The Space Shuttle Orbiter Communication and Tracking System

Abstract

During space flight, the communications and tracking system of the Space Shuttle orbiter uses S- and Ku-band links to provide tracking; reception of digitized voice, commands, and printed or diagramatic data at a maximum rate of 216 kilobits a second; and transmission of digitized voice, telemetry, television, and data at a maximum rate of 50 megabits a second. S-band links may be established directly with a ground station and both S- and Ku-band links may be routed through NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System A simultaneous capability to communicate with other satellites or spacecraft, using a variety of formats and modulation techniques on more than 850 S-band channels, is provided. UHF is used for communication with extravehicular astronauts. Audio and television subsystems serve on-board needs as well as interfacing with the RF equipment. During aerodynamic flight following entry, a UHF link provides two-way simplex voice communication with Air Traffic Control facilities. Air navigation aids include TACAN, a microwave scan-beam landing system and radar altimeters.