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High-capacity communications from martian distances
| Content Provider | NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
|---|---|
| Author | Collins, Michael Hodges, Richard Schuchman, Leonard Williams, W. Dan Vyas, Hemali Orr, Richard S. Sands, O. Scott |
| Copyright Year | 2007 |
| Description | High capacity communications from Martian distances, required for the envisioned human exploration and desirable for data-intensive science missions, is challenging. NASA s Deep Space Network currently requires large antennas to close RF telemetry links operating at kilobit-per-second data rates. To accommodate higher rate communications, NASA is considering means to achieve greater effective aperture at its ground stations. This report, focusing on the return link from Mars to Earth, demonstrates that without excessive research and development expenditure, operational Mars-to-Earth RF communications systems can achieve data rates up to 1 Gbps by 2020 using technology that today is at technology readiness level (TRL) 4-5. Advanced technology to achieve the needed increase in spacecraft power and transmit aperture is feasible at an only moderate increase in spacecraft mass and technology risk. In addition, both power-efficient, near-capacity coding and modulation and greater aperture from the DSN array will be required. In accord with these results and conclusions, investment in the following technologies is recommended:(1) lightweight (1 kg/sq m density) spacecraft antenna systems; (2) a Ka-band receive ground array consisting of relatively small (10-15 m) antennas; (3) coding and modulation technology that reduces spacecraft power by at least 3 dB; and (4) efficient generation of kilowatt-level spacecraft RF power. |
| File Size | 18807930 |
| Page Count | 162 |
| File Format | |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_20080012561 |
| Archival Resource Key | ark:/13960/t6sz18j41 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 2007-12-01 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications, Command And Tracking Microwave Antennas Communication Equipment Extremely High Frequencies Radio Frequencies Rates Per Time Technology Assessment Mars Planet Telecommunication Spacecraft Antennas Ground Stations Radio Communication Antenna Arrays Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports Server (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Technical Report |
