Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 1.3.
Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft (image credit: NASA)
1.1.4 Tracking and Data Relay Satellites
The Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS) relay communications be-
ground commands for movement of the large single-access antennas. TDRS-H,
I and J autonomously control the antenna motion and adjust for spacecraft
attitude according to a profile transmitted from the ground. This autonomous
control greatly reduces the costs of operations and the need for continuous
stang of ground stations.
1.1.5 Other Missions
Other proposed or planned near-term missions that will have onboard auton-
omy include the following:
•
Two Wide-angle Imaging Neutral-atom Spectrometers (TWINS) mission,
which will stereoscopically image the magnetosphere.
•
Geospace Electrodynamic Connections (GEC) mission, which is a cluster
of three satellites that will study the ionosphere-thermosphere (2013+).
•
Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission, which will consist of
three spacecraft to study gravitational waves (2020).
•
Magnetotail Constellation (MC) mission, which will consist of 30+ nano-
statellites that will study the earth's magnetic and plasma flow fields
(2011+).
Relying on spacecraft that coordinate and cooperate with each other,
NASA will be able to perform new science that would be dicult or im-
possible to do with a single spacecraft. And recognition of the challenges of
