Mission set analysis tool for assessing future demands on NASA's Deep Space Network

Abstract

NASA's future scientific missions will place new demands on its Deep Space Network (DSN). Depending on which missions fly and their particular design, NASA's communications ground assets (antennas) may require upgrade or enhancement. The purpose of the Mission Set Analysis Tool is to help forecast future demand by (1) cataloguing the characteristics of potential future DSN-user missions consistent with NASA's Space Communications Mission Model, (2) calculating the demands that these missions will place on the DSN, and (3) generating mission requirements for other DSN architectural analysis tools.