Relay Communications Strategies for Mars Exploration Through 2020
- Paper number
IAC-05-A3.3.06
- Author
Dr. Charles D. Edwards, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Ramon P. De Paula, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Greg Kazz, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Charles Lee, Jet Propulsion Laboratory / CalTech, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Gary Noreen, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, United States
- Year
2005
- Abstract
Building on the successful relay communications support to the Spirit and Opportunity rovers, during which over 95% of the rovers’ data have been returned via high-rate, energy-efficient UHF relay links to the Odyssey and Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft, NASA plans to further develop its Mars Network relay infrastructure with the launch of the relay-equipped Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) in 2005, and with plans for the 2009 Mars Telecommunications Orbiter (MTO), the first dedicated telecommunications relay satellite deployed around another planet.
In this paper, we will summarize the telecommunications relay needs of the Mars Exploration Program through the first two decades of the 21st century, based on a planning mission set that includes known near-term missions such as the 2007 Phoenix Lander and 2009 Mars Science Laboratory, as well as representative candidate second-decade mission concepts, including large in situ landers, small scout missions, and a potential sample return mission. Key telecommunications drivers will be quantified, including data volume, link availability, energy efficiency, and the need to provide coverage of critical events such as entry, descent, and landing.
Relative to these aggregate program needs, we will assess the evolving capabilities of the planned Mars Network relay infrastructure, characterizing the anticipated growth in communications performance as well as the infusion of higher-level protocols to support reliable end-to-end file services. The Electra Proximity Link Payload – the relay transceiver that will be carried on MRO, MTO, and all subsequent Mars Network relay orbiters – offers opportunities for infusion of new capabilities on orbit, based on Electra’s software radio architecture. Finally, we will identify high-impact technologies with the potential for advancing the overall performance and operability of the Mars Network relay infrastructure.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-05-A3.3.06.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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