Paper Session II-C - Command and Control Through Space-Based Systems

A new space-based command and control concept is presented that combines a ground station in conjunction with satellites utilizing modern RF communications technology. By using current satellites such as TDRSS, GPS or the proposed LEO/MEO commercial constellations, the command system of the future will provide a reliable and highly redundant replacement for the current command system that requires as many as seven UHF transmitter sites along the various launch vehiclesÕ flight paths. This space-based command system requires a look at new technologies to provide innovative ways to transmit secure and jam resistant messages from the launch operations center. These messages would then be relayed through a satellite to the launch vehicle and back to the operations center for confirmation. This new command system must conform to Range Safety guidelines in terms of minimal propagation time, communication security, maximum reliability and design efficiency to ensure that no single point of failure will deny the capability to terminate or result in the inadvertent termination of a launch vehicle or payload