Space Communication Architecture Supporting Exploration and Science: Plans & Studies for 2010-2030

摘要

NASA is developing a new Space Communications and Navigation Architecture enabling NASA’s Exploration and Science programs to be executed between 2010 and 2030. In addition, there will be a focus on decreasing the cost of Space Operations and identifying critical technologies needed to enable future evolution of our communication and navigation (C&N) systems. The SCAWG is collaborating across Mission Directorates and NASA Centers to develop and recommend the concepts of operation, requirements, candidate architectures, technology insertion, design options, and acquisition and sustainment approaches for affordable, robust support to human and robotic missions. This paper describes the results of the efforts conducted in 2004, plans for 2005, and communication issues facing the system of systems. The top level architecture is divided into Earth, Moon, Mars, and Deep Space components. The Earth Local Network includes the evolved Space Network (SN), Ground Network (GN), Deep Space Network (DSN), and NASA Integrated Services Network (NISN). The Moon architecture includes the Lunar Local Network covering lunar surface intra-site and site-to-site relays as well as the Lunar Trunk relay to Earth. The Mars architecture is comparable. Science missions throughout the rest of the solar system continue to communicate with DSN via dedicated links. A host of candidate technologies currently in development or requiring new investment are being assessed to enhance capabilities and reduce weight, power, and cost of communications systems, subsystems and components. As part of the architecture, the plan for communications and navigation research and development investment is being developed to identify key technologies, benefits, costs, risks, and opportunities for insertion into new and evolving systems. This plan is being developed as part of the NASA Capabilities Roadmap team in concert with the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, Science Mission Directorate, the Office of the Chief Engineer, and other stakeholders. Key technologies to implement this are discussed including interplanetary laser communications, new standard protocols, and advanced low-power avionics. The paper will also describe the processes and tools being used to determine the best architectural approaches.