AIR FORCE SATELLITE CONTROL FACILITY ARCHITECTURE

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 22-25, 1984 / Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas, NevadaThis paper presents an architectural overview of the Air Force Satellite Control Facility (AFSCF) with emphasis on the network’s Remote Tracking Stations (RTSs). The AFSCF originated twenty-five years ago, and has evolved into a global satellite service network. This worldwide network is composed of twelve RTSs, located at seven geographically dispersed locations, and a Satellite Test Center (STC) at Sunnyvale, California. The AFSCF provides real-time telemetry, tracking, and commanding (TT&C) service to Department of Defense (DoD) spacecraft and launch vehicles. In response to changing DoD space support requirements, the AFSCF and its RTSs have grown through expansion and modernization of their tracking, data processing, and communication capabilities. What follows is, then, a review of this network evolution; a description of today’s, stations, their capabilities and limitations; an introduction of planned improvements; and a view of what will be required for satellite service in the future.International Foundation for TelemeteringProceedings from the International Telemetering Conference are made available by the International Foundation for Telemetering and the University of Arizona Libraries. Visit http://www.telemetry.org/index.php/contact-us if you have questions about items in this collection