairment between a satellite (transmitter) and the ground terminal (receiver) at the White Sands Complex.
Spacecraft RF Communications↗
Engineering-economic analysis of the TDRS Ku-band ground antenna system
Systems engineering and economic analysis of tracking and data relay satellite system with 16 GHz ground antenna
Rolinski, A. J.↗
Communication performance over the TDRS multipath/interference channel
Previously developed models are used to predict communication system performance for two cases: and aircraft/TDRS and a weather satellite/TDRS relay. The magnitude of multipath, differential time delay, Doppler shift, time and Doppler spread, and interference expected to be encountered are reviewed and applied to the two cases of interest.
Jenny, J.↗
Simulation of the TDRS multipath environment
Design principles and implementation methods are discussed for simulating the propagation path between a tracking and data relay satellite and a mission spacecraft. The emphasis is on multipath and Doppler simulation but additive disturbances are also considered. The recommended form of the simulator is fed separately with the unmodulated carrier, the unmodulated subcarriers (or spread-spectrum components) and the data signals. The perturbations are also introduced separately; then successive modulation operations are performed. The simulator is segmented into elements that perform the various functions of direct and specular multipath, diffuse fading, Doppler shift and delay spread. Delay spreads are realized by discrete delays operating on baseband signals. Doppler simulation and ionospheric or diffuse multipath fading are applied to individual paths before or after modulation of the carrier by delayed baseband signals. Block diagrams are presented on how the different elements are combined to create a complete channel simulator.
Baghdady, E. J.↗
Multipath performance of a TDRS system employing wideband FM VHF signals
An approximate theoretical analysis is presented for the effects of specular reflection multipath on the performance of a one-way tracking and data relay satellite-to-user link. The analysis pertains to the wideband FM system employing a sinusoidal subcarrier to achieve spectrum spreading. Bounds on multipath effects are derived for receivers with and without limiters and for data modulated on the carrier or the subcarrier. For data modulation, performance is evaluated in terms of an additive lowpass signal at the data detection filter. Doppler and range tracking performance is evaluated in terms of root-mean-square (RMS) error of carrier frequency in a carrier PLL and rms phase jitter in a subcarrier PLL.
Sohn, S. J.↗
Tracking and data relay satellite system configuration and tradeoff study. Volume 5: TDRS spacecraft design, part 1
A dual spin stabilized TDR spacecraft design is presented for low data rate (LDR) and medium data rate (MDR) user spacecraft telecommunication relay service. The relay satellite provides command and data return channels for unmanned users together with duplex voice and data communication channels for manned user spacecraft. TDRS/ground links are in the Ku band. Command links are provided at UHF for LDR users and S band for MDR users. Voice communication channels are provided at UHF/VHF for LDR users and at S band for MDR users. The spacecraft is designed for launch on the Delta 2914 with system deployment planned for 1978. This volume contains a description of the overall TDR spacecraft configuration, a detailed description of the spacecraft subsystems, a reliability analysis, and a product effectiveness plan.
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Analysis of the proposed utilization of TDRS system by the HEAO-C satellite
The primary function of the study was to assess the impact upon the HEAO telecommunications system of the proposed relay satellite-to-ground-link configuration. The system is designed to perform the function of most of the NASA ground tracking and communications network at a net cost savings for NASA.
Weathers, G.↗
Variable beamwidth monopulse feed for Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS)
The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite with a set of circularly-polarized, amplitude-sensing monopulse patterns suitable for acquiring and tracking user spacecraft at Ku-band (15.0 GHz) is discussed. The possibility of increasing the less than 0.4-degree half-power beamwidth of the data beam to almost 1.0 degree during the acquisition phase is predicated on the use of feeds situated in the first bright-ring of the Airy diffraction structure. A complex-vector simulation equivalent to the Kirchhoff-Kottler or Franz formulations is used to compute transmitted and received field information for a dual-reflector (Cassegrain) antenna configuration in a three-dimensional space.
Schmidt, R. F.↗
Dual S and Ku-band tracking feed for a TDRS reflector antenna
The results are presented of a trade study designed to identify a synchronous satellite antenna system suitable for receiving and transmitting data from lower orbiting satellites at both S- and K sub u-bands simultaneously as part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. All related problems associated with maintaining a data link between two satellites with a K sub u-band half-power beamwidth of 0.4 db are considered including data link maintenance techniques, beam pointing accuracies, gimbal and servo errors, solar heating, angle tracking schemes, acquisition problems and aids, tracking accuracies versus SNR, antenna feed designs, equipment designs, weight and power budgets, and detailed candidate antenna system designs.
Pullara, J. C.↗
Technology forecasting for space communication. Task one report: Cost and weight tradeoff studies for EOS and TDRS
Weight and cost optimized EOS communication links are determined for 2.25, 7.25, 14.5, 21, and 60 GHz systems and for a 10.6 micron homodyne detection laser system. EOS to ground links are examined for 556, 834, and 1112 km EOS orbits, with ground terminals at the Network Test and Tracking Facility and at Goldstone. Optimized 21 GHz and 10.6 micron links are also examined. For the EOS to Tracking and Data Relay Satellite to ground link, signal-to-noise ratios of the uplink and downlink are also optimized for minimum overall cost or spaceborne weight. Finally, the optimized 21 GHz EOS to ground link is determined for various precipitation rates. All system performance parameters and mission dependent constraints are presented, as are the system cost and weight functional dependencies. The features and capabilities of the computer program to perform the foregoing analyses are described.
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Design study of TDRS antenna gimbal system for LANDSAT-D
The conceptual design studies of a two axis antenna drive assembly for the TDRSS link communications subsystem for LANDSAT D are presented. The recommended antenna drive assembly is a simple and reliable design substantially similar to the antenna and solar array drives developed and space qualified for programs such as DSCS 2 and FltSatCom. The gimbal design tradeoff is presented, along with drive electronics.
Wu, J.↗