The telemetry from the Command and Control Computer
(CCC) is sent to the SIP via RS232 serial interface to the SIP. The CCC
encodes in the data instructions to the SIP on which path the data should be
transmitted.
There are three ways the SIP can transmit and receive data to/from the
ground:
Via TDRSS satellite relay:TDRSS provides
commanding and downlink capability with a
high speed data link of at kbits/sec with an almost 24 hours/day coverage for
the entire mission. The data is relayed to/from the ground at the
Operation Control Center (OCC) in Palestine (TX).
Via IRIDIUM satellite relay:
IRIDIUM provides commanding and telemetry with a low rate link at 255 bytes
every approximately 15 minutes. The data is relayed to/from the ground at the
Operation Control Center (OCC) in Palestine (TX).
Via UHF direct radio link:
Wile the payload is in line-of-sight (LOS) with the Williams Field
(Antarctica) operations center, direct communications to/from the SIP are possible
via a high speed UHF radio link. The LOS period typically lasts for 24
hours after launch. During this time we will also have the possibility to
use a second UHF transmitter on board the SIP which will relay live video
images from the SBI camera to the ground.
In Palestine we will have a ground support station (GSE2) connected to
CSBF's Operation Control Center computers that receive the date from TDRSS
and IRIDIUM. From GSE2 it is possible to view telemetry from our payload as
well as send commands to it. GSE2 is also responsible to relay via Internet
connection the telemetry
stream and commands to and from our other two stations GSE1 (in Antarctica)
and GSE3 (at APL). The main station will be GSE1 in
Antarctica from where we also have the direct radio link and we can view the
live images from the SBI camera. Here is
picture of our GSE station that will be deployed to Antarctica.
