Ground Station Networks

[tristancho]

Hi,
Anyone can tell me, if we don't use a dedicated amateur network, what is the best network to use for a mission like Team FREDNET one?
ACRES
CCRS
CNES
CRL
CSA
DataLynx
DOC CRC
EO
ESA
INPE
ISAS
ISRO
NASA {DSN, GNR, STDN}
NASDA
NOAA
PrioraNet
QinetiQ
RSGS
SPOT
SSC
USAF AFSCN
Other

Thanks,
Joshua

[jdp]

Hi,
Anyone can tell me, if we don't use a dedicated amateur network, what is the best network to use for a mission like Team FREDNET one?

Hm.. not a popular topic around here The amateur class solution is so elegant and in the spirit!

Mike Barrucco might have an opinion on the subject.. as least to cut that list down to size.
For example, the NASA and USAF (mil) space networks have been said to be out.

[scasey]

Can you tell me - how many ground stations you are going to need to do the job?

What is the job that you need done?

SC

[tristancho]

Well,
We are speaking abaut different phases of fligth. John, in fact, we don't need only one solution.

During the launch, Launcher provider have already covered this phase and when during the separation is the most critical part because mainly in a few minutes, everething is decided and time to make corrections is very short, accuracy wanted.

During the trip, at least 3 stations separated by 120 degrees in longitude for deep communication is required. See the Moon2.0 simulation to take an idea what we are speaking for:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HERp3FY2wVY
You can see that during the trip to the Moon is more than 2 days. Amateur network can be used for this purpose becuase nothing to do in between, just tracking.

Lunar injection is other critical part but it takes few minutes. For example, we can pay a short slot from a commercial network.

For transmitting the mooncast, everybody can listen because transmittion is encripted and amateur network can play an important part here. For example, if you record the transmition, later on, Team FRDNET can provide encription code.

My best,
Joshua

[scasey]

I've created a wiki page for this:

http://wiki.teamfrednet.org/index.php/Ground_Stations

What characteristics do we need to know for each network?

Can we get a clear statement of requirements?

There are places for all of this in the wiki.

SC

[tristancho]

Great!

[alexc]

Hi,
Anyone can tell me, if we don't use a dedicated amateur network, what is the best network to use for a mission like Team FREDNET one?
ACRES
CCRS
CNES
CRL
CSA
DataLynx
DOC CRC
EO
ESA
INPE
ISAS
ISRO
NASA {DSN, GNR, STDN}
NASDA
NOAA
PrioraNet
QinetiQ
RSGS
SPOT
SSC
USAF AFSCN
Other

Thanks,
Joshua

Prioranet/SSC and SETI.

[tristancho]

Thanks for this, Alex.

I have run some simulations and these are the results:

Prioranet have very good reception but some lost of coverage during the trip.

SSC have intermitent coverage.

SETI is not in my list (Other name?)

Best,
Joshua

[alexc]

SSC - Swedish Space Corporation - has recently acquired Prioranet, the network of Universal Space Network (USN) so Prioranet and SSC are now one network (I would think). The station list in the file I have sent may not be complete, see this map: http://www.uspacenetwork.com/sites.html

From the SETI institute we can use the Allen Telescope Array but for reception only and it would be useful for downlink of high definition video, i.e. high bandwidth. You can find the location on Google Maps.

The reason I mentioned these two is because both are preferred partners in the GLXP. In this partnership program, USN offer a discount of 50% (if I remember correctly), and the SETI ATA array can be used free of charge for 7 Earth days during lunar surface operations. It is difficult to find reasons for not using a free service of this magnitude...

Other than that, I think governmental networks can be eliminated from the list. I don't know how it is in the rest of the world, but in Denmark government services are always more expensive than private commercial services, simply because the government is not allowed to compete with industry. I don't know about the rates of ESA, CNES, USAF, but I know that the NASA DSN is very expensive. I mean very, very expensive. After initial setup fee, there is an hourly "aperture" fee that exceeds 1000$ and then they also charge for delivering the data from their ground station to your network. See http://deepspace.jpl.nasa.gov/advmiss/index.html - there is a cost calculator spreadsheet http://deepspace.jpl.nasa.gov/advmiss/d ... ost4NF.xls

[scasey]

Cost is an issue but so is performance. The point has been made that high $$ services may only be required for certain critical phases of the missions. Those critical phases would depend upon the mission requirements.

GLXP preferred providers are a good start. What do we really need?

SC