Accession Number:

ADA106062

Title:

Assessment of Autonomous Options for the DSCS III Satellite System. Volume I. Overview and Findings.

Descriptive Note:

Interim rept. 1 Nov 80-6 Aug 81,

Corporate Author:

JET PROPULSION LAB PASADENA CA

Personal Author(s):

• Pivirotto,Donna L. S.

Report Date:

1981-08-06

Pagination or Media Count:

64.0

Abstract:

This volume presents an overview of an assessment of the ability of the next generation Defense System Communications Satellite DSCS III to be made autonomous, i.e., to operate successfully without ground intervention for up to six months. The assessment concludes that while the current DSCS III design incorporates some autonomy, extensive revisions, particularly in the health and welfare maintenance areas and in stationkeeping, would be required to achieve autonomous operations for six months. Options for providing a six-month autonomous operations capability are outlined. These require primarily the addition of some on-based computing capability and autonomous stationkeeping sensors. Mass and power impacts of the additions would be relatively modest, but on-board computing and control complexity would increase substantially. Author

Descriptors:

• *SELF OPERATION
• *COMMUNICATION SATELLITES
• *SPACE NAVIGATION
• POWER LEVELS
• ATTITUDE CONTROL SYSTEMS
• COMPUTERS
• PROTOTYPES
• RADIO LINKS
• AUTONOMOUS NAVIGATION
• REDUNDANCY
• ONBOARD
• MILITARY SATELLITES
• ERROR CORRECTION CODES
• FAULT TOLERANT COMPUTING
• STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
• SUPERHIGH FREQUENCY
• RADIO ANTIJAMMING
• STATIONKEEPING

Subject Categories:

• Space Navigation and Guidance
• Unmanned Spacecraft

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE