This software demonstrates a working implementation of the NASA STRS (Space Telecommunications Radio System) architecture specification. This is a developing specification of software architecture and required interfaces to provide commonality among future NASA and commercial software-defined radios for space, and allow for easier mixing of software and hardware from different vendors.
It provides required functions, and supports interaction with STRS-compliant simple test plug-ins (“waveforms”). All of it is programmed in “plain C,” except where necessary to interact with C++ plug-ins. It offers a small footprint, suitable for use in JPL radio hardware.
Future NASA work is expected to develop into fully capable softwaredefined radios for use on the space station, other space vehicles, and interplanetary probes.
This work was done by Kenneth J. Peters, James P. Lux, Minh Lang, and Courtney B. Duncan of Caltech for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
This software is available for commercial licensing. Please contact Daniel Broderick of the California Institute of Technology at
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Architectural Implementation of NASA Space Telecommunications Radio System Specification
(reference NPO-47328) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
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Overview
The document is a Technical Support Package for the Architectural Implementation of NASA's Space Telecommunications Radio System (STRS), specifically referenced as NPO-47328 in NASA Tech Briefs. It was prepared under the sponsorship of NASA and aims to disseminate the results of aerospace-related developments that have broader technological, scientific, or commercial applications.
The STRS represents a collaborative effort among various NASA centers, incorporating input from industry to establish a hardware, FPGA, and software architecture standard (version 1.02). This standard is designed to facilitate cross-platform portability of communication implementations across different systems, addressing all layers and signal processing involved in space telecommunications.
One of the key aspects highlighted in the document is the need for clear requirements specification. It notes that the boundaries and interfaces in the STRS may differ from those found in traditional radio systems. This discrepancy arises because conceptual block diagram divisions may not align with physical divisions, and different designers working at various layers often share physical resources. As a result, performance specifications must be clearly defined at each conceptual layer, rather than relying on an end-to-end approach that assumes a single coordinated decomposition.
The document also emphasizes the importance of interface documentation, particularly for software components, while suggesting that the architecture leans towards requiring such documents rather than specifying exact interfaces. This approach allows for greater flexibility and adaptability in the design and implementation of the system.
The workshop, where this information was presented, was held on November 6, 2009, and was led by Kenneth J. Peters from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology. The document serves as a resource for those interested in the technical aspects of the STRS and its implementation, providing insights into the challenges and considerations involved in developing advanced telecommunications systems for space applications.
Overall, the Technical Support Package encapsulates the innovative efforts of NASA and its partners in advancing space communication technologies, highlighting the need for clear specifications, flexible architectures, and collaborative approaches to meet the demands of future space missions.
