Search Add a publication

ID No : 720   Edit
Title: Lunar Relay Satellite Network for Space Exploration: Architecture, Technologies and Challenges
Summary / Review : "NASA is planning a series of short and long duration human and robotic missions to explore the Moon and then Mars. A key objective of these missions is to grow, through a series of launches, a system of systems infrastructure with the capability for safe and sustainable autonomous operations at minimum cost while maximizing the exploration capabilities and science return. An incremental implementation process will enable a buildup of the communication, navigation, networking, computing, and informatics architectures to support human exploration missions in the vicinities and on the surfaces of the Moon and Mars. These architectures will support all space and surface nodes, including other orbiters, lander vehicles, humans in spacesuits, robots, rovers, human habitats, and pressurized vehicles. This paper describes the integration of an innovative MAC and networking technology with an equally innovative position-dependent, data routing, network technology. The MAC technology provides the relay spacecraft with the capability to autonomously discover neighbor spacecraft and surface nodes, establish variable-rate links and communicate simultaneously with multiple in-space and surface clients at varying and rapidly changing distances while making optimum use of the available power. The networking technology uses attitude sensors, a time synchronization protocol and occasional orbit-corrections to maintain awareness of its instantaneous position and attitude in space as well as the orbital or surface location of its communication clients. A position-dependent data routing capability is used in the communication relay satellites to handle the movement of data among any of multiple clients (including Earth) that may be simultaneously in view; and if not in view, the relay will temporarily store the data from a client source and download it when the destination client comes into view. The integration of the MAC and data routing networking technologies would enable a relay satellite system to provide end-to-end communication services for robotic and human missions in the vicinity, or on the surface of the Moon with a minimum of Earth-based operational support." (Author's abstract)
Author(s) : Bhasin, Kul B.; Hackenberg, Anthony W.; Slywczak, Richard A.; Bose, Prasanta; Bergamo, Marcos; Hayden, Jeffrey L., [Glenn Research Center]
Publication Date: 2006
Category(s) : Bases, industry and manufacturing / Infrastructure and logistics / Communications
Web URL : http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20110000643
If this link is broken, please Add Comment below.
We try to keep author contact details, and a backup copy in our offline library.
PERMANENT code(s) : L,U
(Explanation of the
last 3 rows above)
In the row above, there are up to 4 possibilities:
U = URL you can click on to get a copy instantly from another source on the internet, or request it from that source
D = Downloadable from PERMANENT (such as because no other URL known...)
L = LAN copy, PERMANENT has a digital copy but not downloadable from our website
P = Paper copy in the PERMANENT office
Typically, only 0 to 3 methods are available.
NTRS : 20110000643
Other Ref # : AIAA Paper 2006-5363, E-15729
Submitted by : MEP
Comments: Please add your thoughtful Comments to this paper after reading it.
All comments are reviewed and approved before being posted publicly below.
If you wish to submit a private comment to the curator, instead of a public comment, just write "Private" at the start of your comment.
Corrections and suggested additions to our records are appreciated.
  Add Comment 
Add Comment     Green is public,     Pink is private.
Screen Name: Either real name or anonymous alias are OK.
Real Name and
optional info:

Please provide at least your real name, and optionally additional information.
Email Address: We keep your email address private.
Date - Time Sorry, just click on the field, then on the popup calendar click "Now" then "Done".
Your Comment: (if private to curator, then just start with "Private:" or something like that.)