Space Communications and Navigation Program: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Office within NASA}}

{{Third-party|date=August 2023}}

[[File:NASA's Space Communications Testbed.jpg|thumb|right|Technicians at NASA [[Glenn Research Center]] at work on the Space Communications and Navigation Testbed, formerly known as the Communications, Navigation, and Networking reConfigurable Testbed (CoNNeCT) project<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120526151316/http://spaceflightsystems.grc.nasa.gov/SOPO/SCO/SCaNTestbed/ SCaN Testbed homepage at NASA Glenn Research Center]</ref>]]

The '''Space Communications and Navigation''' ('''SCaN''') program places the three prime [[NASA]] space communications networks, [[Space Network]] (SN), [[Near Earth Network]] (NEN) (previously known as the Ground Network or GN), and the [[Deep Space Network]] (DSN), under one [[Management]] and [[Systems Engineering]] umbrella. It was established in 2006. It was previously known as the '''Space Communications & Data Systems''' ('''SCDS''') Program.

==History==

Before NASA's administrator [[Michael D. Griffin]] created SCaN to direct an integrated networks program, different organizations at NASA Headquarters have managed the Agency's space communications capabilities and functions under separate Programs using a variety of administrative approaches.<ref name="ProgramPlan">{{cite book| title = Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program Plan| last = NASA| publisher = National Aeronautics and Space Administration}}</ref>

The SCaN Office was established by direction of Griffin in a Memorandum entitled "Establishment of a Space Communications and Navigation Office," dated July 19, 2006.<ref name="SEMP">{{cite book| title = SCaN Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP)| last = NASA| date = January 30, 2009| publisher = NASA Space Communication and Navigation Program Office| id = SCaN-SEMP}}</ref> SCaN operates as a central organization within the ''Human Exploration andSpace Operations Mission Directorate.'' (HEOMD):

{{quote|The Office's responsibilities encompass the management of existing space networks including the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite system, the Deep Space Network, the Ground Network, the NASA Integrated Services Network; implementing any improvements and upgrades to those systems and networks; and developing any future NASA communications and navigation architectures.}}

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===Spectra===

The Space Network communicates with spacecraft using [[S-band]], [[Ku-band]],<ref name="SNUG1">{{cite book| title =Space Network User's Guide (SNUG), 2.3, Elements of the SN | edition = Rev 9| last = NASA| first = Exploration and Space Communications Projects Division |author2=Goddard Space Flight Center | yeardate = August 2007 | publisher = National Aeronautics and Space Administration| id =450-SNUG}}</ref> and [[Ka-band]] with planned laser/optical communications.

The Deep Space Network communicates with spacecraft using S-band, [[X-band]], and [[Ka-band]].

===Modulation===

SN uses [[phase -shift keying]] and [[phase modulation]] of the [[carrier signal]].<ref name="SNUG2">{{cite book| title =Space Network User's Guide (SNUG), 6.2 SSA Forward Services, and 6.2.3 Phase Modulation (PM) Signal Parameters| edition = Rev 9| last = NASA| first = Exploration and Space Communications Projects Division |author2=Goddard Space Flight Center | yeardate = August 2007 | publisher = National Aeronautics and Space Administration| id =450-SNUG}}</ref>

===Encoding===

The Space Network (used for near-Earth communications) supports the following encoding schemes:<ref name="SNUG3">{{cite book| title =Space Network User's Guide (SNUGx)| edition = Rev 9| last = NASA| first = Exploration and Space Communications Projects Division |author2=Goddard Space Flight Center | yeardate = August 2007 | publisher = National Aeronautics and Space Administration| id =450-SNUG}}</ref>

* [[BPSK]]

* [[QPSK]]/[[SQPSK]]

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* [[Pseudorandom noise|PRN coding]] - used to reduce power spectral density for low bit rate signals, and for time transfer.

The [[Reed-SolomonReed–Solomon error correction|Reed–Solomon]] method is used as the initial [[error-correcting code|error-correcting]] [[block code]] prior to the selected secondary encoding scheme.

==See also==

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{{Use American English|date=January 2014}}

[[Category:Deep Spacespace Networknetworks]]

[[Category:NASA radio communications and spacecraft tracking facilities]]