Invisible NASA Network Transports Satellite Secrets to Earth

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"Before a new mission is launched, decisions are made regarding what orbit the spacecraft will fly. Then we decide which networks will work best,” Turner said. "We have to decide how much support the mission is going to need and whether we have enough assets on the ground to accommodate them."

The capability of the NEN is increasing with the recent installment of a new antenna in Alaska and plans to install several antenna in the southern hemisphere. The team is also developing new capabilities that will increase bandwidth and allow the network to keep up with growing data demands as new missions are launched.

"Everyone wants more bandwidth and increased capabilities will allow us to collect more data in less time,” said NEN Project Manager David Carter. “This will definitely make us much more efficient.”  

The team is already looking at a new challenge that will exponentially increase transmission capability. Using lasers to send data optically from customer spacecraft to our network assets greatly expands the bandwidth. Carter said it is the next step in satellite communications efforts, and the team is already preparing to take it on.

Comprised of NASA-owned and commercial tracking stations, the NEN is located throughout the world. Network assets owned by NASA are located at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, McMurdo Ground Station in Antarctica, White Sands Complex in New Mexico, and at a Fairbanks facility owned by NASA but operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

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