The Next Generation Deep Space Network: Meeting the Needs of Future Human and Robotic Space Exploration Missions

Details The Next Generation Deep Space Network: Meeting the Needs of Future Human and Robotic Space Exploration Missions The Next Generation Deep Space Network: Meeting the Needs of Future Human and Robotic Space Exploration Missions

Dec 2004

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004aas...20518003p&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society Meeting 205, #180.03; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 37, p.384

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Scientific paper

NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) is evolving to meet the communication and navigation needs of increasingly complex, data-intensive exploration and space science missions, both human and robotic. Solar system exploration missions, for instance, are focusing more on long-duration orbital remote sensing at increasing spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions. Such missions are also conducting more elaborate in situ investigations - with short-lived probes being superceded by multiple, long-lived, mobile robotic explorers. Meanwhile, solar and astrophysical missions are moving from low-Earth-orbit, single-spacecraft observatories to multi-spacecraft observatories operating in more distant Earth-trailing and Lagrange point orbits. In the coming decades, human missions will play a key role in exploring the Moon and, eventually, Mars. Analysis of NASA's roadmap missions suggests that, over the next 25 years, these various changes will drive downlink and uplink rates up by a factor of at least 1,000 - even from the more distant regions of our solar system. At the same time, the trend toward multi-spacecraft missions will likely cause a doubling in the number of such links back to Earth. To meet these challenges, the DSN is transforming its network of large antennas to a hybrid network of large arrays of small antennas, optical communications terminals, and, at destinations undergoing intensive exploration, relay satellites. It is also developing more capable spacecraft communications components and systems and is exploring more accurate navigation techniques. All of these capabilities are being designed to play together in a seamless, cost-effective reliable manner, providing 21st century missions with a 21st century DSN.
This work was performed in part at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract to NASA

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The Next Generation Deep Space Network: Meeting the Needs of Future Human and Robotic Space Exploration Missions does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with The Next Generation Deep Space Network: Meeting the Needs of Future Human and Robotic Space Exploration Missions, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Next Generation Deep Space Network: Meeting the Needs of Future Human and Robotic Space Exploration Missions will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1646164