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At least 109 records · Page 6

Models of weather effects on noise temperature and attenuation for Ka- and X-band telemetry performance analysis

Models that show the effects of weather on noise temperature and attenuation of deep space telemetry signals received by the Deep Space Network (DSN) at Ka- and X-band (32 and 8.5 GHz) are developed. These models were used to compare the performance of telemetry links at these two frequencies. The models build on an earlier 1982 model that used three months of water vapor radiometer measurements (31.4 GHz) at Goldstone, augmented with one year of radiosonde measurements made at Edwards Air Force Base. This 1986 model accounts for annual variations of rainfall and extends to a model for Canberra, Australia, and Madrid, Spain. The results show, for example, that at Ka-band, 30 degrees elevation angle, Goldstone weather adds less than 23 + or - 2 K to the system temperature 80% of the time, while Canberra or Madrid weather adds less than 32 + or - 5 K 80% of the time. At X-band, the comparable numbers are 5.1 + or - 0.2 K and 5.7 + or - 0.4 K. A simple analysis shows a substantial telemetry system signal-to-noise ratio advantage when operating at Ka-band compared to X-band.

Slobin, S. D.↗

Trends in Space Station telemetry applications

Spacecraft telemetry systems have evolved from simple hardware devices to complex computer applications performing data acquisition and formatting tasks. This paper reviews the role of spacecraft computers in performing telemetry functions and examines computer-based telemetry systems being considered for use on the NASA Space Station.

Muratore, John F.↗

Telemetry handling on the Space Station data management system

This paper examines the impact of telemetry handling on the design of the onboard networks that are part of the Space Station Data Management System (DMS). An architectural approach to satisfying the DMS requirement for support of the high throughput needed for telemetry transport and for servicing distributed computer systems is discussed. Several of the functionality vs. performance tradeoffs that must be made in developing an optimized mechanism for handling telemetry data in the DMS are considered.

Whitelaw, Virginia A.↗

Flight and ground packet telemetry systems activities at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has the responsibility for the telemetry ground data processing for two current spacecraft which use packet telemetry. These spacecraft are the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and the Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO). GSFC has designed and built two ground systems to meet this responsibility. The first is the HST DATA Capture Facility (DCF), which has now completed its integration and test phase and is supporting spacecraft and data flow tests. The second is the Packet Processor System (Pacor). This system became operational in July 1987. These systems are known generally as Level Zero Processors. Level Zero Processors ingest telemetry composite bit streams, output selected user specific data in real time, and in a batch mode perform all necessary processing to produce individual user data files which are, within the limits of the quality of the received data, contiguous, complete, ordered and nonredundant.

Carper, Richard D.↗

Mark 4-A DSCC (Magellan-era) telemetry system description

An update to the description of the Deep Space Communications Complex portion of the Mark 4-A Telemetry system is given. This system is currently implemented at all signal processing centers. The upgrade of the telemetry system was undertaken primarily in support of the Voyager-Neptune Encounter and the Magellan mission. The Mark 3 Telemetry System is the predecessor of the Mark 4-A system.

Ross, D. L.↗

System Decommutes And Displays Telemetry Data

TDPlus computer program software system for decommutation of pulse-code-modulation (PCM) telemetry signals. Provides synchronization, conversion into engineering units, and display of serial bit streams. Transforms IBM PC-compatible computer into PCM-telemetry-decommutation system. Synchronizes telemetric signals data and enables conversion back into such meaningful forms as voltage, current, pressure, and the like. Also controls operation of digital-to-analog converters to ship data to paper strip charts or to parallel digital ports for offloading to other computers. Software used to process actual data only when telemetry-data-processing computer modified in accordance with specifications contained in "TDPlus TM Data Processor" (GSC-13291). Written in Turbo C and 8088 Assembly language.

Massey, D. E.↗

The impact of NRZ data asymmetry on the performance of a space telemetry system

The telemetry data asymmetry due to rising and falling voltage transitions can cause undesired spectral components at the output of a spacecraft transmitter. The performance of a space telemetry system can potentially degrade because of these undesired components. Here, an expression is derived for the power spectral density of an asymmetric nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ) data stream. This formula is then used to investigate how the data bandwidth varies with data asymmetry. At the receiver end, the threshold levels of undesired spectral components that fall into the carrier-tracking-loop bandwidth are determined by examining the derived spectral density. Further, based on this formula, a simple technique is developed for the computation of bit signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) degradation due to data asymmetry. The telemetry bit SNR degradations derived using this technique are compared with results obtained previously and with measurements by the Electronic Systems Test Laboratory (ESTL) at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.

Nguyen, T. M.↗

Advanced telemetry systems for payloads. Technology needs, objectives and issues

The current trends in advanced payload telemetry are the new developments in advanced modulation/coding, the applications of intelligent techniques, data distribution processing, and advanced signal processing methodologies. Concerted efforts will be required to design ultra-reliable man-rated software to cope with these applications. The intelligence embedded and distributed throughout various segments of the telemetry system will need to be overridden by an operator in case of life-threatening situations, making it a real-time integration issue. Suitable MIL standards on physical interfaces and protocols will be adopted to suit the payload telemetry system. New technologies and techniques will be developed for fast retrieval of mass data. Currently, these technology issues are being addressed to provide more efficient, reliable, and reconfigurable systems. There is a need, however, to change the operation culture. The current role of NASA as a leader in developing all the new innovative hardware should be altered to save both time and money. We should use all the available hardware/software developed by the industry and use the existing standards rather than inventing our own.

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The advanced receiver 2: Telemetry test results in CTA 21

Telemetry tests with the Advanced Receiver II (ARX II) in Compatibility Test Area 21 are described. The ARX II was operated in parallel with a Block-III Receiver/baseband processor assembly combination (BLK-III/BPA) and a Block III Receiver/subcarrier demodulation assembly/symbol synchronization assembly combination (BLK-III/SDA/SSA). The telemetry simulator assembly provided the test signal for all three configurations, and the symbol signal to noise ratio as well as the symbol error rates were measured and compared. Furthermore, bit error rates were also measured by the system performance test computer for all three systems. Results indicate that the ARX-II telemetry performance is comparable and sometimes superior to the BLK-III/BPA and BLK-III/SDA/SSA combinations.

Hinedi, S.↗

Next generation functional components for space telemetry data processing

The use of new design methodologies to continue the evolution of telemetry data systems to higher levels of integration is discussed. In particular, hardware description languages and automated logic synthesis tools are used to create very dense Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) that generically implement telemetry processing functions. The use of the ASICs will make it possible to develop a new generation of functional components, each of the components integrating several telemetry processing subsystems into a single card.

Bennett, Toby↗

A graphic system for telemetry monitoring and procedure performing at the Telecom SCC

The increasing amount of telemetry parameters and the increasing complexity of procedures used for the in-orbit satellite follow-up has led to the development of new tools for telemetry monitoring and procedures performing. The name of the system presented here is Graphic Server. It provides an advanced graphic representation of the satellite subsystems, including real-time telemetry and alarm displaying, and a powerful help for decision making with on line contingency procedures. Used for 2.5 years at the TELECOM S.C.C. for procedure performing, it has become an essential part of the S.C.C.

Loubeyre, Jean Philippe↗

The experiment of CCSDS packet telemetry using a highly elliptical orbit satellite 'Hiten'

This paper describes the outline of the telemetry scheme proposed by the Consultative Committee of Space Data Systems (CCSDS), and the on-orbit experiment which was carried out to show the applicability of the CCSDS packet telemetry scheme using the Japan's satellite Hiten in a highly elliptical orbit. The telemetry data which are generated by the instruments are packetized in Hiten and reformed to the original data in earth stations successfully. The experimental results showed that the standardized scheme is helpful in allowing for tracking cross support between organizations, and the concatenated code is quite effective to transmit data in a low C/N condition.

Takano, Tadashi↗

Telemetry Frame Processor

Report describes program for creating and editing telemetry frames on personal computer. Menu-driven and creates or edits digital telemetry manually or automatically by occurrence of event. Stream of telemetric data used to test operation of hardware and software parts of telemetry-receiving station. Program useful in satellite-data-processing facilities like remote-sensing stations.

Lewis, Steve E.↗

A Real-Time Telemetry Simulator of the IUS Spacecraft

A real-time telemetry simulator of the IUS spacecraft has recently entered operation to train Flight Control Teams for the launch of the AXAF telescope from the Shuttle. The simulator has proven to be a successful higher fidelity implementation of its predecessor, while affirming the rapid development methodology used in its design. Although composed of COTS hardware and software, the system simulates the full breadth of the mission: Launch, Pre-Deployment-Checkout, Burn Sequence, and AXAF/IUS separation. Realism is increased through patching the system into the operations facility to simulate IUS telemetry, Shuttle telemetry, and the Tracking Station link (commands and status message).

Drews, Michael E.↗

The Biolink Implantable Telemetry System

Most biotelemetry applications deal with the moderated data rates of biological signals. Few people have studied the problem of transcutaneous data transmission at the rates required by NASA's Life Sciences-Advanced BioTelemetry System (LS-ABTS). Implanted telemetry eliminate the problems associated with wire breaking the skin, and permits experiments with awake and unrestrained subjects. Our goal is to build a low-power 174-216MHz Radio Frequency (RF) transmitter suitable for short range biosensor and implantable use. The BioLink Implantable Telemetry System (BITS) is composed of three major units: an Analog Data Module (ADM), a Telemetry Transmitter Module (TTM), and a Command Receiver Module (CRM). BioLink incorporates novel low-power techniques to implement a monolithic digital RF transmitter operating at 100kbps, using quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modulation in the 174-216MHz ISM band. As the ADM will be specific for each application, we focused on solving the problems associated with a monolithic implementation of the TTM and CRM, and this is the emphasis of this report. A system architecture based on a Frequency-Locked Loop (FLL) Frequency Synthesizer is presented, and a novel differential frequency that eliminates the need for a frequency divider is also shown. A self sizing phase modulation scheme suitable for low power implementation was also developed. A full system-level simulation of the FLL was performed and loop filter parameters were determined. The implantable antenna has been designed, simulated and constructed. An implant package compatible with the ABTS requirements is also being proposed. Extensive work performed at 200MHz in 0.5um complementary metal oxide semiconductors (CMOS) showed the feasibility of integrating the RF transmitter circuits in a single chip. The Hajimiri phase noise model was used to optimize the Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) for minimum power consumption. Two test chips were fabricated in a 0.5pm, 3V CMOS process. Measured phase noise for a 1.5mW, 200MHz ring oscillator VCO is -80dBc/Hz at 100KHZ offset, showing good agreement with the theory. We also propose a novel superregenerative receiver architecture for implementing the command receiver. The superregenerative receiver's simplicity, low cost, and low power consumption has made it the receiver of choice for short-distance data communications, remote control and home automation. We present the design of a superregenerative AM receiver implemented in a 0.5um CMOS technology that operates at 433.92MHz and dissipates only 300uW. Further work entails detailed transistor-level design of the FLL and superregenerative receiver and a monolithic implementation of an implantable transceiver in 0.5um CMOS technology.

Betancourt-Zamora, Rafael J.↗

Telemetry Technology

In 1990, Avtec Systems, Inc. developed its first telemetry boards for Goddard Space Flight Center. Avtec products now include PC/AT, PCI and VME-based high speed I/O boards and turn-key systems. The most recent and most successful technology transfer from NASA to Avtec is the Programmable Telemetry Processor (PTP), a personal computer- based, multi-channel telemetry front-end processing system originally developed to support the NASA communication (NASCOM) network. The PTP performs data acquisition, real-time network transfer, and store and forward operations. There are over 100 PTP systems located in NASA facilities and throughout the world.

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XTCE: XML Telemetry and Command Exchange Tutorial, XTCE Version 1

These presentation slides are a tutorial on XML Telemetry and Command Exchange (XTCE). The goal of XTCE is to provide an industry standard mechanism for describing telemetry and command streams (particularly from satellites.) it wiill lower cost and increase validation over traditional formats, and support exchange or native format.XCTE is designed to describe bit streams, that are typical of telemetry and command in the historic space domain.

Rice, Kevin↗

Telemetry Boards Interpret Rocket, Airplane Engine Data

For all the data gathered by the space shuttle while in orbit, NASA engineers are just as concerned about the information it generates on the ground. From the moment the shuttle s wheels touch the runway to the break of its electrical umbilical cord at 0.4 seconds before its next launch, sensors feed streams of data about the status of the vehicle and its various systems to Kennedy Space Center s shuttle crews. Even while the shuttle orbiter is refitted in Kennedy s orbiter processing facility, engineers constantly monitor everything from power levels to the testing of the mechanical arm in the orbiter s payload bay. On the launch pad and up until liftoff, the Launch Control Center, attached to the large Vehicle Assembly Building, screens all of the shuttle s vital data. (Once the shuttle clears its launch tower, this responsibility shifts to Mission Control at Johnson Space Center, with Kennedy in a backup role.) Ground systems for satellite launches also generate significant amounts of data. At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, across the Banana River from Kennedy s location on Merritt Island, Florida, NASA rockets carrying precious satellite payloads into space flood the Launch Vehicle Data Center with sensor information on temperature, speed, trajectory, and vibration. The remote measurement and transmission of systems data called telemetry is essential to ensuring the safe and successful launch of the Agency s space missions. When a launch is unsuccessful, as it was for this year s Orbiting Carbon Observatory satellite, telemetry data also provides valuable clues as to what went wrong and how to remedy any problems for future attempts. All of this information is streamed from sensors in the form of binary code: strings of ones and zeros. One small company has partnered with NASA to provide technology that renders raw telemetry data intelligible not only for Agency engineers, but also for those in the private sector.

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