Data management and common procedures for access and operation with military and commercial satellite systems

The magnitude and diversity of DoD communication requirements make it necessary to use commercial satellite systems as a supplement to DSCS and other military systems in support of the warfighter. To ensure efficient network management and control DoD needs to enhance its capability to plan and rapidly move networks between a variety of satellite types and satellite providers (e.g., DSCS, INTELSAT, PanAmSat, Orion, GE Americom, etc.). Enhancement of this capability, to a large extent will be predicated on effective data management and common space segment access procedures. Electronic exchange of a multiplicity of data items between DoD and space segment providers is an essential element of this process. This paper describes key issues related to managing data related to both military and commercial satellite systems. To illustrate the need for a common approach, the paper describes differences which currently exist in data formats, satellite access procedures and Earth station certification and type-approval requirements and provides possible solutions.