TDRSS GROUND SEGMENT PERFORMANCE

Abstract

About 150 racks of fully-automated equipment provide tracking, user traffic transmission and reception, simulation, and verification services for users of NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS). Installation of this equipment in the White Sands Ground Terminal Facility is now complete and final testing is nearly complete. This paper describes the implementation and performance of that portion of the ground segment equipment provided by Harris. Major equipment groups described are 1) antennas, 2) user traffic link forward (transmit) equipment, 3) S-band single-access return (receive) equipment, 4) K-band single-access return equipment, 5) multiple-access RF equipment, 6) range and range-rate equipment, 7) user spacecraft simulation equipment, and 8) system verification equipment.