Potential future applications for the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite II (TDRS II) system

Abstract

During the conceptual design phases of the tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS) II system provision was made for a future service growth (FSG) payload with an undefined mission. The intent of the FSG was to provide a resource for TDRS II applications which would be available to meet a change in requirements for the operational TDRS II system. This paper summarizes the effect of the consideration of potential FSG applications imposed on the tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS) II system.The following applications were considered as FSG candidates: • • An optical 650 Mbps space-to-space link (SSL) coupled to an optical or RF downlink [1] • • An RF or optical crosslink to extend the baseline TDRS II system coverage —zone of exclusion (ZOE) closure [1] • • Relay for lunar communications either RF or optically • • Relay for Martian communications either RF or optically This paper summarizes work done in the 1990 time frame on the above stated applications. Since then, NASA has sponsored several studies (during phase B of the TDRS II development cycle) of the ZOE closure application of the FSG. The purpose of this paper is to report on the efforts previously considered for the FSG. A previous paper was presented at the 1991 Congress related to the second application above. This paper extends this effort to the four stated applications.