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Optical Relay for Future NASA Geosynchronous Orbiting Satellite for High Data Rate Links to NASA User MissionsNASA is exploring options for its Next Generation Relay (NGR) architecture while the current Tracking Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) completes its mission. The plan is to start implementation of the NGR beginning around 2025. The new system of proposed relay satellites will greatly increase the data rates between low Earth orbiting (LEO) satellite missions and the NASA TDRSS relay satellites. This increase in data rates will allow an unprecedented increase in data throughput from the LEO satellite missions back to the principal investigators (PI). This can be accomplished at Ka-band frequencies with high order modulation or at optical frequencies using Differential Phase Shift Keying (DPSK). The first satellite in the next set of relay satellites will have to be backward compatible with current technology to support ongoing and planned missions. The new set of satellites will be launched over a 10-year period with design lifetimes of at least 15 years. To meet these requirements, we analyzed various architectures and designed both the communication payloads on the relay satellite and candidate payloads on the user spacecraft by utilizing optical heads already designed. From this analysis, a demonstration optical satellite named “the Next Generation Optical Relay Pathfinder” with Ka-band capabilities was proposed to be built and launched with the purpose of evaluating an integrated high-speed optical and Ka-band communication system. Given a cost limit for the demonstration satellite, various satellite configurations were developed by varying the number of optical communication payloads. The communication payload on the relay satellite consisted of three major sub-systems: 1) Optical communication payload, 2) Ka-band communication payload, 3) Digital processing and routing of signals. The size, mass (weight), and power (SWaP) of the communication payload and other sub-systems of the satellite were obtained. The NASA Glenn Research Center COMPASS team designed the Pathfinder satellite and performed a cost analysis for its build and launch. In this paper, we first describe the needs, drivers, and the associated challenges for the Next Generation Optical Relay Pathfinder to be capable of connecting multiple LEO and GEO satellites at high data rates. Second, we detail the concept of operations (ConOps) and the system architecture, including the satellite configurations considered, their attributes and limitations, and the size of the satellite needed for each configuration. Third, we provide a summary of the Next Generation Optical Relay Pathfinder satellite design trades and its key elements. Finally, we present the path needed for implementation and operations.
Document ID
20190000302
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Warner, Joseph H. D.
(Comsat Architects Rocky River, OH, United States)
Bhasin, Kul
(Comsat Architects Rocky River, OH, United States)
Early, Jared
(Comsat Architects Rocky River, OH, United States)
Oleson, Steve
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Stegeman, James
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Pham, Nang
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
January 31, 2019
Publication Date
October 15, 2018
Subject Category
Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications, Command And Tracking
Report/Patent Number
GRC-E-DAA-TN60823
Meeting Information
Meeting: Ka and Broadband Communications Conference
Location: Niagara Falls
Country: Canada
Start Date: October 15, 2018
End Date: October 18, 2018
Sponsors: European Space Agency
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 277985.01.01.01
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNC14BA04B
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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