NASA GGAO Site Survey
The NASA Goddard Geophysical & Astronomical Observatory is where many of our precision time and frequency tests have taken place over the years. Now that they have upgraded the site and we have a new test ongoing there it is appropriate to update the site photos.
United States Naval Academy MidSTAR-1 Satellite Project
This contract provided for professional engineering services to the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) Small Satellite Program. Services were performed at the USNA satellite ground station and at the CNS Systems’ lab as required. Areas of expertise required include, but were not limited to:
- Completion of Stage Three and Stage four Frequency Allocation Requests (FARs) and submission to the Navy Marine Corps Spectrum Management Center;
- Test and verification of the 76kbps RF communications system culminating in an end-to-end data transmission test at the physical layer without upper layer protocols;
- Test and verification of the 1Mbps communications system culminating in an end-to-end data transmission test at the physical layer without upper layer protocols;
- Test and verification of the MidSTAR-l ground station culminating in test reception of signals from the NASA ChipSat satellite using TCP/IP protocols.
The project culminated in the sucessfull launch of the MidSTAR-1 satellite on March 8, 2007 as part of the Air Force's Space Test Program-1 (STP-1) mission. The Atlas rocket deployed four auxiliary satellites from the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Secondary Payload Adapter, or ESPA ring, including MidSTAR 1, FalconSat 3, STPSat 1 and CFESat.
The resulting mission successfully collected data for over two years before being decommissioned.
Precision 1PPS and Short Baseline Testing
This project investigated the relative performance of a pair of FS725 rubidium oscillators that are phase locked to GPS using the precision 1PPS signals from CNS Clock II GPS receivers. The research was documented in pictures so the link will take you to the gallery of albums related to this project. The reports produced for this project are
- Precision 1PPS, Steered Oscillator and Short Baseline Testing, October 9, 2007, by Richard M. Hambly and Dr. Thomas A. Clark, presented to Dr. Robert W. McGwier, Center for Communications Research, a division of The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA). Contract P37669.
- Noise and Offset Performance of M12 Timing Receivers, June 2, 2007, by Richard M. Hambly, presented to Dr. Robert W. McGwier Center for Communications Research, a division of The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA). Contract P37669.
Data Communications for the Air Transport Industry
CNS Ground Station
CNS Systems uses its CNS Ground Station product to support research into the development of new data link technologies and applications for commercial and military aviation.
- Support for multiple data links, individually or simultaneously including STDMA, ACARS, VDL, TDMA, MODE S and others such as Orbitec, Sensis, MDS, etc.
- Evaluation of transitioning scenarios
- Evaluate the use of multiple data links where there is no clear “winner”
- Measure and optimize data link performance
R&D Projects supported by the CNS Ground Station
FAA Airport Surface Traffic Automation (ASTA): The FAA uses the ASDE-3/AMASS radar based system to detect and prevent runway incursions. This project involves the addition of Differential GPS-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance (ADS) and initial departure traffic management capability using a new high-speed STDMA two-way data link between the tower and the cockpit.
NASA TAP/LVLASO: Develop and demonstrate technologies that will enable VFR capacities on the surface to CAT IIIb. This project involves the addition of Differential GPS-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance (ADS) and Ground Traffic Control capability using a new high-speed D8PSK two-way data link between the tower and the cockpit.
Naval Air Warfare center FASSTER: Demonstrate Time-Space-Position Information (TSPI) and safety surveillance capabilities at DoD T&E ranges utilizing an evolving Civil Aeronautical Data Link. This project involves the evaluation of a new high-speed two-way data link to provide a means of transporting GPS and INS telemetry data from fighter aircraft to ground controllers at rates up to five times per second for each aircraft.