Location
Cocoa Beach, Florida
Start Date
3-4-1967 12:00 AM
Description
Scientific solar probes (such as Pioneer) are aimed at mapping the radiation and particle fields of the solar corona. The central data system design must accorrn:nodate different instrument complements as mission assignments and emphasis change. Telemetry channel capacity is restricted by extreme range and practical limitations on antenna gain and transmitter power. Adaptive data sampling and telemetry formats, and sophisticated processing algorithms, which the experimenters have the option to use or not, are required to make efficient use of the available telemetry channel capacity.
The central data system requires a stored program for mission-to-mission flexibility, and ultra-reliability to meet mission effectiveness standards. Ultra-reliability is obtained through the "pooling" of logical units in such a way that the failure of one unit does not disable the computer. A diagnostic program exercises the on-board data system. An on-ground computer program isolates the fault from telemetry information and reprograms the on- board computer around the fault via the command link.
A system simulation model for the central data system of a scientific space probe has been designed and programmed. The goal is to define the basic and ancillary services that the central computer can provide the experimenters . Development of the simulation program has forced the designer to consider all aspects of the system in minute detail. The instrument complement assumed for the simulation consists of a triaxial magnetometer, cosmic ray telescope, neutron detector, radio propagation experiment, plasma probe, micrometeorite detector, and a VLF wave-particle experiment. Engineering data inputs are simulated and processed by the simulation program.
Central Data System Design for Scientific Solar Probes
Cocoa Beach, Florida
Scientific solar probes (such as Pioneer) are aimed at mapping the radiation and particle fields of the solar corona. The central data system design must accorrn:nodate different instrument complements as mission assignments and emphasis change. Telemetry channel capacity is restricted by extreme range and practical limitations on antenna gain and transmitter power. Adaptive data sampling and telemetry formats, and sophisticated processing algorithms, which the experimenters have the option to use or not, are required to make efficient use of the available telemetry channel capacity.
The central data system requires a stored program for mission-to-mission flexibility, and ultra-reliability to meet mission effectiveness standards. Ultra-reliability is obtained through the "pooling" of logical units in such a way that the failure of one unit does not disable the computer. A diagnostic program exercises the on-board data system. An on-ground computer program isolates the fault from telemetry information and reprograms the on- board computer around the fault via the command link.
A system simulation model for the central data system of a scientific space probe has been designed and programmed. The goal is to define the basic and ancillary services that the central computer can provide the experimenters . Development of the simulation program has forced the designer to consider all aspects of the system in minute detail. The instrument complement assumed for the simulation consists of a triaxial magnetometer, cosmic ray telescope, neutron detector, radio propagation experiment, plasma probe, micrometeorite detector, and a VLF wave-particle experiment. Engineering data inputs are simulated and processed by the simulation program.
