Multifunciton Receiver System for Integrated Tracking, Telemetry and Ranging Data Acquisition

Abstract

The state-of-the-art for Tracking, Telemetry and Ranging data acquisition has reached a point where simultaneous performance of each of these functions is possible with one receiving system. In addition to simultaneous reception of data with one receiver, this Multifunction Receiver System was developed to be compatible with the other DOD and NASA Tracking and Data Acquisition systems besides the specific system for which it was designed, the Goddard Range and Range Rate System. NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center initiated development of this integrated receiver system in September 1967 and will have the first system operational in December 1968 at Rosma4, North Carolina. Three more systems will be installed: one each at NASA STADAN stations in Alaska, Tananarive, and Carnarvon, Australia. The receiver system was designed to cover all the currently known NASA and DOD frequency bands from VHF to 10 GHz. The data handling capability of the system is optimized for both narrowband and wideband data. AM, FM and PM data is accommodated in varying bandwidths from 10 kHz to 10 MHz. The primary objectives for developing such a system were to achieve improved mission effectiveness of NASA STADAN operations and reduce life-cycle costs in carrying out NASA Tracking and Data Acquisition responsibilities.