Editing Space Network

{{About|the NASA spacecraft communication system|the Canadian specialty television channel|Space (TV channel)}}

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Space-network-customer-rf.jpg|thumb|Space Network – Customer RF and Operations Interfaces|right]] -->
'''Space Network''' ('''SN''') is a [[NASA]] program that combines space and ground elements to support spacecraft communications in [[Earth]] vicinity.  The SN Project Office at [[Goddard Space Flight Center]] (GSFC) manages the SN, which consists of:<ref name="SNUG">{{cite book| title =Space Network User's Guide (SNUG), 2.3.2.1, Dedicated Ground Elements | edition = Rev 9| last = NASA| first = Exploration and Space Communications Projects Division |author2=Goddard Space Flight Center | year = August 2007 | publisher = National Aeronautics and Space Administration| id =450-SNUG | pages = }}</ref>
* The geosynchronous [[Tracking and Data Relay Satellite]]s (TDRS),
* Supporting ground terminal systems,
* The [[Bilateration Ranging and Transponder System]] (BRTS),
* [[List of Merritt Island launch sites|Merritt Island Launch Annex]] (MILA) relay,
* [[Network Control Center Data System]] (NCCDS).

==Satellite generations==
[[Image:Tdrs-f1-7.jpg|thumb|First Generation Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (F1-F7)|right]]
[[Image:Tdrs-f8-10.jpg|thumb|Second Generation Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (F8-F10 also known as H, I, J)|right]]
[[Tracking and Data Relay Satellite]] (TDRS) currently consists of first generation (F1-F7), and second generation (F8-F10) satellites.  

The space segment of the SN consists of up to six operational relay satellites in geosynchronous orbit. These [[communications satellites]] are allocated longitudes for relaying forward and return service signals to and from customers, any entity with an Earth-orbiting satellite that has an agreement with SN to use its communications services, for data transfer and tracking. An additional TDRS, F1, provides dedicated support to the National Science Foundation (NSF) through the use of the WSC Alternate Relay Terminal (WART). Additional spare TDRSs may be in geosynchronous orbit. 

All first generation TDRSs (F1-F7, also known as TDRS A-G) carry functionally identical payloads and all second generation TDRSs (F8-F10, also known as TDRS H-J) carry functionally identical payloads.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}} 

A third generation, TDRS K and L, are planned for launch 2012-2013.  See [[TDRS#Launch history|TDRS launch history]].{{citation needed|date=December 2010}} 

Click on the figures to the right, which identify the pertinent communications components and associated parameters of the orbiting relay platforms.

==Coverage==
For spacecraft operating in a [[low earth orbit]] (LEO) 73&nbsp;km to 3000&nbsp;km altitude, the SN is capable of providing tracking and data acquisition services over 100% of the spacecraft’s orbit.<ref name="SNUG2">{{cite book| title =Space Network User's Guide (SNUG), 1.1.2, Scope, and 2.3.1.2, TDRS Line-of-Sight Coverage| edition = Rev 9| last = NASA| first = Exploration and Space Communications Projects Division |author2=Goddard Space Flight Center | year = August 2007 | publisher = National Aeronautics and Space Administration| id =450-SNUG | pages = }}</ref>  Spacecraft sent to more distant or exotic destinations rely on either [[Deep Space Network]] or their own custom, dedicated networks.

==See also==
* [[Deep Space Network]]
* [[Near Earth Network]]
* [[Indian Deep Space Network]]
* [[Tracking and Data Relay Satellite]]
* [[Eastern Range]]
* [[Space Communications and Navigation Program|SCaN]] Program

==References==
<references/>

== External links ==
* [http://esc.gsfc.nasa.gov/space-communications/sn-sne.html NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Space Network Official Page]

{{GSFC}}
{{NASA centers}}
{{NASA navbox|state=collapsed}}

{{Wikipedia|Space Network}}

[[Category:Goddard Space Flight Center]]