Space Communications and Navigation Program


The Space Communications and Navigation program places the three prime NASA space communications networks, Space Network, Near Earth Network , and the Deep Space Network, under one Management and Systems Engineering umbrella. It was established in 2006. It was previously known as the Space Communications & Data Systems Program.

History

Before NASA's administrator Michael D. Griffin created SCaN to direct an integrated networks program, different organizations at NASA Headquarters have managed the Agency's space communications capabilities and functions under separate Programs using a variety of administrative approaches.
The SCaN Office was established by direction of Griffin in a Memorandum entitled "Establishment of a Space Communications and Navigation Office," dated July 19, 2006. SCaN operates as a central organization within the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate :
The Ground Network has since been renamed the Near Earth Network.

Services

SCaN is viewed as a service provider supporting interfaces and performing a standard set of functions, including:
Communications with spaceborne platforms is performed by RF, with a selection of spectra, modulation, and encoding methods, enumerated below.

Spectra

The Space Network communicates with spacecraft using S-band, Ku-band, and Ka-band with planned laser/optical communications.
The Deep Space Network communicates with spacecraft using S-band, X-band, and Ka-band.

Modulation

SN uses phase shift keying and phase modulation of the carrier signal.

Encoding

The Space Network supports the following encoding schemes:
The Reed-Solomon method is used as the initial error-correcting block code prior to the selected secondary encoding scheme.