Review of the Space Communications Program of NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate

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• Publisher: National Academies Press
• Year: 2007
• eBook ISBN: 9780309180801
• Edition: 0
• Topic: Physical Sciences

The Space Communications Office (SCO) at NASA has two primary roles. The first is to manage two of the communications networks that enable spaceflight operations and research, and the second is to integrate agency-wide telecommunications issues. In 2005, NASA asked the NRC to review the effectiveness of the SCO in carrying out its responsibilities by assessing the overall quality of the space communications program. This report presents a review of each of the program elements within the SCO"e;the space network, NASAs integrated space network (NISN), spectrum management, standards management, search and rescue, communications and navigation architecture, technology, and operations integration. The review focuses on formulation of plans for each element, plan development methodology, connections with the broader community, and overall capabilities. Recommendations for improving SCO operations and organization are provided.

Table of contents

• COVER PAGE
• THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
• COMMITTEE TO REVIEW NASA’S SPACE COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM
• AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ENGINEERING BOARD
• Acknowledgment of Reviewers
• Contents
• Executive Summary
• 1 Introduction
• Assessment of Operational Networks
• Assessment of Other Program Elements
• General Issues
• Appendixes
• A Statement of Task
• B Committee Member Biographies
• C Acronyms