An Objective Methodology for Assessing Current and Future TT and C Architectures

As DOD increases their reliance on space assets, a call for doing more for less has been initiated. Requests for more capability will present opportunities in technological advancements including methods for controlling those assets. Constrained by a reduced budget, the decision maker must be able to properly evaluate systems and select the best candidate. For Telemetry, Tracking, and Commanding (TT&C), the decision maker needs an objective methodology capable of aiding in the evaluation of TT&C systems. The thesis provides such an essential tool that will aid in the assessment of proposed TT&C architectures. The first section describes the process of TT&C by using activity modeling to describe the key functions and the present interrelationships among these key functions. To provide an initial basis of understanding, three current TT&C architectures were discussed: Air Force Satellite Control Network, Mission Control Center Johnson Space Center, and Naval Satellite Operations Center. This enabled the authors to highlight favorable trends utilized for enhancing performance. The thesis concludes with a demonstration of an objective methodology based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process. This approach resulted in the ability to provide a weighted ranking of proposed TT&C architectures and was illustrated using current architectures. (MM)