Real-Time Over-the-Horizon Hi-Speed Data Using TDRSS During High Altitude Long Duration Scientific Balloon Missions

Abstract

High altitude scientific balloons have been used for many years to provide scientists with access to near space at a fraction of the cost of satellite based or sounding rocket experiments. In recent years, these balloons have been successfully used for long duration missions of up to 40 days. Longer missions, with durations of up to 100 days (Ultra Long), are in the planning stages. An enabling technology for the growth of the scientific balloon missions is the use of the NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) for telemetering the health, status, position and payload science data to mission operations personnel. The TDRS System provides global coverage by relaying the data through geostationary relay satellites to ground stations in White Sands New Mexico and Guam. Data passes from the White Sands station to the user via commercial telecommunications services including the Internet. A forward command link can also be established to the balloon for real-time command and control. With the development of higher gain antenna systems from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility (WFF), the data rates through TDRSS will be increased significantly on LDB balloon flights. Data rates of up to 150 kbps through the TDRSS Multiple Access service can be accomplished. With these increased data rates, not only can scientists receive more real-time data throughput, but other important information can be multiplexed into the telemetry stream. This paper describes the long and ultra-long balloon missions and the role that TDRSS communications plays in mission success. More importantly, it discusses the capability of sending more real-time scientific data on long duration missions through the TDRS System.