Implementation of An Interoperable Architecture for Command, Control, and Communication

Abstract

Building an interoperable command, control, and communication architecture is ambitious, but it is essential to the success (measured by cost, schedule, and technical performance) of NASA current and future missions. The current point-to-point communication links, multiple data processing formats and data distribution methods increase the command and control complexity (due to the need of supporting different data formats), and decrease the communication efficiency (due to the inability of re-allocating under-utilized communication resources), which in turn increases the mission cost. NASA under the Constellation program developed a Command, Control, Communication and Information (C3I) interoperability architecture specification. The specification is defined by a set of open standards for an Internet Protocol (IP) based network-centric architecture to be deployed across all flight and ground elements of space communications. As an enabler, the C3I IP-based network architecture using standard protocols and data formats for commanding, telemetry, scheduling, tracking, and ground station configuration, offers the primary interoperability among different spacecraft platforms for various missions. As the avionics systems provider on Orion program, Honeywell is partnering with the prime contractor Lockheed Martin to develop a C3I Control Module, the first implementation of the NASA C3I Specifications. Honeywell is also on Oceaneering’s Constellation Space Suit System (CSSS) team as the avionics systems and software architect, integrating a Software Defined Radio platform with C3I applications and other avionics applications. In the meanwhile, Honeywell is investing in the technology areas of integrating Disruption/Delay Tolerant Network to IP-based and non-IP networks, Hybrid Free Space Optical/RF networks, dependable IEEE 802.11/16 (WiFi/WiMax) based wireless systems, and rad-hard IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) systems. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of Honeywell’s understanding of key C3I architecture drivers, major challenges in building a C3I system, the lessons learned (as a systems engineering contractor) from Constellation C3I program, our proposed Network-As-Platform approach, and our current status on new technology development.