Generic communication user and system requirements for future space science missions

Since space missions have been flown, a proper data return to Earth was inherently required. The complexity level and the number of space experiments have increased over the last decades. As a consequence, higher data rates have been required. The most limiting factor on achievable data rates for interplanetary communications is the distance. It imposes challenges on all parts of the communication system. Communication user and system requirements must be carefully defined to fulfill the mission needs. These requirements are expected to increase in the future. Hence, we studied 13 generic future ESA space mission scenarios comprising 5 Lunar missions, 5 Mars missions, and three missions to special targets (Lagrange point L2, NEO, and the Jovian satellite Europa) based on planned and already flown missions in order to derive communication user and system requirements. These requirements were classified, scaled, adapted and validated by calculations for these missions defined in [1]. Within this paper we will present how communication user and system requirements for future space science missions can be classified, scaled and applied. Therefore, after introducing a proper classification of communication requirements we will present recommendations by means of concrete examples assuming an Asteroid Sample Return mission scenario. Some practical hints will be provided as well.