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SPACE

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PARTICIPANTS

The Honorable Lyndon B , Johnson


V i c e President of the United S t a t e s of America
Chairman, National Aeronautics and Space Council

The Honorable Dean Rusk


Secretary of S t a t e

M r , James E. Webb, Administrator


National Aeronautics and Space Administration

D r . Harry Goett, D i r e c t o r
Goddard Space F l i g h t Center

Commander Walter M . Schirra, Jr.


Astronaut
.

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GUESTS OF HONOR

H, E. Dr. R o b e r t o T, A l e m a n n T h e Argentine R e p u b l i c

H. E, The H o n , S i r H o w a r d B e a l e ,
K,B,E,, QeC. A u s t r a1i a

H, E, R o b e r t o de O l i v e i r a Campos T h e U n i t e d S t a t e s of B r a z i l

H. E. C h a r l e s S, A. R i t c h i e Canada

H, E, Walter M u l l e r The R e p u b l i c of C h i l e

H, E, D r , N e f t a l i Ponce-Miranda The R e p u b l i c of E c u a d o r

H. E, The R i g h t Son, S i r D a v i d The U n i t e d K i n g d o m of G r e a t


O n n s b y G o r e , K,C,M.G, B r i t a i n and N o r t h e r n
Ireland

H. E, B r a ] K u m a r N e h r u India

H, E, H o s s e i n G h o d s - M a k h a i Iran

H. E. Koichiro Asakai Japan

H, E, A n t o n i o C a r r i l l o Flores The U n i t e d Mexican S t a t e s

H, E, D r , J. H e r m a n van R o i j e n The N e t h e r l a n d s

H, E. J u l i u s M. U d o c h i T h e Federation of N i g e r i a

H, E, Fernando B e r c k e m e y e r The R e p u b l i c of Peru

The R e p u b l i c of South A f r i c a

PI-:...
apCl-L11

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PROGRAM

F I F T H ANNIVERSARY

INTERNATIONAL TRACKING OF SPACE VEHICLES

D r . H a r r y Goett, D i r e c t o r
Goddard Space F l i g h t C e n t e r

M r . James E. W e b b , A d m i n i s t r a t o r
N a t i o n a l A e r o n a u t i c s and Space A d m i n i s t r a t i o n

T h e H o n o r a b l e D e a n Rusk
Secretary of S t a t e

C o m m a n d e r Walter M. S c h i r r a , J r .
Astronaut

The H o n o r a b l e Lyndon B. Johnson


V i c e P r e s i d e n t of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s of America
C h a i r m a n , K a t i o n a l A e r o n a u t i c s and Space C o u n c i l

J a n u a r y 31, 1963
U. S . SPACE - TkRCF2L:;
G
FIFTH ANNIVERSARY

I - The t r a c k i n g s t a t i o n network was a c t i v a t e d t o t r a c k

E x p l o r e r I, launched January 31, 1958, The network i n c l u d e d

M i n i t r a c k s t a t i o n s l o c a t e d p r i m a r i l y i n t h e Western Hemisphere.

S i n c e t h a t t i m e , o t h e r networks have been added t o form a t r u l y

world-wide t r a c k i n g network and d a t a a c q u i s i t i o n system f o r

s a t e l l i t e s and s p a c e probes ,

These networks p r e s e n t a unique o p p o r t u n i t y f o r c o n t r i b u -

t i o n s t o t h e p a t t e r n o f open c o o p e r a t i o n and t h e s p r e a d of i n -

t e r e s t and competence i n s p a c e r e s e a r c h , NASA h a s 27 o v e r s e a s

f a c i l i t i e s i n 19 d i f f e r e n t p o l i t i c a l a r e a s . About two-thirGs

of them a l r e a d y o p e r a t e w i t h t h e a s s i s t a n c e of f o r e i g n n a t i o n -

als, The c o s t of o p e r a t i n g s e v e r a l of t h e NASA network s t a t i o n s


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is l a r g e l y b o r n e by t h e c o o p e r a t i n g n a t i o n s , Each network i s

s p e c i f i c a l l y designed t o f u l f i l l t h e requirements p a r t i c u l a r ,
I
t o each of t h e major programs. ,
I

1, T h e M i n i t r a c k network, e s t a b l i s h e d d u r i n g t h e I n t e r -

- - ~ - : - -~
--i~ - k . . - ; - - i
J I a L A U i ~ aU~F v y r L y G ? & b n A
v..-.-
ZLUL,
tr3,-’Lc
\~LUC*LY L-LII- ~ U - A - - - Y
a = t a f-------..-----
---I
~ ~ n c m i f t p a

f r o m unmanned s c i e n t i f i c s a t e l l i t e s such a s Vanguard, Explorer,

O r b i t i n g S o l a r Observatory, etc. There a r e e i g h t Minitrack


-
w

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S t a t i o n s i n seven p o l i t i c a l a r e a s ,
2. The D e e p Space I n s t r u m e n t a t i o n F a c i l i t i e s ( D S I F ) are

equipped w i t h powerful t r a n s m i t t e r s and s e n s i t i v e r e c e i v e r s

which can m a i n t a i n c o n t a c t w i t h s p a c e c r a f t t r a v e l i n g t o t h e
.-I

moon an? beyond, There a r e D S I F i n two c o u n t r i e s abroad,

3, The Manned Space F l i s h t network, o r i g i n a l l y b u i l t t o

m e e t t h e requirements of Project Mercury, is c a p a b l e of f a s t e r

d a t a h a n d l i n g and t r a c k i n g t h a n M i n i t r a c k , T h i s network pro-

v i d e s continuous ground c o n t a c t , monitoring and communications

w i t h t h e c a p s u l e , f r o m launch u n t i l l a n d i n g , i n o r d e r t o assure

t h e astronaut's safety. There a r e e i g h t ground s t a t i o n s i n

seven p o l i t i c a l areas abroad.

4. The Srnithsonian A s t r o p h y s i c a l Observatory, under a

NASA g r a n t , o p e r a t e s a world-wide system of Baker-Nunn tele-

s c o p i c cameras. T h i s o p t i c a l t r a c k i n g serves as a back-up

system f o r ground radio s t a t i o n s , It provides i n f o r m a t i o n on

atmospheric d e r s i t i e s and is w p l o y e d i n geoi?ss;: -- I- .-I 3 1 ~ ;c.ter-

m i n a t i o n of e x a c t d i s t a n c e s on e a r t h , There a r e Baker-Nunn
La)

i n s t a l l a t i o n s i n nine c o u n t r i e s abroad.

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TRACKING AND DATA A C Q U I S I T I O K AND REDUCTIG~

A s p a c e c r a f t with t h e f i n e s t s c i e n t i f i c instruments,

launched p e r f e c t l y i n t o o r b i t , is worthless u n l e s s it can be

t r a c k e d t o determine w h e r e it i s , and i t s s c i e n t i f i c i n f o r -

mation retrieved and recorded on t h e ground, Then t h e d a t a ,

recorded on magnetic t a p e , must be reduced i n t o f a c t s m d

f i g u r e s i n o r d e r t h a t t h e s c i e n t i s t cm a n a l y z e t h e r e s u l t s

o f h i s space-borne experiments

T o accomplish t h i s t a s k , t h e Goddard Space F l i g h t C e n t e r

s e r v e s a s t h e t r a c k i n g , communicatians and computing hub of

NASA's w o r l d - w i d e Minitrack and Flanned S p a c e c r a f t Networks ,

Ir, a d d i t i o n , t h e Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena,

C a l i f o r n i a , o p e r a t e s Deep Space I n s t r u m e n t a t i o n F a c i l i t i e s

f o r t h e t r a c k i n g and d a t a a c q u i s i t i o n of l u n a r and p l a n e t a r y

satellite projects. The Smithsonian A s t r o p h y s i c a l Observa-

t o r y o p e r a t e s 1 2 o p t i c a l t r a c k i n g s t a t i o n s each equipped w i t h

a Baker-Nunn t e l e s c o p i c camera,
. T h i r t e e n M i n i t r a c k stations w h i c h serve a s "eyes and

e a r s " for un-manned s c i e n t i f i c s a t e l l i t e s p r o v i d e precision

t r a c k i n g , command and t e l e m e t r y d a t a t o t h e Space Operations


C o n t r o l Center at Goddard.

These s t a t i o n s a r e c o n s t a n t l y b e i n g modified t o t r a c k and

a c q u i r e d a t a from t h e more advanced s p a c e c r a f t Aich have been

developed b y NASA and the o t h e r s t h a t a r e s u r e t o be developed

i n the future,

Most of t o d a y ' s s m a l l s a t e l l i t e s w i l l g i v e way t o the

l a r g e o r b i t i n g observatories. This w i l l i n c r e a s e t h e complex-

i t y , range o f operation, m i s s i o n d u r a t i o n and volume of d a t a ,

Improved ground f a c i l i t i e s t o h a n d l e t h e n e w g e n e r a t i o n o f

s p a c e c r a f t are needed, Some a l r e a d y e x i s t : others a r e i n the

planning stage.

E x i s t i n g equipment f o r the b i g o b s e r v a t o r i e s c o n s i s t s of

an 85-foot a n t e n n a a t Rosman, N. c-8 and a n o t h e r at F a i r b a n k s ,


I

Alaska. I n a d d i t i o n , one more i s under c o n s i d e r a t i o n f o r Ros-

man and one f o r a s t a t i o n i n t h e Far E a s t . These antenna sys-

tems, b e c a u s e of t h e i r - h i g h power and s e n s i t i v i t y w i l l h a n d l e

i n f o r m a t i o n i n much g r e a t e r volume and v a r i e t y ,

For manned s p a c e f l i g h t s , t h e Goddard Space F l i g h t C e n t e r

operates a global network of s t a t i o n s f o r t r a c k i n g , t e l e m e t r y ,

and v o i c e communications on a " r e a l - t i m e " basis, The. f o c a l

p o i n t of t h i s i n t e g r a t e d communications system is Goddard's

Space O p e r a t i o n s C o n t r o l Center which determines and p r e d i c t s

satellite orbits, and c o n t r o l s a v o i c e network, c a l l e d S C m ,

l i n k e d . t o s t a t i o n s i n t h e network. D u a l high speed compaters,

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each w i t h a "real-time" channel, make c o n s t a n t € l i g h t c o n t i n -

gency recommendations, predict f l i g h t p a t h s , d e t e r m i n e the t i m e


\
t o i n i t i a t e r e - e n t r y and p r e d i c t t h e impact point of t h e cap-

s u l e on a n e a r - i n s t a n t a n e o u s and continuous basis d u r i n g t h e

mission. These computers, i n t h e simplest mathematical expla-

n a t i o n , can add, f o r instance, a column of l o - d i g i t numbers 3/4

of a m i l e i n l e n g t h e v e r y second,

The Manned S p a c e c r s f t Tracking system s p a n s three c o n t i -

n e n t s and three oceans, i n t e r c o n n e c t e d by a g l o b a l c o m u n i c a -

t i o n s network. I t u t i l i z e s l a n d l i n e , undersea cables and ra-

d i o c i r c u i t s , and special communications equipment i n s t a l l e d

a t commercial s w i t c h i n g s t a t i o n s i n b o t h t h e E a s t e r n and W e s t -

ern hemispheres.

The p r o j e c t i n c l u d e s b u i l d i n g s , computer programming,

communications and e l e c t r o n i c equipment, and r e l a t e d support

f a c - k l i t i e s r e q u i r e d t o direct, monitor, and p r o v i d e contact

w i t h t h e manned s p a c e c r a f t ,

Altogether, t h i s system i n v o l v e s approximately 177,000

r o u t e m i l e s of communications f a c i l i t i e s t o a s s u r e an i n t e -

g r a t e d network w i t h world-wide c a p a b i l i t y f o r h a n d l i n g s a t e l -

l i t e data, I t i n c l u d e s lO2,OOO m i l e s of t e l e t y p e , 60,000

m i l e s of t e l e p h o n e , and 15,000 m i l e s of high-speed Gata c i r -

cuits,

Goddard's s i t e f a c i l i t i e s i n c l u d e equipment for a c q u i r -

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ing the spacecraft; long range radars for automatic t r a c k i n g ;

telemetry equipment for controlling the manned vehicle from

the ground if necessary, and voice channels f o r ground-to-air

communications.

MINITRACK - UPaMANJSiD SATELLITE NETWORK

The instrumentation used primarily for unmanned satel-

l i t e missions is an outqrowth of the Minitrack systcm origi-

nally created as part of Project Vanguard in 1957. T5is

network was u s e d to track Explorer I, first U.S. earth sat-

ellite launched on January 3 1 , 1958. (This satellite l a u n c h e d

by a modified ABMA-JPL Jupiter-C w i t h U.S. IGY scientific

e x p e r i m e n t of James A. Van A l l e n which discovered t h e radia-

t i o n belt around the e a r t h . )

Today there are thirteen of these stations located

throughout the world. The stations are l o c a t e d at Blossom

Point, Maryland: Fort Myers, Florida: Q u i t o , Equador; Lima,


Peru; Antofagasta, C h i l e ; Santiago, C h i l e ; Woomera, A u s t r a l i a :

Joharmesburg, South A f r i c a ; Goldstone Lake, C a l i f o r n i a ; S t .


Johns, Newfoundland: East Grand Forks, Minnesota: Fairbanks,

Alaska and Winkf i e l d , England

The number of Minitrack s t a t i o n s and t h e i r l o c a t i o n s w e r e

chosen t o i n s u r e t h a t a t l e a s t one s t a t i o n w i l l be w i t h i n l i n e

of s i g h t of a s a t e l l i t e during almost every o r b i t , regardless

of t h e i n c l i n a t i o n o r t h e o r b i t a l a l t i t u d e . Each s t a t i o n gen-

erates a f an-shaped antenna r a d i a t i o n p a t t e r n approximately 11

by 76 degrees. S i n c e , a t most, o n l y a few p o i n t s p e r o r b i t are

obtained w i t h t h i s system, it is obvious t h a t a v e r y a c c u r a t e

o r b i t cannot be computed u n t i l s e v e r a l o r b i t s have been com-

pleted. This t r a c k i n g method g e n e r a l l y s a t i s f i e s t h e o r b i t a l

requirements of unmanned s a t e l l i t e s , w h i c h remain a l o f t f o r

long p e r i o d s of t h e . T h i s t r a c k i n g system o p e r a t e s i n t h e

frequency band of 136-137 K S and r e q u i r e s a l i t t l e a c q u i s i -

t i o n information. "he d a t a is a u t o m a t i c a l l y sampled and

punched, i n d i q i t a l form, s u i t a b l e f o r t e l e t y p e t r a n s m i s s i o n ,

on p a p e r t a p e along w i t h t i m e and o t h e r a p p r o p r i a t e i n f o m a -

tion. It is t h e n t r a n s m i t t e d back t o t h e Goddard Space F l i g h t

C e n t e r f o r computation of t h e s a t e l l i t e ' s p o s i t i o n .

Data a c q u i s i t i o n from t h e s a k e i l i t e , 01 telemetered dzta,

is a l s o t r a n s m i t t e d t o t h e ground s t a t i o n s i n t h e 136 t o 1 3 7

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Generally, t h e t e l e m e t r y i s recorded on magnetic t a p e ,

e i t h e r i n p r e d e t e c t e d o r d e t e c t e d form. The magnetic t a p e s

a r e transported t o the c e n t r a l d a t a reduction f a c i l i t y a t t h e

Goddard skate F l i g h t Center. This C e n t e r also s u p p l i e s each

s t a t i o n with o p e r a t i o n a l c o n t r o l d a t a and t h e necessery pre-

d i c t i o n information f o r s p a c e c r a f t a c q u i s i t i o n .

DEEP SPACE INSTRUMENTATION FACILITY (DSXF)

Deep Space I n s t r u m e n t a t i o n F a c i l i t i e s a r e used p r i m a r i l y

f o r t r a c k i n g and d a t a a c q u i s i t i o n i n s u p p o r t of t h e NASA l u n a r

and p l a n e t a r y programs. S t a t i o n s a r e l o c a t e d a t Goldstone,

C a l i f o r n i a ; Johannesburg, Republic of South A f r i c a ; and Woomera,

Australia, The Network Control Center i s a t t h e Z e t Propulsion

Laboratory, Pasadena, C a l i f o r n i a ,

The Goldstone Tracking F a c i l i t y i s l o c a t e d a t a remote

s i t e i n t h e Mojave D e s e r t n e a r Barstow, C a l i f o r n i a . The Gold-

stone f a c i l i t y , named for a d j a c e n t Goldstone Dry Lake, was se-

l e c t e d as t h e s i t e f o r t h e s e antennas, because it o f f e r s ex-

t r e m e l y l o w background n o i s e l e v e l s . Due t o t h e s e n s i t i v i t y
of t h e r e c e i v i n g equipment used, man-made i n t e r f e r e n c e from

automobile i g n i t i o n systems, a i r c r a f t r a d i o s , power l i n e s , and

commercial r a d i o and t e l e v i s i o n t r a n s m i s s i o n s m u s t b e k e p t a t

a minimum,

Three s t a t i o n s w i t h i n a seven-mile r a d i u s comprise t h e

Goldstone complex:

ECHO STATION c o n s i s t s of an 85-foot diameter p o l a r mount

antenna, capable o f t r a c k i n g a t a n g u l a r r a t e s of one degree

p e r second. A s e n s i t i v e phase-locked r e c e i v e r and a low n o i s e

parametric amplifier, a 1 0 kw maximum power t r a n s m i t t e r , and

a s s o c i a t e d d a t a handling and i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n systems comprise

t h e b a s i c e l e c t r o n i c subsystems, This is t h e main s t a t i o n and

t h e prime t r a c k i n g antenna f o r a l l t r a n s m i t t i n g , r e c e i v i n g and

d a t a handling c a p a b i l i t i e s , Supporting l a b o r a t o r i e s , adminis-

t r a t i v e and e n g i n e e r i n g o f f i c e s a r e l o c a t e d h e r e ,

PIONEER STATION c o n s i s t s of an 85-foot d i a m e t e r p o l a r

mount t r a c k i n g antenna which is i d e n t i c a l t o t h a t a t t h e Echo

S t a t i o n w i t h t h e exception t h a t it does n o t have t r a n s m i t t i n g

c a p a b i l i t i e s b u t does have a low n o i s e Maser and Cassegrain

f e e d system. This s t a t i o n is used f o r b o t h r e s e a r c h and de-

velopment of advanced components o r systems, and a s a supple-

mentary antenna i n a s p a c e c r a f t t r a c k i n g m i s s i o n ,

VENUS STATION c o n s i s t s of an 85-foot diameter A z i m u t h -

E l e v a t i o n (Az-El) antenna mount with Cassegrain t y p e feed.


Advanced Masers, and p a r a m e t r i c a m p l i f i e r s w i l l be

u t i l i z e d i n performing communication r e s e a r c h ' q e r i m e n t s .

For e x t e n s i v e t e s t i n g of s p e c i a l communication systems, an

a d d i t i o n a l 30-foOt diameter Az-E1 mount antenna is a v a i l a b l e

a t the s t a t i o n , Advanced development is a l s o proceeding on


a 100 kw t r a n s m i t t e r which e v e n t u a l l y w i l l be used t o communi-

c a t e t o t h e f a r reaches of t h e s o l a r system. The c e n t r a l con-

t r o l b u i l d i n g s e r v i c e s both antennas d u r i n g a t e s t ,

The p o l a r mount antennas are s i m i l a r t o the l a r g e r a d i o

t e l e s c o p e s u s e d t o f i n d and t r a c k r a d i o s t a r s . A r a d i o tele-

scope c a p t u r e s m o s t s t r o n g l y t h o s e s i g n a l s which c o m e f r o m a

p o i n t d i r e c t l y i n f r o n t of it. Thus, by c o n t i n u o u s l y p o i n t -

i n g t h e t e l e s c o p e i n t h e d i r e c t i o n of t h e s t r o n g e s t s i g n a l , a

s p a c e v e h i c l e can be tracked i n i t s motion a c r o s s t h e sky.

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e Goldstone complex, there i s a Mobile

Tracking S t a t i o n for i n i t i a l s p a c e c r a f t a c q u i s i t i o n a t Johan-

nesburg, South A f r i c a , and a transportable Launch Tracking

S t a t i o n a t t h e A t l a n t i c M i s s i l e Range, Cape Canaveral, F l o r i d a .

The Woomera Deep Space S t a t i o n has a s i n g l e 85-foot diam-

eter r e c e i v i n g antenna w i t h t r a c k i n g , t e l e m e t r y recording, and

Doppler c a p a b i l i t y . The Johannesburg S t a t i o n has a 1 0 kw

t r a n s m i t t e r i d e n t i c a l to t h a t of t h e Zoidstone Echo S t a t i o f i .

Thus t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n s a t Goldstone and Johannesburg have t h e

s a p a b i l i t y of sending commands t o the s p a c e c r a f t as w e l l as

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to t r a c k , record telemetry, m.d a b t a i n Doppler d a t a , The

Mobile Tracking S t a t i o n and the Launch Trackin9 S t a t i o n do

n o t have command c a p a b i l i t y b u t have low p o w e r , t r a n s m i t t e r s

t o o b t a i n Doppler information,

The t h r e e permanent i n s t a l l a t i o n s a r e l o c a t e d approxi-

mately 120 d e g r e e s a p a r t around t h e e a r t h . Their t r a c k i n g

coverage o v e r l a p s so as t o p r o v i d e continuous c o n t a c t w i t h

t h e spacecraft. Throughout t h e mission each s t a t i o n l o c k s

o n t o t h e s p a c e c r a f t , t r a c k s it u n t i l t h e r o t a t i o n of t h e

e a r t h carries t h e s t a t i o n to t h e limits of i t s h o r i z o n , and

t h e n p a s s e s the s p a c e c r a f t on t o t h e n e x t s t a t i o n ,

Frequencies assigned for u s e on DSXF missions f a l l i n t o

two g e n e r a l c a t e g o r i e s : g r o u n d - t r a n s m i t t e r f r e q u e n c i e s and

s p a c e c r a f t - t r a n s m i t t e r frequencies , Currently, 890 MCS i s

used f o r e a r t h - t o - s p a c e c r a f t t r a n s m i s s i o n and 960 MCS from

spacecraft-to-earth. I n 1963, t h e s t a t i o n s w i l l phase i n t o

t h e assigned s p a c e coxfanunication bands u s i n g 2290-2300 MCS

f o r spacecraft-to-earth and 2110-2120 MCS from e a r t h - t o -

spacecraft ,

The p r e s e n t ground t e l e m e t e r i n g system can accept t r a n s -

m i s s i o n band-widths of 3.5 KCS and i s designed t o p r o c e s s

FM/PM modulation a t 960 MCS, A wide bandwidth d e t e c t i o n ca-

p a b i l i t y is planned f o r i n t e g r a t i o n i n t o the DSIF as part of

t h e 2290-2300 MCS r e c e i v e r ,

14
k
To p r o v i d e f o r t h e command c o n t r o l of the LCuiictiGAii5 of a

s p a c e probe, an i n i t i a l command c a p a b i l i t y c o n s i s t i n g of three

audio frequency t o n e s is c u r r e n t l y b e i n g used. F u t u r e command

requirements appear t o f a v o r a d i g i t a l t e c h n i q u e , and t h i s d i g -

i t a l command system is b e i n g i n t r o d u c e d i n t h e DSIF.

The DSIF S t a t i o n s , i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e g a i n d e r i v a b l e from

t h e i r l a r g e antennas, a l s o must a t t r i b u t e t h e i r a b i l i t y t o com-

municate a c r o s s m i l l i o n s of m i l e s of s p a c e t o t h e i r extremely

s e n s i t i v e and s t a b l e r e c e i v e r s . These a r e designed for t h e

p u r p o s e of t r a c k i n g t h e r e c e i v e d R F c a r r i e r i n phase, and f o r

amplitude and p h a s e - s e n s i t i v e d e t e c t i o n of t h e sidebands.

Doppler d a t a a r e d e r i v e d f r o m t h e l o c a l o s c i l l a t o r , t e l e m e t r y

d a t a from e i t h e r t h e phase e r r o r i n t h e t r a c k i n g loop o r from

a s e p a r a t e d e t e c t i o n channel, and a n g l e d a t a from s e p a r a t e

a n g l e - e r r o r d e t e c t i o n channels. C u r r e n t l y p a r a m e t r i c pream-

p l i f i e r s are b e i n g i n s t a l l e d which w i l l g i v e extremely h i g h

over-all r e c e i v i n g system s e n s i t i v i t i e s .
..

WIDEBAND DATA ACQUISITION NET

Many of t h e s a t e l l i t e s t o be launched by t h e N a t i o n a l

A e r o n a u t i c s and Space A d m i n i s t r a t i o n i n t h e f u t u r e w i l l u s e

v e r y w i d e bandwidths f o r t r a n s m i s s i o n of d a t a from t h e s a t -

e l l i t e t o t h e ground s t a t i o n s .

S i n c e t h e r e c e i v e r and s k y n o i s e i n t h e t e l e m e t r y l i n k

i s p r o p o r t i o n a l t o t h e bandwidth used f o r r e c e p t i o n , either

a v e r y h i g h t r a n s m i t t e r power o r a v e r y h i g h antenna g a i n ,

or b o t h , m u s t be used f o r wideband t e l e m e t r y l i n k i n o r d e r

t o a c h i e v e good s i g n a l - t o - n o i s e ratios The t r a n s m i t t e r

powers are r e s t r i c t e d f o r t e c h n i c a l reasons and consequently

it i s n e c e s s a r y t o u s e v e r y high-gain antennas a t the ground

s t a t i o n s f o r r e c e i v i n g t h e wideband t e l e m e t r y s i g n a l s . These

s a t e l l i t e s w i l l u s e s e v e r a l of t h e frequency bands a s s i g n e d

f o r space use. Therefore, t h e high-gain antenna m u s t have a

c a p a b i l i t y of o p e r a t i n g s i m u l t a n e o u s l y a t s e v e r a l f r e q u e n c i e s .

The a n t e n n a t h a t best s a t i s f i e s t h e requirements f o r h i g h

g a i n and m u l t i p l e frequency o p e r a t i o n i s a p a r a b o l i c antenna ,

85 feet i n diameter,

The f i r s t s a t e l l i t e which r e q u i r e s a l a r g e d a t a acquis i-

16
. t i o n f a c i l i t y f o r w i d e bandwidth r e c e p t i o n w i l l be Project
Kimbus, which w i l l b~ t aj-inrj t e l e v i s i o n p i c t u r e s of t h e earth's

clvdd cover, Nimbus is o n e of t h e s a t e l l i t e s t h a t w i l l have a

polar orbit. Consequently, t h e f i r s t s t a t i o n f o r widebanci d a t a

a c q u i s i t i o n h a s b e e n c o n s t r u c t e d a t G i l m o r e Creek, 12 miles

n o r t h of Fairbanks, Alaska. I t w a s completed i n May 1962, A

c o n t r a c t h a s been e n t e r e d i n t o w i t h The U n i v e r s i t y of Alaska

f o r o p e r a t i o n of t h e s t a t i o n . T h i s s t a t i o n w i l l be able t o pro-

v i d e coverage for 70 p e r c e n t of t h e passes of a s a t e l l i t e i n a

polar o r b i t . A contract for c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a second s t a t i o n

t o be l o c a t e d n e a r Rosman, North Caro1ir.a was e n t e r e d h t o i n

J u l y 1962. T h i s s t a t i o n w i l l p i c k up an a d d i t i o n a l 2 0 p e r c e n t

of t h e p a s s e s of a p o l a r s a t e l l i t e . Thus, t h e s e t w o s t a t i o n s

form a network which w i l l p r o v i d e coverage of 90 p e r c e n t of t h e

o r b i t s of a s a t e l l i t e w i t h a v e r y h i g h i n c l i n a t i o n ,

The main antenna for t h e Alaskan s t a t i o n is an 85-foot

d i a m e t e r p a r a b a l o i d w i t h a f o c a l l e n g t h of 36 f e e t , The s u r -

f a c e c o n s i s t s of double-curbed aluminum s h e e t p a n e l s and i s

separate from t h e r e f l e c t o r s t r u c t u r e i n o r d e r t h a t it may be

independently adjusted, The reflector is mounted on an X-Y

type mount d e s i g n e d s p e c i f i c a l l y f o r t r a c k i n g s a t e l l i t e s ,

he ~ c t e ~ ni , pa czp&l.e of tracking at rates o f 0 t o 3 O

p e r second, w i t h a c c e l e r a t i o n s up t o So p e r second squared.

P o i n t i n 9 a c c u r a c y is t 2 min. of a r c , The antenna h a s six

. 17
a p e r a t i o n a l modes; w i l l act_r\m=tir&1y lock-on a s a t e l l i t e

s i g n a l , or be d r i v e n by a t e l e t y p e d r i v e - t a p e input.
It may
be manually o p e r a t e d , slaved t o an a c q u i s i t i o n antenna, o r

o p e r a t e d i n v a r i o u s search modes for i n i t i a l a c q u i s i t i o n ,

TIlE ROLE OF COMMUhICATIONS 1h:MANNED SPACE FLIGHTS

Whenever a human l i f e i s t o be s u b j e c t e d t o a c a l c u l a t e d

risk, American philosophy demands t h a t a d e q u a t e p r e c a u t i o n s be

taken t o a s s u r e s a f e t y . I n t h e c a s e of manned s p a c e f l i g h t s ,

we must - m o w w h e r e t h e spaceman is and how he i s w i t h s t a n c i n g

his changing environment through a l l p h a s e s of t h e mission:

launch, o r b i t , r e - e n t r y and recovery. From t h e i n s t a n t t h e

rocket e n g i n e s a r e i g n i t e d , t h e experts i n c o n t r o l of the mis-

s i o n must be s u p p l i e d w i t h e x a c t i n f o r m a t i o n concerning t h e

s p a c e c r a f t ' s a c c e l e r a t i o n , Speed and d i r e c t i o n t o e n a b l e t h e m

t o make an i n t e l l i g e n t and a l m o s t immediate d e c i s i o n a s to

w h e t h e r a s a t i s f a c t o r y o r b i t is possible. T o do t h i s , high-

s p e e d d a t a l i n e s c a r r y r a d a r u a t a f r o m Cape Canaveral and

Bermuda t o t h e computers a t the Goddard Space F l i g h t C e n t e r ,

and t h e n c a r r y back t h e computer's answers t o the p l o t boards

18
a t t h e Manned Space F l i g h t Z x t r c l C e r ? t e r - T h e raCISrs at t h e

Cape must t a l k i n a language which i s understanuafilr t o the

computer, and t h e computer must u s e a language t h a t the p l o t

boards can understand. N a t u r a l l y , a d i g i t a l d a t a code i s uti-

l i z e d and t h e f a s t - o p e r a t i n g , e l e c t r o n i c a l l y d r i v e n p l o t boards

draw t h e i r g r a p h s of capsule t r a j e c t o r y parameters only a few

thwasandths of a second behind the a c t u a l c a p s u l e p o s i t i o n .

X @ t only is t h e a c t u a l p o s i t i o n p l o t t e d , b u t t h e p r e d i c c c d

impact p i n t , a n o t h z r rap:??;. changing i t e m , i s c o n t i n u m s l y

displayed. The p o i n t cf c a p s u l e l a n d i n g on t h e e z r t h is

known 3t all times, whethzr o r n o t t h e booster f u n c t i o n s

properly o r t h e m i s s i o n is t e r m i n a t e d b e f o r e o r b i t a l i r i s e r -

t i o n occurs. Thus, the F l i g h t C o n t r o l l e r s have a l l t h e d a t a

t h s y need t o nake t h e i r decisions.

kt t h e same time, t h e C o n t r o l C e n t e r F l i g h t C o n t r o l l e r s

?re i n v o i c e c o n t a c t w i t h t h e Bermuda Flight C o n t r o l l e r s so

t h a t a f i n a l go-no-go d e c i s i o n can be made by Bermuda i f t h e

s p a c e c r a f t is o u t of C a n a v e r a l ' s r a d a r range. Bem.udz h a s

i t s own r a d a r s , p l o t boards and high-speed d a t a c i r c u i t s t o

a s s i s t i n making t h e final decision. L e s s t h a n a minute is

a v a i l a b l e b e c a u s e i f re-entry and impact are t o occulr Scfore

t h e c a p s u l e impact p o i n t reachas i i f r i c a , t h e r e t r o - r o c k e t s

must f i r e w h i l e t h e capsule i s aver Bermuda.

Once t h e capsule is ir, arhi.c, t h e computer 2.t GoddacC?

19
e s t h l i s h e s the precis2 zr'Si?;d t r z c t , p-,e=.r $st? rnrnjy in

f r o m aennuda, Canary Island, t h e two A u s t r a l i q n S i t e s , Eawaii

and t h e North .ziF?efican Sites, i s analyzed by t h e computer t;o

d e t e r m i n e t h e c a p s u l e ' s exact position and t o p r e d i c t where it

w i l l be 10, 15 o r any given Lumber of minutes ir, t h e f u t u r e .

The r a d a r s t a l k t o t h e computer i n d i g i t a l languaqe again, b u t

this t i m e , t h e c o m p u t e r a u t o m a t i c a l l y sends o u t a c q u i s i t i o n

messages i n r e a d a b l e English v i a t e l e t y p e l i n e s t o each s i t e

t e l l i n g t h e s i t e c r e w exactly where t o p o i n t t h e i r t r a c k i n g

antennas and a t what t i m e t h e y can expect t o l o c a t e t h e cap-

sule.

Meanwhile, t h e a s t r o n a u t ' s p h y s i c a l well-being is checked

a t each s i t e by voice and t e l e m e t r y communications from the

o r b i t i n g v e h i c l e t o the site. Because t h i s i n f o m a t i o n $6

needed a t the Control C e n t e r and must be handled as r a p i d l y

as p o s s i b l e , both v o i c e and teletype c i r c u i t s are used by'the

s i t e s t o keep the C o n t r o l C e n t e r up-to-date on t h e s t a t u s of

t h e mission. Thus, t h e t r a i n e d e x p e r t s a t the Manned Sp3ce

F l i g h t C o n t r o l C e n t e r are i n a f u l l y informed s t a t u s , ready

a t any moment t o do whatever is n e c e s s a r y t o i n s u r e t h e A s t r o -

n a u t ' s s afe t y .

20
FABRICATION OF THE NGTWORK

S i n c e Project Mercury is s e r v i n g a s a proying ground for

more s o p h i s t i c a t e d f u t u r e space programs, i t s communications

network w a s d e s i g n e d t o permit f u t u r e m o d i f i c a t i o n . For t h i s

reasc)n, e x i s t i n g communications f a c i l i t i e s were u t i l i z e d t o t h e

f u l l e s t e x t e n t p o s s i b l e i n its f a b r i c a t i o n r a t h e r t h a n making

an a t t m p t ta estaS1itch 2 :irrmanec-, and completely z e w network.

I n c e r t a i n c a s e s , e x i s t i n c j f a c i l i t i e s c o u l d n o t f i l l a21 t h e

requirements and, where gaps became apparent, t h e y w e r e f i l l e d

by u s i n g f a c i l i t i e s supplied by t h e E a t i o n a l Aercnautics and

Space Administration. Appreciable cost s a v i n g s r e s u l t e d f r o m

t h i s approach and much b e t t e r network r e l i a b i l i t y w a s achieved

s i n c e a l r e a d y proved-in c i r c u i t s and equipment w e r e used. In

a d d i t i o n , t h e b u i l t - i n v e r s a t i l i t y of t h e working equipment

and services enabled m o d i f i c a t i o n s and a d d i t i o n s t o be made

w i t h o u t t h e need for e x t e n s i v e d e s i g n changes.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NETFiJORK

About 177,000 c i r c u i t miles- a r e c o n t a i n e d i n t h e network.

Of t h i s t o t a l , about l O 2 , O O O m i l e s a r e teletype, 6O,QO@ m i l e s

a r e telephone, and 15,000 m i l e s a r e high-speed d a t a c i r c u i t s ,

T h i s i s a l l packaged i n t o a 65,000 m i l e communications r o u t e ,

21
A l i s t of t h e 17 s i t e s involved, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e i r abbrevia-

tad i d e d e s i g n a t i o n s i s L----=-
J L L A , Szlcw :
XWIE CODE

Goddard Space F l i g h t Center ........................... GSC


Cape Canaveral ........................................
P4anned Space F l i g h t Control C e n t e r.................... CNV
MCC
Bermuda ............................................... BDA
Rose Knot S h i p
Canam I s l a n d
........................................
......................................... CY1 RI(v

Kano, Nigeria ......................................... KNO


Zanzibar .............................................. ZZB

Xuchea, A u s t r a l i a
...................................
C o a s t a l S e n t r y Ship CSQ
...................................... MUC
C a n t o n Island
.................................... WCTNW
rdoomera, A u s t r a l i a
.........................................
Kauai, Hawaii ......................................... HAW
Point Arguello, California
Guaymas, Mexico
............................ CAL
....................................... GYM
Khite Sands, New Mexico
Corpus C h r i s t i , Texas
............................... WHS
................................. TEX
Egfin, F l o r i d a ........................................ EGL

KASA Sub-switchins (Relay) L o c a t i o n s

Adelaide, A u s t r a l i a
Honolulu, H a w a i i
...................................
....................................... ADE
HOX
London, England ....................................... .LDN

Messages a r e c a r r i e d by l a n d l i n e , submarine cable and

r a d i o , c o n n e c t i n g a wide v a r i e t y of r a d i o , t e l e t y p e and v o i c e

equipment, Full t i m e c i r c u i t s p r o v i d e a11 t h e services needed

for message t r a f f i c d u r i n g o t h e r t h a n mission p e r i o d s . Addi-

t i o n a l c i r c u i t s a r e provided d u r i n g m i s s i o n p e r i o d s t o guard

against d e l a y t o mission t r a f f i c . Mission p e r i o d s a r e d e f i n e d

as t i m e s d u r i n g which t h e network is used t o s u p p o r t a c t u a l

and/or s i m u l a t e d missions and important t e s t s . The network

22
u s e s o n l y t w o back-up c i r c u i t s . T h e one t o Bermuda p r o v i d e s

a redundant c i r c u i t which a s s u r e s t r a n s m i s s i o n service t o

t h i s c r u c i a l s i t e even i f t h e t w o primary c i r c u i t s f a i l , The

back-up c i r c u i t f o r t h e I n d i a n Ocean Ship v i a A u s t r a l i a i s

prcvided t o c a r r y messages ir, case t h e primary r o u t e f a i l s .

TYPICAL MESSAGE RaUTING CURIKG MISSIONS

A t y p i c a l example of how message t r a f f i c i s c a r r i e d dur-

i n g a mission i s t h e Canary I s l a n d t o Goddard c i r c u i t config-

uration, A t e l e t y p e message o r i g i n a t i n g a t Canary d u r i n g a

mission would be able t o reach Goddard b y any one of t h e fol-

lowing r o u t e s :

1, Full-Time Primarv R o u t e - 5218 m i l e s

From Canary by land l i n e t o t h e t e r m i n a l of

Compania Telefono N a t i o n a l D e Espana, t h e n c e v i a

T r a n s r a d i o Espanola r a d i o t o London E x t e r n a l

Telecommunications Executive t e r m i n a l , t h e n c e

by t r a n s a t l a n t i c cable, a j o i n t American T e l e -

phone and Telegraph Long L i n e s and Postmaster

General f a c i l i t y t o t h e Radio C o r p o r a t i o n of

America Communications (RCAC) t e r m i n a l a t 66


Broad Street i n N e w York thenca t o t h e AT&T Long

L i n e s t e r m i n a l a t 32 Avenue of t h e Americas i n

New York. From there it goes t o Washington and

G r e e n b e l t , Maryland on AT&T U n g Lines f a c i l i t i e s

t e r m i n a t i n g a t Goddard.
. 23
2. Part-Tk,e R o u t e - 5218 m i l e s

A second r o u t e using s e p a r a t e c i r c u i t s on t h e

same g e n e r a l r o u t e as t h e F u l l T i m e Primary Route

is c a l l e d up d u r i n g mission p e r i o d s t o h a n d l e t h e

a d d i t i o n a l t r a f f i c c r e a t e d b y t h e mission.

GODDARD SPACE OPERATIONS CONTROL CENTER

The v a r i o u s t r a c k i n g and t e l e m e t r y s t a t i o n s throughout

t h e world have been i n t e g r a t e d i n t o a c o o r d i n a t e d network

through a communications system t e r m i n a t i n g i n t h e Goddard

Space Operations C o n t r o l Center.

The f u n c t i o n s of the O p e r a t i o n s C o n t r o l C e n t e r are:

1. C o n t r o l t h e o p e r a t i o n of a l l t r a c k i n g , command, a n d

d a t a a c q u i s i t i o n , and f a c i l i t i e s u t i l i z e d i n s u p p o r t of s c i e n -

t i f i c space v e h i c l e s .

2. C o o r d i n a t e t h e o p e r a t i o n of o t h e r ground instrumenta-

t i o n f a c i l i t i e s u t i l i z e d i n s u p p o r t o f s c i e n t i f i c space vehicles,

w i t h the e x c e p t i o n of c e r t a i n launch s i t e i n s t a l l a t i o n s .

3. Ensure t h a t operational a c t i v i t i e s r e q u i r e d i n s u p p o r t

24
of any s c i e n t i f i c s p a c e c r a f t a r e p r o p e r l y executed rrworeing

t o t h e operations plan f o r t h e spacecraft. I n t h e e v e n t of

i n a b i l i t y t o f u l f i l l t h e o p e r a t i o n s p l a n requirements, t h e

c o n t r o l c e n t e r i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r recommending s u i t a b l e a l t e r -

n a t i v e c o u r s e s o f a c t i o n t o t h e project manager, and making

c e r t a i n t h a t h i s d e c i s i o n i s p r o p e r l y implemented.

4. Provide f a c i l i t i e s f o r monitoring the s t a t u s of t h e

network and the. s p a c e c r a f t a t a l l times.


5. Ensure t h a t t h e p r o j e c t manager i s k e p t informed of

any d e p a r t u r e s from nominal i n the s t a t u s o f t h e network o r

t h a t of t h e s a t e l l i t e which might e f f e c t t h e conduct of t h e

operation.

6. Schedule network a c t i v i t i e s t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e r e q u i r e -

ments imposed are w i t h i n t h e o p e r a t i o n a l c a p a b i l i t y of t h e net-

work, and t o a v o i d c o n f l i c t s between i n d i v i d u a l projects i n s o f a r

a s possible.

7. Provide f a c i l i t i e s such t h a t i n t e r e s t e d o f f i c i a l s can

follow t h e c r i t i c a l phases of s p e c i f i c o p e r a t i o n s and can rap-

i d l y o b t a i n i n f o r m a t i o n on t h e s t a t u s of any s a t e l l i t e d u r i n g

its useful l i f e t i m e .

The space c o n t r o l center u t i l i z e s t h e f o l l u w i n g f a c i l i t i e s

i n t h e performance o f t h e i r f u n c t i o n s :

Communications. Fourteen t e l e p h o n e t o l l lines, two l o c a l

v o i c e loop c i r c u i t s , two s p e c i a l , e x t e r n a l point-to-point cir-


c u i t s , 1 2 GSFC e x t e n s i o n s , a n a t e n ciiai i ~ ~ L e r e aFno s i t i o c s

providE v o i c e c o n t a c t between e x t e r n a l and i n t e r n a l groups

performing h n c t i o n s e s s e n t i a l t o a given o p e r a t i o n .

I ? a d d i t i o n t o t h e r o u t i n e , in-house r o u t i n g system f o r

p r i n t e d messages, t h e c e n t e r i s t i e d i n t o t h e worldwide tele-

type network v i a t w o quasi-real-time TTY d a t a l i n e s and t w o

:noiiitsr l i n e s which prclvide a minimum of d e l a y on c i r c u i t s of

o p e r a L i m a 1 importance.

Uisplay. Three l a r g e b a c k - l i t p l e x i g l a s s b o a r d s convey

essentials of mission i n t e g r i t y .

T n c f i r s t of t h e s e p r e s e n t s a c u r r e n t Tracking N e t w o r k

assianment and performance s c h e d u l e i n six-hour increments.

Tile second p r o j e c t s mission m i l e s t o n e and message t r a f f i c

d a t a p e r t i n e n t t o success probability.

T 5 i r d and perhaps the m o s t c r i t i c a l of t h e three: the

Iconorama P r o j e c t i o n Board. The Iconorama i s a computer-driven

a n a l o g conversion device. I t r e c e i v e s d i q i t a l d a t a from a com-

p u t i n g s o u r c e , c o n v e r t s i t i n t o meaningful language t h a t i t s

p l o t t i n g d e v i c e w i l l understand, and p r o j e c t s a p l o t p i c t u r e

of mission t i m e h i s t o r y i n terms of launch v e h i c l e and space-

craft v e l o c i t y .

TIE Communications N e t w o r k c e n t e r i n g on t h e G o d d a r d Space

F l i 5 h t C e n t e r i n c l u d e s 48 f u l l - p e r i o d , l e a s e d teletype i i R e s

s e r v i n g 335 c o n t i n e n t a l and f o r e i g n s t a t i o n s i n the Minitrazk

26
and Deep Space Networks, other data acquisition and cormnand

stations for scientific satellites, and other agencies in the

scientific community engaged in the exploration of space,

These 43 circuits are terminated in a Western Union 1llB

switching center which is a system combining torn-tape relay,

message switching, and circuit switching capabilities, Cir-

cuit combining facilities permit the interconnection of any

station in the 'network in any combination for direct conference

or real-time data exchange as needed.

Three Twx, RCA, ACR Western Union commercial TELEX serv-

ices are available, These circuits are used to carry all types

of administrative and logistics information, satellitk tracking

data, satellite prediction and orbital data, and certain types

of telemetry data,

All equipment and circuits in the Operations R o o m are

arranged on a patch panel which permits complete flexibility

in interchanging or substitution of equipments and links. One

of the page printers is equipped with a keyboard for use in

keyboard-tu-keyboard coordination of data runs with remote

stations in the network. Each of the circuits may be directly

connected to any station in the network by leg-combining re-

peaters under s w i t c h cofitirol, 3;Jn off-lir?e 19/14 teletype s e t

is provided for special tape preparation,

In the Control Room, one circuit and two page printers

27
h ~ pxst-ided
e for coordinatioz 3r.d m c n i t c r r piirpnses, m y lines

in the network may be confereliced in and/or monitored upon

request. Outbound traffic from the control room is trans-

mitted to the communications room. Voice communications in

the control room are accomplished with standard telephone

equipments. Each of 12 operating positions have the capabil-

ity of utilizing an outside exchange line, local interposition

extensions, or a general conference loop. Selected positions

have the capability of point-to-point connection for immediate

contact to facilities such as the communications room. The

Operations Director, the Project Coordinator, and the Network

Controller have the capability of selecting any of the lines

in the room. Headset transceivers are generally used, leaving

the operator's hands free.

28
GODDARD COMMUNICP.TIONS CENTER FUNCTIONS

The Communications C e n t e r a t Goddard i s a s w i t c h i n g and

r e l a y center c a p a b l e of a c c e p t i n g messages from a l l s i t e s and

a u t o m a t i c a l l y r e l a y i n g them a s i n d i c a t e d i n Items 1 through 5

below,

1. From any s i t e t o the Manned Space F l i g h t C o n t r o l

Center and/or t h e Goddard Space F l i g h t C e n t e r

communications C e n t e r .

2. Any s i t e can b r o a d c a s t t o a l l s i t e s .

3. From r a d a r s i t e s t o t h e Goddard Space F l i g h t

C e n t e r Computers.

4. From t h e C o n t r o l Center, t h e Goddard Space F l i g h t

C e n t e r Communications Center and t h e Goddard Spare

F l i g h t C e n t e r Computers t o any s i t e ,

5, From t h e C o n t r o l C e n t e r , t h e Goddard Space F l i g h t

C e n t e r Communications C e n t e r t o a l l s i t e s simultane-

ously.

For teletype messages of t h e t y p e s i n d i c a t e d above, t h e

s w i t c h i n g o r d i r e c t i n g i s done a u t o m a t i c a l l y by having t h e

teletype equipment respond t o s p e c i f i c d i r e c t i n g codes i n t h e

29
incoming message address. ~ h u sa ~ ~ e s s s jEer c x t5e xanc 3 i t ~

d e s t i n e d f o r t h e C o n t r o l C e n t e r would have t h e d i r e c t i n g code

CC i n i t s message address and t h e a u t o m a t i c switching equipment

a t Goddard would d i r e c t t h e message upon i t s a r r i v a l t o one

of t h e C o n t r o l Center l i n e s . For Kano t o b r o a d c a s t t h e m e s -

s a g e t o a l l s i t e s , a d i r e c t i n g code f o r b r o a d c a s t messages

would be u s e d and t h e message would be a u t o m a t i c a l l y switched

and s e n t t o a l l sites. Should Kano wish t o send a message t o

c e r t a i n s e l e c t e d s i t e s , n o t on a b r o a d c a s t basis, the p r o p e r

codes would be s e n t i n the a d d r e s s and t h e message would be

manually r e l a y e d a t the Communications C e n t e r t o t h e s i t e s as

i n d i c a t e d i n the message, There a r e two v e r y good reasons f o r

a r r a n g i n g t h e network t o perform i n t h i s manner:

1, Goddard is able t o make a permanent r e c o r d of a l l

network t r a f f i c ?or p o s t - f l i g h t a n a l y s i s by r e t a i n i n g

punched t a p e records of a l l messages received.

2, I t i s much more economical as f a r as t o t a l c i r c u i t

m i l e a g e i s concerned t o connect a l l s i t e s t o one

message c e n t e r than t o i n t e r - c o n n e c t a l l sites.

An a d d i t i o n a l advantage i s t h a t Goddard i s able t o maintain

p r o p e r network d i s c i p l i n e and c o n t r o l s i n c e any message can

be monitored a t any t i m e and any d e v i a t i o n from e s t a b l i s h e d

p r a c t i c e s can be d e t e c t e d and c o r r e c t e d .
With respect to the switching of voice messages, a master

switchboard at Goddard called the SCAMA (Switdhing Conferenc-

in9 and Monitoring Arrangement) is used, This is a manually

operated device which is manned on a round-the-clock basis for

the purpose of connecting any two or almost any combination of

voice equipped sites together for the conveyance of information.

During mission periods, the SCAMA operator generally acts under

the control of .the Operations Director at the Control Center

in making the desired connections. The services available for

voice transmission are described in the Voice Network portion

of this publication.

VOICE COMMUNICATION NEXWORK

A world-wide tracking and ground communication network

would not be complete or fully efficient without an adequate

voice network. In the case of the Manned Space Flight Net-

work, all of t h e tracking s i t e s =re s?rp,"lhd with voice con-

nections to the switching center at Goddard Space Flight

Center.
The Switching Cocferencinp m A Monitoring Arrangement

(SCkMA) a t t h e Goddard Space F l i g h t C e n t e r is t h e s w i t c h i n g

center for t h e voice network. T h e t e l e p h o n e l i n e s connecting

t h e SCAMA w i t h each of t h e s t a t i o n s a r e l e a s e d f r o m domestic

U. S, and f o r e i g n common c a r r i e r s .

During m i s s i o n p e r i o d s t h e v o i c e c i r c u i t s a r e connected

t o g e t h e r i n a conference configuration w h i c h enables t h e f o l -

lowing f u n c t i o n s t o be performed:

1, The C o n t r o l Center can be s u p p l i e d r a p i d l y w i t h

real t i m e capsule s t a t u s information enabling

them t o d e a l q u i c k l y w i t h any unusual circum-

s t a n c e s w h i c h may occur,

2. V o i c e d i r e c t i v e s from t h e C o n t r o l C e n t e r can b e

given t o t h e command s i t e s i n c a s e r a p i d changes

i n capsule r e t r o f i r e s e t t i n g s a r e required f o r

e x p e d i t e d r e - e n t r y of t h e v e h i c l e .
3. A l l s i t e s having v o i c e c-abilities may be f u l l y

informed a t a l l t i m e s of mission s t a t u s by mon-

i t o r i n g t h e voice t r a f f i c on t h e conference hook-

UP *

4. The c o n v e r s a t i o x b e t w e e n t h e a s t r o n a u t and t h e

Capsule Communicator a t any voice-equippeJ s i t e

c a n b e monitored by all thc v o i c e s i t e s on t h e

network .
5. Where an a r e a of o v e r l a p occurs b e t w e e n s i t e s i n

r a d a r o r command t r a n s m i t t e r coverage, t h e v o i c e

c i r c u i t s may be used t o e s t a b l i s h t h e e x a c t t i m e

a t which one s i t e ceases t r a n s m i t t i n g and t h e

n e x t s i t e s t a r t s in o r d e r t o avoid any p o s s i b l e

c o n f l i c t w i t h r a d a r beacon responses o r confused

command s i g n a l s .

FACILITIES AKXl INSTRUMENTATION

The v o i c e communications c i r c u i t s u s e four-wire f a c i l i -

t i e s i n which s e p a r a t e t w o - w i r e c i r c u i t s a r e used f o r each

d i r e c t i o n of t r a n s m i s s i o n , This type of c i r c u i t is n e c e s s a r y

i n order t o be able t o maintain acceptable volume l e v e l s w i t h

minimum d i s t o r t i o n o v e r such an e x t e n s i v e network i n which


s e v z r a l r o u t e s extend half-way around t h e world, The u s e of

four-wire f a c i l i t i e s also s i m p l i f i e d the s w i t c h i n g problems

a t Goddard. A wide v a r i e t y of t r a n s m i s s i o n media a r e included

i n t h e network s u c h as: a e r i a l and underground cable, micro-

wave r e l a y , submarine c a b l e and o v e r s e a s r a d i o l i n k s .

OPERATIONAL USE OF VOICE CONFERENCE HOOKUP DURING MISSIONS

The conference hookup u s e d d u r i n g missions is arranged by

t h e SCAMA o p e r a t o r a t t h e r e q u e s t of t h e Operations D i r e c t o r

a t t h e Ccntrol. C e f i t e r , All the s i t e s having v o i c e c a p a b i l i -

t i e s a r e t h e n connected i n t o o n e loop. A t each s i t e , t h e

Goddard l i n e is connected to t h e F1&0 S u p e r v i s o r ' s and t o t h e


F l i g h t C o n t r o l l e r Consoles p o s i t i o n s . Although a l l v o i c e

33
s i t e s can monitor a l l communications on t h e v o i c e network, the

SCAMA o p e r a t o r c o n t r o l s t h e t a l k i n g access c a p a b i l i t i e s so

t h a t o n l y t h e s i t e designed b y t h e C o n t r o l C e n t e r can t a l k i n -

t o t h e loop, Usually, this t a l k c a p a b i l i t y i s given to B e r -

muda j u s t p r i o r t o and immediately a f t e r l i f t o f f and is t h e n

given, i n s u c c e s s i o n , t o t h e s i t e w h i c h h a s the c a p s u l e i n

view. Thus, t h e F l i g h t C o n t r o l l e r s a t t h e s i t e which is i n

c o n t a c t w i t h t h e c a p s u l e can t a l k d i r e c t l y t o t h e F l i g h t Con-

t r o l l e r s a t t h e C o n t r o l Center and, if t r a n s m i s s i o n c o n d i t i o n s

p e r m i t , t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n between t h e a s t r o n a u t and the Capsule

Communicator a t the capsule-in-view s i t e may be monitored b y

t h e whole v o i c e network.

The l o c a t i o n s of some r a d a r and command sites a r e such

t h a t an o v e r l a p a r e a exists f o r r a d a r and command t r a n s m i t t e r

coverage, I f t w o s i t e s send commands simultaneously, o r i f

r a d a r beacon i n t e r r o g a t i o n s a r e s e n t s i m u l t a n e o u s l y i n t h e s e

overlap a r e a s , t h e c a p s u l e i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n could be s e r i o u s l y

disrupted, Voice communications a r e used between any t w o such

s i t e s d u r i n g a mission t o avoid any p o s s i b l e c o n f l i c t i n bea-

con responses or command s i g n a l s . By t h i s means, t h e termi-

n a t i o n of c o m a n d and r a d a r beacon t r i g g e r i n g t r a n s m i s s i o n s

a+, o_?es i t e is timed to he m l y 2 few secr\nds hefare trz.!smis-

s i o n a t t h e next s i t e s t a r t s . To a r r a n g e f o r t h i s c a p a b i l i t y ,

t h e SCAMA operator connects t h e t w o s t a t i o n s t o g e t h e r a t t h e

p r o p e r t i m e b y means of cord c i r c u i t s on t h e switchboard.

34
REAL TIMI?, COMPUTING SYSTEM FOR MANNED SPACE FLXGHT

As p a r t of t h e Manned Space F l i g h t program, it was nec-

e s s a r y t o b u i l d a ground i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n system t o p r o v i d e a l l

t h e f u n c t i o n s f o r ground c o n t r o l and monitoring of t h e f l i g h t

from l i f t o f f t o landing. The h e a r t of t h i s t r a c k i n g network

i s a r e a l t i m e computing s y s t e m t o provide r e a l t i m e c o n t r o l

of t h e manned mission, This concept involves t h e r e a l t i m e

g a t h e r i n g of d a t a , processing t h a t information, and t r a n s m i t -

t i n g and d i s p l a y i n g t h e computed o u t p u t q u a n t i t i e s , , w i t h o u t

human i n t e r v e n t i o n ,

Two p r i n c i p a l types of p r e c i s i o n t r a c k i n g r a d a r s a r e be-

i n g used t o a u t o m a t i c a l l y t r a c k t h e c a p s u l e , t h e AN/FPS-16 C

Band and t h e VERLORT S Band r a d a r ,

One IBM 7090 and one 7094 Computer, o p e r a t i n g i n p a r a l l e l ,

h a v e been L n s t a l l e d a t Goddard Space F l i g h t Center t o d r i v e

d i g i t a l d i s p l a y s and p l o t boards a t t h e C o n t r o l C e n t e r which

s u p p l y t h e necessary information t o c o n t r o l t h e mission. The

c o n t r o l l i n k between d a t a sources and d a t a p r o c e s s i n g i n t h e

o v e r a l l p r o j e c t computation is t h e IBM Data Communicztions

Channel (DCC) a r o u t i n g d e v i c e which makes r e a l time opera-

35
t i o n possible. T h e computers l o c a t e d a t t h e Goddard Computing

C e n t e r a r e each connected by 2 PCC t o r a d a r sites and s o u r c e s

comprising the r e a l t i m e t r a c k i n g and i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n system,

During a m i s s i o n a l l information t r a n s m i t t e d to t h e computers

i s a u t o m a t i c a l l y s t a c k e d up i n computer core s t o r a g e by t h e

DCC as it is received. A l l o u t p u t s are t r a n s m i t t e d back

through t h e DCC t o t h e r e q u i r e d d e s t i n a t i o n s , The DCC t h u s

pennits t h e computer t o t r a r - s m i t and r e c e i v e d a t a automati-

c a l l y w h i l e simultaneously proceeding w i t h t h e r e a l t i m e c o m -

puting,

A manned space f l i g h t mission is u s u a l l y considered i n

terns of v a r i o u s s t a g e s which a r e d e f i n e d a s follows:

1. Prelaunch - extends f o r a p e r i o d of t e n days

p r i o r t o a mission to l i f t o f f during which

t i m e tests, equipment checks and s i m u l a t i o n s

are performed t o a s s u r e t h e t r a c k i n g and com-

p u t i n g system are a t t h e a c c e p t a b l e l e v e l of

r e a d i n e s s f c r t h e mission.

2, Launch - extends f r o m l i f t o f f u n t i l t h e f l i g h t

p a s s e s i n t o e i t h e r abort o r o r b i t mode, The

computer recommends a G O o r K-C-GO a f t e r s u s -

t a i n e r engine c u t o f f w h i c h iiidzh t h e eric? ~f

t h e launch phase.

3. Abort - an e a r l y t e r m i n a t i o n of t h e launch phase


which extends t o t h e time of escape tower f i r i n g

or retrofire,

4, Orbit - b e g i n s when a GO decision is :made'and t h e

o r b i t phase is s e l e c t e d by Control Center person-

nel, It extends t o r e t r o f i r e .

5, Re-entrv - extends from r e t r o f i r e t o capsule


landing,

The radar d a t a is trandmitted from t h e radar sites t o

Goddard v i a t e l e t y p e (TTY) l i n e s which a r e cable, hard w i r e ,

radio links, o r microwave links. The communication equip-

ment routes t h e d a t a TTY messages d i r e c t l y t o t h e Data Com-

munication Channel and d i r e c t l y t o t h e block i n memory of

t h e computer where it is t o be stored awaiting processing.

This is performed automatically without human intervention.

MONITOR SYSTEM

The c o n t r o l system which d i r e c t s t h e sequence of computer

operations i n r e a l t i m e i s t h e monitor, V e r y simply s t a t e d ,

t h e Monitor Control Program c o n t r o l s and coordinates t h e ac-

ceptance of input d a t a which a r r i v e s on an asynchronous sched-

u l e , performs t h e proper computation on t h e input information


and providds t h e required output q u a n t i t i e s a t t h e s p e c i f i e d

kime i n t e r v a l s .

SIMULATION

For exercise and p r a c t i c e purposes, missions may be s i m -

37
ulated, A l l n e c e s s a q data a r e stored on magnetic tape and

may be played from Canaveral i n r e a l t i m e t o ,the Goddard com-

puters which simulate t h e powered f l i g h t phase of t h e mission.

Recorded radar d a t a on punched paper tape f o r each radar s i t e


I -
is played i n t o t h e Goddard computer on scenario over t h e tele-

type l i n e s f o r a p a r t i c u l a r simulated mission, A l l displays

a t t h e Control Center a r e activated during simulation and a l l '

acquisition d a t a a r e sent t o t h e sites. This permits f u l l

network p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n simulated d r i l l s p r i o r t o a mission

and preparation f o r f u t u r e missions,

SMITHSOmAN ASTROPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY TRACKING STATIONS

As a f u r t h e r method of obtaining t h e position of an e a r t h

s a t e l l i t e , t h e Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory operates,

under a grant from NASA, 12 o p t i c a l tracking s t a t i o n s , The

12 Baker-Nunn photographic tracking s t a t i o n s a r e located i n

Arcjentiza; ,9astr=rli;r; Curacao, Netherlands W e s t I n d i e s ; Flor-

i d a ; Hawaii: I n d i a ; I r a n ; Japan: New Mexico; Peru; South Africa;

and Spain. Each s t a t i o n has a standard complement of six ob-


servers. The network is supported by a technical and admin-

i s t r a t i v e s t a f f i n Cambridge, Massachusetts,

Each s t a t i o n i s equipped with a Baker-Nunn camera s p e c i a l l y

designed for t h e photographic tracking of a r t i f i c i a l earth sat-

I - ellites, The instrument i s a three-axis Super-Schmidt f / l

l - camera, with a f o c a l length of 50 an, and a f i e l d of view

So x 30°. The camera can track along any g r e a t c i r c l e a t a

c o n t r o l l a b l e r a t e and can photograph s a t e l l i t e s t o t h e t h i r -

teenth magnitude. The f o c a l f i e l d i s spherical: a 56-mm film

s t r e t c h e d on a f o c a l spherical surface serves f o r t h e emulsion

support. A t t h e s c a l e of 406 seconds of arc per mm of f i l m ,

t h e camera i s capable of providing d i r e c t i o n s with an accuracy

of 2 seconds of arc.

Using t h e predictions t h a t t h e Cambridge s t a f f s p e c i a l l y

determines and cables t o each s t a t i o n , t h e observers set t h e

camera so t h a t i t w i l l follow t h e s a t e l l i t e a t t h e c o r r e c t

velocity. This i s necessary because many of t h e s a t e l l i t e s

a r e extremely f a i n t and cannot be photographed with a fixed

camera,

T o date, no s a t e l l i t e o r b i t i n g t h e e a r t h has exceeded

t h e range c a p a b i l i t y of the Baker-Nunn camera, Vanguard I ,

t h e six-inch " g r a p e f r u i t " s a t e l l i t e , was photographed at dis-

tances up t o 3000 miles.

A t present, t h e Baker-Nunn cameras s a t i s f a c t o r i l y photo-

' 39
graph more t h a n 2000 s a t e l l i t e passages each month, an o u t p u t

t h a t i s t h e r e s u l t of c o n s t a n t improvement i n s t a t i o n e f f i -

ciency. On t h e average, of each 100 passages p r e d i c t e d , about

35 are observed, 40 a r e l o s t because of weather, and t h e re-

mainder are n o t observed f o r miscellaneous t e c h n i c a l reasons.

By p r o j e c t i n g t h e f i l m on s t a r c h a r t s , t h e o b s e r v e r makes

a f i e l d measurement from each photographed arc, and p r o m p t l y '

cables t h e r e s u l t t o Cambridge. These field-reduced p o s i t i o n s

are a c c u r a t e t o w i t h i n about two minutes of a r c and one-tenth

second of t i m e ; t h i s is s u f f i c i e n t f o r g e n e r a t i n g r o u t i n e pre-

d i c t i o n s and f o r s o m e s c i e n t i f i c work. The f i l m s are t h e n

a i r m a i l e d t o t h e Photoreduction D i v i s i o n i n Cambridge.

Even though it exceeds t h e l e v e l f o r which t h e network

w a s o r i g i n a l l y conceived, t h e p r e s e n t o u t p u t of t h e Baker-

Nunn s t a t i o n s r e f l e c t s t h e o b s e r v a t i o n a l requirements of t h e

s a t e l l i t e t r a c k i n g program, r a t h e r t h a n t h e a c t u a l c a p a c i t y

of t h e s t a t i o n s . W i t h changes i n o r g a n i z a t i o n and technique,

it should be p o s s i b l e t o record a t o t a l of approximately 4000

s a t e l l i t e t r a n s i t s each month--more than a r e n e c e s s a r y t o keep

continuous watch on a l l s a t e l l i t e s t h a t a r e now o b s e r v a b l e by

o p t i c a l means o n l y . The system i s capable of c o n t r i b u t i n g t o

o t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o i l s , s-a& 5 s L*--l.r' --
L l L I l W A4r r r y - +c
i3 - *u
*Au; - n
~c,
bu - -- -re
mnnnmyai-i
-vvy--

radio-optical o b - e r v a t i o n s of f l a r e s t a r s , continuous watch

on comets, rocket-launch photography, and a s t e : oid counts.

40
,

An attempt has been made to photograph the Lagrangian clouds

reported by K. Kordylewski.

The present 12 stations offer an excellent tool f o r geo-

detic work, although their importance in this area would be

enhanced if observations were available from a few more sta-

tions in order to provide better geographical distribution,

particularly in higher latitudes. For three-dimensional geo-0

detic triangulation, special mechanical and electronic equip-

ment has been installed to permit simultaneous observations

from t w o or more stations.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Manned Space Fliqht

The first NASA manned space program, Project Mercury, was

organized on October 7, 1958, to:

a. Place a manned space capsule in orbital flight

around the earth:

b, Investigate m a n ' s reactions to and c a p a b i l i t i z s

in this environment; and

c. Recover t h e capsule and pilot safely,

41
For Project Mercury, Goddard d e s i g n e d and o p e r a t e d a g l o -

b a l r i n g of s t a t i o n s which p r o v i d e d v i t a l t r a c k i n g , t e l e m e t r y ,

and ground v o i c e communication on a " r e a l - t i m e " b a s i s . T h e fo-

c a l p o i n t of t h i s i n t e g r a t e d communications system w a s Goddard's

Space C o n t r o l C e n t e r , It d e t e m i n e d and p r e d i c t e d s a t e l l i t e

o r b i t s , reduced s c i e n t i f i c and bio-medical d a t a , and commanded

a v o i c e network ( S C A M A ) which l i n k e d t e n s t a t i o n s i n the Mann'ed

Space F l i g h t Network. Dual u l t r a - h i g h speed 7090 IBM computer%

each with a " r e a l - t i m e " channel, made c o n s t a n t f l i g h t c o n t i n -

gency r e c o m e n d a t i o n s , computed the p r e - d i r e c t e d f l i g h t p a t h

and impact p o i n t s of t h e c a p s u l e , and the v e l o c i t y vectors on

a near-instantaneous, continuous basis d u r i n g these m i s s i o n s ,

During t h e s s f l i g h t s , i n f o r m a t i o n flowed i n t o the Goddard

Space Computing C e n t e r from t r a c k i n g and ground i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n

p o i n t s around t h e globe a t t h e rate, i n some cases, of m o r e

t h a n 1,000 b i t s p e r second. Upon almost i n s t a n t a n e o u s analy-

sis, t h e i n f o r m a t i o n w a s r e l a y e d t o Mercury C o n t r o l a t Cape

Canaveral.

The Mercury Network, b e c a u s e of the man f a c t o r , demanded

m o r e than any o t h e r t r a c k i n g system, Mercury m i s s i o n s r e q u i r e d

i n s t a n t a n e o u s communication. Tracking and telemetered d a t a had

t o be c o l l e c t e d , processed, and a c t e d upon i n as neax " r e a l -

t i m e " as p o s s i b l e . The p o s i t i o n of t h e v e h i c l e had t o be known

c o n t i n u o u s l y from the moment of l i f t o f f ,

42
A f t e r i n j e c t i o n o f t h e Mercury s p a c e c r a f t i n t o o r b i t , or-

b i t a l elements w e r e computed and p r e d i c t i o n of;,"look" informa-

t i o n p a s s e d t o t h e n e x t t r a c k i n g s i t e so t h e s t a t i o n c o u l d ac-

quire t h e s p a c e c r a f t ,

During l a t e 1961, an i n d u s t r i a l team headed b y t h e Western

Electric Company t u r n e d o v e r this $60 m i l l i o n global network

t o t h e N a t i o n a l A e r o n a u t i c s and Space A d m i n i s t r a t i o n .

Other team m e m b e r s w e r e B e l l Telephone Laboratories, Inc.;

t h e Bendix C o r p o r a t i o n ; Burns and R o e , Inc,; and I n t e r n a t i o n a l

B u s i n e s s Machines C o r p o r a t i o n . At t h e same t i m e , t h e Lincoln

Laboratories o f t h e Massachusetts I n s t i t u t e of Technology a l -

so a d v i s e d and a s s i s t e d on s p e c i a l t e c h n i c a l problems r e l a t e d

t o t h e network.

The c o n c l u d i n g c o n t r a c t i n v o l v e d e x t e n s i v e n e g o t i a t i o n s
I
w i t h Federal a g e n c i e s , p r i v a t e i n d u s t r y , and r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

of many f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s i n t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of t r a c k i n g

and ground i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n .

' 43
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Minitrack N e t

H i s t o r i c a l l y , t h e f i r s t functional network t o be con-

s t r u c t e d f o r s a t e l l i t e tracking w a s t h e "Minitrack" network.

This network grew d i r e c t l y o u t of arrangements o r i g i n a l l y

made by t h e United S t a t e s with agencies abroad as p a r t of

t h e program f o r t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Geophysical Year, Among

t h e overseas s t a t i o n s t i e d i n with t h e s a t e l l i t e tracking

network w e r e Antigua, B r i t i s h W e s t Indies: Quito, Ecuador;

Lima, P e r u ; Antofagasta and Santiago, Chile; Woomera, A u s -

t r a l i a : and E s s e l e n Park, Republic of South Africa, These

countries, i n a program o r i g i n a l l y established i n 1957 by

t h e U, S, Naval Research Laboratory i n cooperation w i t h

o t h e r agencies h e r e and abroad, a l l helped t o c r e a t e t h e

"Minitrack" telemetry sys tern

The b a s i c r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s of t h e Minitrack Network

included: Tracking, O r b i t Computation, Data Acquisition

(Environmental and S c i e n t i f i c Telemetry) # and Data R e -

duct i o n -
The Minitrack Net, has been used t o t r a c k a l l NASA

s a t e l l i t e s containing a s u i t a b l e beacon s i n c e t h e program

41+
began i n 1957 and 1958.

A l a r g e percentage of the o r i g i n a l s t a t i o n s w e r e located

along t h e 75th meridian t o i n t e r c e p t s a t e l l i t e o r b i t s with

i n c l i n a t i o n s of less than 4S0, New S t a t i o n s have been located

i n higher l a t i t u d e s t o cope with higher o r b i t a l i n c l i n a t i o n s .

Furthermore, it is planned t o supplement t e n of t h e s t a t i o n s

w i t h a d d i t i o n a l antennas aligned s p e c i f i c a l l y f o r p o l a r o r b i t ,

Since t h e establishment of t h e network, c e r t a i n improve-

m e n t s have been made t o t h e o r i g i n a l s t a t i o n equipment t o pro-

v i d e tracking c a p a b i l i t y by o p t i c a l and Doppler means, h%ile

t h e o r i g i n a l t r a c k i n g equipment operated on o r near 1 C 8 MC

( t h e frequency assigned for IGY a c t i v i t i e s ) 8 additional equip-

m e n t has been provided t u n e a b l e over t h e 136-137 MC reg on.

Although b a s i c a l l y t h e same, it incorporates c e r t a i n f e a t u r e s

which f u r t h e r increase i t s c a p a b i l i t y ,

45
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

D e e p Space I n s t r u m e n t a t i o n Network

The J e t P r o p u l s i o n Laboratory l o c a t e d i n t h e f o o t h i l l s

of t h e S i e r r a Madre mountains i n Pasadena, C a l i f o r n i a , w a s

a s s i g n e d , w h i l e under c o n t r a c t t o t h e U, S , Army i n 1958,

t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of l a u n c h i n g a series of s p a c e c r a f t t o

e x p l o r e t h e moon environment, For t h i s purpose a l a r g e 85-

f o o t p a r a b o l i c antenna was permanently i n s t a l l e d a t Gold-

s t o n e , C a l i f o r n i a , i n a n a t u r a l b o w l i n t h e mountains a b o u t

150 m i l e s n o r t h e a s t of Pasadena, and a m o b i l e s t a t i o n was

c o n s t r u c t e d and used i n w e s t e r n P u e r t o R i c o , These s t a t i o n s

s u c c e s s f u l l y accomplished t h e i r obj e c t i v e of t r a c k i n g s p a c e

p r o b s s P i o n e e r s 111 and I V , T h e equipmer.t used in t'rie s t a -

t i o n s was based c n t h e use of phase locked r e c e i v e r s w h i c h

had been dzvelcped a t ZPL in 1355 for t h e Microlock Eysten.

S h o r t l y a f t e r t h e s e f l i g h t s , t h e Jet Propulsion Labcra-

t o r y , o p e r a t e d by t h e C a l i f o r n i a I n s t i t u t e of TeChnOlOgy, was

trai:sfe>;xr:y. 2:i~ 3 - r i s A i c t i a r i of the R a t i o n a l Aerorautics

and Space A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ( S A S A ) . Under NASA, ZPL has been

g i v e n t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of unmanned e x p l o r a t i o n of deep

s p a c e a t l u n a r d i s t a n c e s and beyond, T o accomplish t h i s

46
I '
o b j e c t i v e , J P L has planned and implemented a series of l u n a r

e x p l o r a t i o n programs under t h e names of Ranger, Surveyor and

Prospector, and a s e r i e s of planet?.ry programs under t h e

names of Mariner and Voyager.

I n order t o c o n t i n u o u s l y t r a c k , r e c e i v e t e l e m e t r y d a t a

and command these spacecraft, arrangements were made i n 1959

t o c o n s t r u c t t r a c k i n g s t a t i o n s in A u s t r a l i a and i n South Af-

r i c a t o supplement t h e o n e i n Goldstone, C a l i f o r n i a . 85-foot

a n t e n n a s s i m i l a r t o t h e one a t G o l d s t o n e w e r e i n s t a l l e d a t

thesz stations,

I n 15.60, JPL and t h e B e l l Telephone L a b o r a t c r i L s :,-zr-Lic-

i p a t e d i n t h e P r o j e c t Echo s p a c e communication experiment.

For t h i s purpose, a second 85-foct antenna was i n s t a l l e d a t

t h e Goldstone s t a t i o n t o t r a n s m i t and r e c e i v e communications

s i g n a l s b y means of t h e Echo balloon t o t h e B e l l Telephone

Laboratories s t a t i o n i n New J e r s e y . S i n c e t h e n , t h i s antenna

has beer, moved t o a new s i t e , a l s o a t Goldstone, and a second

a n t e n n a f o r o p e r a t i o n a l u s e w i t h deep space s p a c e c r a f t h a s

been i n s t a l l e d i n i t s place. P l a n s a r e p r e s e n t l y underway

f o r supplementary 85-foot a n t e n n a s i n t w o new t r a c k i n g s t a -

t i o n s n e a r t h e same l o n g i t u d e s as t h e South A f r i c a and Aus-

+_rl-lFs S+_..tions ~

The equipment and t h e t y p e of a n t e n n a s used i n t h e Deep

Space I n s t r u m e n t a t i o n F a c i l i t y w e r e p a r t i c u l a r l y d e s i g n e d

47
f o r communication w i t h deep s p a c e probes. O p e r a t i o n s i n deep

s p a c e r e q u i r e d p r e c i s i o n a n g u l a r measurements,, v e r y low s y s -

tem n o i s e , v e r y e f f i c i e n t t e l e m e t r y systems and extremely sen-

s i t i v e receivers. The DSIF w a s p a r t i c u l a r l y w e l l adapted f o r

continuous h i g h r e l i a b i l i t y communications w i t h s p a c e c r a f t a t

d i s t a n c e s of approximately 10,000 m i l e s above t h e e a r t h and

bzyond. Although t h e DSIF was d e s i g n e d f o r use w i t h deep

s p a c e probes, it h a s been used o c c a s i o n a l l y f o r communications

w i t h n e a r e a r t h s a t e l l i t e s and sounding r o c k e t s .

MAJOR SPACE SCXENCE EXPERIMENTS

PAYLOAD LAUNCH SIGNIFICANCE

Astronomy

Aerobee 25 Nov. 1 7 , 1955 Detected u l t r a v i o l e t s i g n a l s


from star other than t h e sun.

Aerobee 31 Mar. 28, 1 9 5 7 Discovered n e b u l o s i t i e s : mea-


sured deficiency in s t e l l a r
u l t r a v i o l e t emis sions.

A e r ~ h e pA 2 1 1 NOV, 22, 1961 Provided u l t r a v i o l e t s p e c t r a


of 15 p r e s e l e c t e d s t a r s .

Exp 1o r e r 11 Apr. 27, 1961 Made f i r s t gamma r a y s p e c t r a l


measurements.
Cosmic Dust

Explorers 1, Counted mikrometeoroid i m -


38 8, and 13 p a c t s an6 measured v e l o c i t i e s
a t impact .'

Vanguard 3

Ionosphere

Explorer 8 NOVe 3 , 1960 F i r s t d i r e c t e v i d e n c e of h e l i -


um band around t h e e a r t h :
f i r s t s a t e l l i t e t o measure
e l e c t r o n temperature: deter-
mined t h a t i o n o s p h e r i c elec-
t r o n t e m p e r a t u r e v a r i e s by
t i m e of day.

Ariel Apr, 26, 1962 Found e l e c t r o n t e m p e r a t u r e s t o


be G r e a t e r a t t h e h i g h e r l a t i -
tudes

P-21 probe act, 19, 1961 V e r i f i e d e x i s t e n c e of h e l i u m


ions.

P-21A probe >lar, 298 1962 Same a s P-21,

Scout TV-2 Octo 4, 1960 Same a s P-21,

Enerqetic Particles

Explorer 1 J a n , 31, 1958 Discovered Van A l l e n Radia-


tion B e l t .

Explorer 3 Mar. 2 5 , 1958 V e r i f i e d Van A l l e n B e l t ex-


i s t ence ,

Explorer 4 J u l , 26, 1958 Pound t h a t i n n e r b e l t zone


c o n s i s t s mainly of p e n e t r a t -
i n g (high-energy) p r o t o n s .
Explorer 6 Aug. 7 , 1959 Detected e l e c t r i c a l r i n g
current c i r c l i n g outer belt
zone ,
PAYLOAD SIGNIFICANCE

Enersetic Particles (cont.

Explorer 7 Oct. 13, 1959 Xonitored major s o l a r storm


simultaneously with Pioneer
5 probe (see b e l o w ) ; d e t e c t e d
low-energy e l e c t r o n s i n o u t e r
zone .
Explorer 1 2 Aug. 15, 1961 Upset E x p l o r e r 7 d a t a by
f i n d i n g t h a t t h e o u t e r zone'
c o n s i s t s mainly o f low-energy
protons .
Injun Jun. 29, 1961 Discovered and monitored h i g h
intensity radiation belt
formed by J u l y 9, 1962, U . S .
nuclear test detonation.

Pioneer 1 Oct. 11, 1358 Found t h a t t h e o u t e r Ven Allen


B e l t l i m i t varies w i t h solar
wind .
Pioneer 3 Dec. 6, 1958 Discovered what was thought t o
be a second d i s t i n c t r a d i a t i o n
zone.

Pioneer 4 Mar. 3 , 1959 Confirmed Pioneer 3 and Explor-


er 7 data.

Pioneer 5 Mar. 11, 1960 R e g i s t e r e d Forbush decrease


( d e c r e a s e i n cosmic r a y i n t e n -
s i t y ) a f t e r s o l a r f l a r e : mea-
s u r e d r i n g c u r r e n t s foucd by
Explorer 6 ; measured magnetic
f i e l d and p e n e t r a t i n g p r o t o n s
i n deep space.

Magnetic F i e l d s

Pioneer 3 Oct. 11, 1958 Found d i s t u r b e d transition be-


tween e a r t h ' s magnetic . f i e l d
* and i n t e r p l a n e t a r y s p a c e a t
53,000-mile a l t i t u d e .
. PAYLOAD LAUNCH SIGNIFICANCE

Maqnetic Fields (cont.)

Explorer 10 Mar, 25, 1961 Discovered draping e f f e c t of


the e a r t h ' s magnetic f i e l d on
t h e dark s i d e ; crossed magne-
tosphere a t 86,000-mile a l t i -
tude

Explorer 12 AUg, 158 1961 Found t h a t magnetic f i e l d on


t h e s u n l i t s i d e "breathes, 'I
averaging an a l t i t u d e of
40,000 m i l e s .

PAYLOAD LAUNCH SIGNIFICANCE

C o s m i c Radiation

Nerv Detemined t h a t nuclei ratios


d i f f e r i n rays from t h e sun
and rays from s t a r s o u t s i d e
t h e galaxy,

Solar Radiation

Orbiting Solar Mar. 78 1962 Conf inned rocket d a t a t h a t


Observatory s o l a r r a d i a t i o n is emitted
from b r i g h t spots on t h e
sun, which c o n s t i t u t e o n l y
3% of t h e solar surface,

51
ROSMAN DATA ACQUISITION FACILITY

The 85' antenna shown here weighs 300 tons and stands 12
stories high (120') . It will be capable of receiving sat-
ellite signals from 3 different frequencies simultaneously.
When coupled to the electronic data system, the antenna will
lock onto the satellite s i g n a l and follow it across the sky
automatically.
52
TRACKING SELP ROSE KNOT

This ship functions as a mobile telemetry station in support


of manned spaceflight missions. It has both reception and
"command" capabilities.

53
BAKER-"M CAMERA

O p e r a t i o n of t h e camera a t t h e s t a t i o n i n S h i r a z , I r a n , is
e x p l a i n e d t o the Shah of I r a n and p a r t y , 4/26/59. Baker-Nunn
cameras a r e o p e r a t e d by t h e Smithsonian A s t r o p h y s i c a l Observ-
a t o r y under NASA g r a n t t o o p t i c a l l y t r a c k and photograph space-
craft.
54
MINITRACK

External view of the Blossom Point, Maryland, Tracking Station


showing from the left: an experimental 16 element Yagi antenna:
Minitrack antennas (next to the building); and the Operations
Building.

55
MERCURY TRACKING STATION, GUAYMAS, MEXICO

Quad-helix telemetry antenna and mobile power supply.


MINITRACK STATION, QUITO, ECUADOR

57
MINITRACK, WINKFIELD, ENGLAND

Calibration Camera
e

MERCURY TRACKING ,STATION, WALLOPS ISLANI), VIRGINIA

Telemetry receiving equipment.

59
MERCURY TRACKING STATION, KANO, NIGERIA

- Nigerian tribesman playing n a t i v e Hausa F l u t e . Many Nigerian


n a t i o n a l s are.employed a t t h e Kano tracking s t a t i o n .

60
DEEP SPACE INSTRUMENTATION F A C I L I T Y ( D S I F )
'ECW-P-q, ALTSTR_AT,IA

DSIF'S a r e u s e d p r i m a r i l y for t r a c k i n g and d a t a a c q u i s i t i o n


i n s u p p o r t of t h e NASA l u n a r and p l a n e t a r y programs.

61
I '
,

DEEP SPACE INSTRUMENTATION FACILITY ( D S I F )


GOLDSTONE I CALIFORNIA

D S I F ' S are used primarily for tracking and data a c q u i s i t i o n


i n support of the NASA lunar and planetary programs.

62

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