NATIONAL AEROSPACE PLANE COMMND CONTROL COMMUNICATIONS (C3) REQUIREMENTS

THE NASP C3 STUDY WILL IDENTIFY AND DEVELOP COMMUNICATIONS AND DATA TRANSMISSION INTERFACES FOR THE NASP PROGRAM BASED THE CURRENT NASP OPERATIONAL CONCEPT AND ON PLANNED MISSION SCENARIOS. CURRENTLY, THE OPTIONS COVERING INTENDED MISSIONS, VEHICLE TYPE AND FLEET SIZE ARE OPEN ENDED AND WHILE COMMUNICATIONS AND DATA TRANSMISSION REQUIREMENTS WILL NECESSARILY VARY ACCORDING TO THE SELECTED OPTION CHARACTERISTICS. VIABLE OPTION CANDIDATES WILL BE STUDIED AND APPROPRIATE COMMUNICATIONS AND DATA LINK INTERFACES FOR EACH WILL BE IDENTIFIED. THE NASP MAY ALSO BENEFIT FROM PROPOSED INTEROPERABILITY IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED UTILIZING THE NEW SPACE DATA LINK STANDARD (SDLS) AND SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS CROSSLINKS. ANOTHER CRITICAL ISSUE THAT WILL BE EXPLORED IS THE MODERNIZATION OF THE USAF SATELLITE CONTROL NETWORK'S (AFSCN) COMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES, AND COMMANDAND CONTROL INTERFACES. THE UPGRADES NOW UNDERWAY WILL CERTAINLY INFLUENCE THE NASP OPERATIONAL SUPPORT. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE NETWORK CHANGES MAY IMPACT NASP C3 SYSTEMS CONFIGURATIONS AND PERFORMANCE REQUIRING NASP C3 DESIGN RECONSIDERATIONS, OR RECOGNITION OF NASP OPERATIONAL LIMITATIONS. ALSO, THE STUDY MAY UNCOVER OTHER C3 IMPACTS OR OBSTACLES FOR PARTICULAR OPTIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED.