Application of IP Multicasting to the NASA Communications Command and Telemetry Ground Network

Abstract

The NASA Communications (Nascom) Division has been directed to deploy Internet Protocol (IP) based technology for the ground segments of all present and future spaceflight telemetry networks. The Nascom network supports all NASA spaceflight telemetry, command and status requirements, from sounding rockets and balloons to the Hubble Space Telescope and the Space Shuttle. This paper discusses the challenges of transitioning a 35 year old, custom engineered, worldwide legacy telemetry network to IP, and the resulting, new NASA IP Operational Network for ground transport of spacecraft telemetry and command.