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Remote Tracking Stations (RTSs)
The C3S is made up of many geographically separated elements, linked by communications networks. The various elements are described below. The C3S has two Satellite Operations Centers (SOCs); the primary Satellite Operations Control Center (SOCC), Suitland, MD; and the backup Environmental Satellite Operations Center (ESOC), SOC 81, Schriever (Falcon) AFB, Colorado Springs, CO. NOAA/NESDIS/OSO Office Sat Ops and 6 Space Operations Squadron use the resources of these SOCs to perform the planning, processing, and command generation functions of the C3S. The NOAA OSO shares the use of one NOAA and three AFSCN Remote Tracking Stations (RTSs) to communicate with the DMSP Satellites. Interface is provided to the shared RTSs by the Site 42, 43, and 56 equipment, and DMSP unique equipment at Fairbanks,AK. 
The DMSP C3S consists of several geographically dispersed sites interconnected by one of three communications networks. The AFSCN sites and communication network are shared with other programs. The C3S uses Internet Equipment to provide backup command and status collection capability through Consolidated Space Center. Normal AFSCN communications and functions provide for command transmission and telemetry reception through any RTS from these sites. These capabilities are compatible with transmission of DMSP commands and reception of real-time Equipment Status Telemetry (EST) through any RTS. They are inadequate to support the data rates needed for collection of DMPS mission data and stored EST. The C3S provides a ground test capability for the DMSP satellite through the Satellite Integration Contractor and the PITF (Payload Integrated Test Facility, Vandenberg AFB, CA). Internet equipment allows the C3S to interface to these sites. The Commanding System Test is performed on the DMSP satellite at the Space System Integrator's (SSI's) facility prior to shipment to the launch facility. The Operational Commanding Test is performed at the launch facility through the PITF. The SSI's facility and PITF are considered part of the Space Segment of the DMSP system. Communication between these sites is provided by two dedicated communications networks and the shared AFSCN network. The primary communications means for DMSP is the Wideband Network. This provides for commanding, EST data collection, and mission data collection from SOCC through the dedicated data acquisition equipment at ESOC. It also provides for commanding, EST data collection, and mission data collection from either ESOC or SOCC through the shared AFSCN RTSs. The Wideband Network consists only of Domestic Communications Satellite (DOMSAT) links. The Narrowband Network is the other DMSP dedicated communication network. This network provides links for voice communications, file transfer capability, and remote terminal operation capability, and backup commanding between CSOC, CSTC, ESOC, and SOCC, the PITF, and the SSI's facility. It uses leased common-carrier Digital Data Service (DDS) links. |