Abstract
In this case study, we discuss the creation and evolution of the Deep Space Network (DSN). The DSN is NASA’s network of antennas and systems used to communicate with our interplanetary probes. The system was created in 1963, initially to support lunar robotic, and later the human missions to the Moon under the Apollo program. Since then, dozens of missions to interplanetary destinations such as Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto, among others, have used the DSN to send commands to the spacecraft and return science data and telemetry back to Earth. The technological evolution of the DSN over six decades is impressive with over 13 orders of magnitude improvement in data rate for downlinks from a Jupiter-equivalent distance. These improvements are due to a combination of larger antennas, higher frequencies, low noise receivers, and sophisticated coding techniques. We conclude by looking at the future of the DSN which may include optical laser communications over distances of hundreds of millions of kilometers.
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Notes
- 1.
Note: A significant portion of this chapter is based on the 2009 PhD thesis by Jennifer Manuse titled “The Strategic Evolution of Systems: Principles and Framework with Applications to Space Communication Networks.” The thesis contains a detailed case study of the DSN in its Chap. 2.
- 2.
The DSN predates this definition by quite a long time. Since the DSN was initially tasked with the US’ first lunar probes at a distance of about 385,000 [km], JPL always intended the Moon to be “deep space.” In fact, JPL’s definition of “deep space” includes anything beyond GEO. Indeed, a large percentage of the spacecraft served by the DSN are within two million [km] – including lunar missions and spacecraft orbiting at various Earth/Moon and Earth/Sun Lagrange points. The ITU needed a working definition of deep space in order to prevent spacecraft traveling “close” to the Earth from interfering with signals coming from further away. This led to the somewhat arbitrary two million km definition. The different interpretations of where “deep space” begins have caused some confusion and misunderstandings in practice.
- 3.
- 4.
Telex was a messaging system more advanced than the telegraph system but predating the internet.
- 5.
For an overview of the radio spectrum, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_frequency
- 6.
According to Les Deutsch, IND’s Deputy Director, whenever JPL makes a list of its core capabilities, deep space communications are always there at the top level.
- 7.
DSN Updated Performance Chart https://descanso.jpl.nasa.gov/performmetrics/profileDSCC.html
- 8.
In the author’s experience, 20 years is a time horizon often used for long-term technology planning and roadmapping. Organizationally driven short-term plans often only extend over 3–5 years. However, technological planning needs to take a longer 10- to 20-year time horizon. This is different from long-term “technology forecasting” which is done over multiple decades by so-called futurologists, often not on the basis of quantitative analysis and solid facts, but mainly based on intuition and “guesswork.”
- 9.
The Jupiter distance downlink data rate of the DSN went from 10−6 to 107 [bps]
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de Weck, O.L. (2022). Case 3: The Deep Space Network. In: Technology Roadmapping and Development . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-88346-1_13
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-88346-1_13
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