How The User Relates to a Large Range Telemetry System

Abstract

The Telemetry Data Handling System (TDHS) at the Telemetry Data Center in White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), New Mexico, has been in operation since January 1990. It is one of the world's largest integrated range telemetry systems, and certainly the most versatile in weapons support capability. The system supports one of the world's busiest test ranges, serving all U.S. Military Services as well as NASA and others. This paper looks at the White Sands system from the user's view, examining the ways in which it is configured for several weapons tests in a typical day, and the way in which it can run foreground launch support and background pre-launch activities simultaneously. This system has grown in functional capability since its installation, both in hardware and in software. This paper analyzes that growth to see the reasons and methods. Also, near-term additional growth is addressed.