Deep Space Communications

Communications are required and critical to the success of space missions. This chapter summarizes the theoretical background for telecommunications link analysis and telecommunications design control. It defines the signal performance metrics, such as signal‐to‐noise‐spectral‐density ratios. In addition, the component link parameters that enhance or impair the performance are also defined. The chapter describes the statistical technique that has been used in the design of deep space telecommunications systems. The design procedure for deep space telecommunications systems design and the selection of a particular criterion for conservatism are both driven by weather conditions in the signal path between the ground station antenna and the spacecraft on telecommunications performance. The percentile technique for incorporating weather into telecommunications design control requires the preparations of two design control tables. There are two techniques for incorporating weather into telecommunications design control. The chapter explains the percentile weather technique in detail.