Small Deep Space Transponder

The Small Deep Space Transponder is a transponder designed by JPL specifically for deep space probes.[1] It unifies a number of communication functions - receiver, command detector, telemetry modulator, exciters, beacon tone generator, and control functions - into one 3-kg package. The SDST is designed to handle X band uplink and both X band and Ka band downlink. JPL estimates that performing the same functions with separate units (as was done previously) requires over twice the mass and 4 or 5 individual subassemblies.[2]

Small Deep Space Transponder

Functions

The capabilities of the SDST include:[3]

  • X-band receiver/downconverter capable of carrier tracking at or below −156 dBm.
  • Command detector unit function.
  • Telemetry modulation function.
  • X- and Ka-band exciters.
  • Beacon mode operation.
  • Coherent and noncoherent operation choice.
  • X- and Ka-band ranging.
  • Differential one-way ranging (DOR) for both X-band and Ka-band.
  • Command and Data Handling (C&DH) communication via MIL-STD-1553.
  • Data interface via EIA-422 (also known as RS-422).
  • External ports for temperature sensors.
  • External port for an analog signal.

Missions

SDST has been used in the following missions:[4]

As many tightly constrained, high-performance systems, the SDST has a number of idiosyncrasies in operation.[5] However, as the Dawn telecom 'lessons learned' section points out, the use of common hardware such as the SDST allows knowledge of these characteristics from previous projects.[5]

For cubesat missions, the SDST is too big, heavy, and power-hungry. For these missions, the Iris transponder could be considered instead.

See also

References

  1. Zingales, Sam. "Small Deep-Space Transponder Development". Archived from the original on 2013-02-20.
  2. "Small Deep Space Transponder". New Millennium Program, NASA JPL. Archived from the original on 2004-10-23.
  3. Chien-Chung Chen; Shervin Shambayati; Andrew Makovsky; F. H. Taylor; Martin I. Herman; Samuel H. Zingales; Carl Nuckolls; Keith Siemsen. "Small Deep Space Transponder (SDST) DS1 Technology Validation Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-05-28.
  4. "NMP (New Millennium Program) Scorecard". Archived from the original on 2009-06-09.
  5. Jim Taylor (August 2009). "Dawn Telecommunications" (PDF). JPL.
  6. Jim Taylor; Stan Butman; Chad Edwards; Peter Ilott; Richard Kornfeld; Dennis Lee; Scott Shaffer; Gina Signori (August 2010). "Phoenix Telecommunications" (PDF). JPL.
  7. Andre Makovsky; Peter Ilott; Jim Taylor (2009). "Mars Science Laboratory Telecommunications System Design" (PDF). JPL.
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