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Augmenting the SCaN Link Budget Tool with Validated Atmospheric PropagationIn any Earth-Space or Space-Earth communications link, atmospheric effects cause significant signal attenuation. In order to develop a communications system that is cost effective while meeting appropriate performance requirements, it is important to accurately predict these effects for the given link parameters. This project aimed to develop a Matlab(TradeMark) (The MathWorks, Inc.) program that could augment the existing Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Link Budget Tool with accurate predictions of atmospheric attenuation of both optical and radio-frequency signals according to the SCaN Optical Link Assessment Model Version 5 and the International Telecommunications Union, Radiocommunications Sector (ITU-R) atmospheric propagation loss model, respectively. When compared to data collected from the Advance Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS), the radio-frequency model predicted attenuation to within 1.3 dB of loss for 95 of measurements. Ultimately, this tool will be integrated into the SCaN Center for Engineering, Networks, Integration, and Communications (SCENIC) user interface in order to support analysis of existing SCaN systems and planning capabilities for future NASA missions.
Document ID
20170010174
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Steinkerchner, Leo
(Ohio State Univ. Cleveland, OH, United States)
Welch, Bryan
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
October 18, 2017
Publication Date
October 1, 2017
Subject Category
Communications And Radar
Report/Patent Number
GRC-E-DAA-TN46044
NASA/TM-2017-219563
E-19412
Report Number: GRC-E-DAA-TN46044
Report Number: NASA/TM-2017-219563
Report Number: E-19412
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 439432.07.01.03.01
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
radio frequency communication
optical communication
atmospheric attenuation
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