The DSN Array Simulator (wherein "DSN" signifies NASA's Deep Space Network) is an updated version of software previously denoted the DSN Receive Array Technology Assessment Simulation. This software (see figure) is used for computational modeling of a proposed DSN facility comprising user-defined arrays of antennas and transmitting and receiving equipment for microwave communication with spacecraft on interplanetary missions. The simulation includes variations in spacecraft tracked and communication demand changes for up to several decades of future operation. Such modeling is performed to estimate facility performance, evaluate requirements that govern facility design, and evaluate proposed improvements in hardware and/or software.

DSN Array Simulator Overview

The updated version of this software affords enhanced capability for characterizing facility performance against user-defined mission sets. The software includes a Monte Carlo simulation component that enables rapid generation of key mission-set metrics (e.g., numbers of links, data rates, and date volumes), and statistical distributions thereof as functions of time. The updated version also offers expanded capability for mixed-asset network modeling — for example, for running scenarios that involve user-definable mixtures of antennas having different diameters (in contradistinction to a fixed number of antennas having the same fixed diameter). The improved version also affords greater simulation fidelity, sufficient for validation by comparison with actual DSN operations and analytically predictable performance metrics.

This program was written by Raffi Tikidjian and Ryan Mackey of Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

This software is available for commercial licensing. Please contact Karina Edmonds of the California Institute of Technology at (626) 395-2322. Refer to NPO-44506.

Topics:
Analysis methodologies Antennas Computer simulation Computer software and hardware Education and training Electronic equipment People and personalities Simulation and modeling Simulators Software Spacecraft Statistical analysis Vehicles
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Document cover
DSN Array Simulator

(reference NPO-44506) is currently available for download from the TSP library.

Don't have an account?

More From SAE Media Group

    Overview

    The document is a Technical Support Package for the DSN Array Simulator (NPO-44506), developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It serves as an update to the previous report (NTR 42197) on the DSN Receive Array Technology Assessment Simulation, which models a proposed facility for the Deep Space Network (DSN). The primary goal of the simulator is to estimate performance, evaluate requirements, and assess proposed technology improvements for the DSN.

    The simulator employs an algorithmic approach to rapidly estimate overall array performance across various scenarios and combinations of candidate technologies. Key enhancements from the original report include improvements in capability and usability, as well as validation against historical DSN performance metrics. The capability improvements focus on two main areas: user mission set characterization and mixed-asset network modeling. The Monte Carlo capability of the simulator allows for the rapid generation of mission set metrics and population sample distributions over time, addressing parameters such as the number of links, data rates, and data volumes.

    Additionally, the mixed-asset network modeling feature enables the simulation of scenarios with a user-defined mixture of antennas of different diameters, enhancing the flexibility and accuracy of the model. This allows for validation against the current DSN and mission set, providing a more realistic assessment of performance.

    The document emphasizes the unique application of this software, which is designed to capture and model proposed receive array elements, facilitating dynamic simulation of the array. It boasts higher fidelity compared to previous simulations, allowing for direct use of related study results without the need for translation. The software aims to create a tractable set of requirements for array performance, addressing the challenges of setting requirements and evaluating technologies for phased array planning.

    The document also highlights the urgency of technology evaluation due to the rapid changes at NASA and the need for immediate improvements in the DSN. It underscores the importance of advanced software and automation technology for low-cost operation and flexibility in addressing changing performance requirements. Overall, the DSN Array Simulator represents a critical tool for advancing the capabilities of the Deep Space Network and supporting future space missions.