DMSP interface equipment at Hawaii Tracking Station (HTS), New Hampshire Station (NHS), and Thule Tracking (TTS) allows these AFSCN Remote Tracking Station (RST) sites to be used directly by DMSP's dedicated MPSOC and FSOC.
These sites are all dual RTSs with Automated Remote Tracking Station (ARTS) installations. The ARTS design has been modified to include a DMSP Enhancement (DMSPE), which allows baseband interface of commands, EST, mission data, limited site status, and antenna pointing data in the form of NORAD two-card set ephemeris data for the DMSP satellites.
The DMSP dedicated Wideband Network extends to these sites as DOMSAT links. Each of these sites receives two DOMSAT links, one from FSOC and one from MPSOC. Data from one or the other of these links is selected by the RTS personnel to control which SOC is interfacing with the DMSP satellite. Data to be returned to the SOCs is transmitted over a single link and received at both SOCs, and at the strategic user sites (AFGWC and FNOC).
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The ARTS is set up and tested by the AFSCN Range Control Center (RCC) and released to DMSP control for a scheduled DMSP contact. Up to the point at which the ARTS is released to DMSP control, this follows normal AFSCN procedures. The selected DMSP SOC interfaces with the ARTS through the Wideband Network and the DMSPI in a manner that is nearly indistinguishable to the DMSP operators from interfacing to the dedicated DASs at FSOC. Full commanding, EST, and mission data capabilities are supported by this linkage. At completion of the scheduled contact, or in the event of an overriding emergency, the RCC resumes control of the ARTS and proceeds with normal AFSCN operations.
At the HTS and NHS, the DMSP DOMSAT link was piggybacked on an existing DOMSAT terminal. Because of the surrounding mountains and low-look angle to the DOMSAT at the TTS, the existing DOMSAT terminal was located atop a nearby mountain. It was necessary to provide a fiber-optic link between the DOMSAT terminal and the DMSPI.
Additional recorders were also provided at these sites to allow
mission data to be recorded and played back at a later time as
necessary, without affecting the use of the ARTS recorders by other
AFSCN users.
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