LETTER (Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04770A002900030022-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 26, 2005
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: March 15, 1965
• Content Type: LETTER

STAT
STAT
STAT
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Declass Review by NGA.
DIA XX4
The Pentagon
Washington, D. C.
I am forwarding for your review and use descriptive
material on the Spacecraft Television Ground Data Handling
System Link is developing for NASA-JPL. If you have any
questions concerning this information, please feel free
to call me.
Regarding your interest in the Automatic Point
Transfer Instrument Link is developing for GIMRADA,
I will contact ou in late April concerning a meeting
with
Thank you for your interest in Link.
Washington District Manager
JDS/jb
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STAT
STAT
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SPACECRAFT TELEVISION GROUND DATA HANDLING SYSTEM
SYSTEM OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS
The primary purpose of the Spacecraft Television (SCTV) System is
to support scientific investigations of the moon and the planets
by providing visual observations of their surfaces. These scienti-
fic investigations are directed generally towards a better scienti-
fic understanding of the moon and planets and specifically towards
providing the manned space program with some of the information it
needs about the lunar environment. The S acecraft Television Sys-
tem is composed of two major elements: a acecraft Television
~_-~
S_,~acecra~ft_~~SCTV-SCE _Sy_stem ~.~~,t__e_ Spacecraft_Television Ground
Data Handlin SCTV~GDH S stem. .The boundar between-these systems
is locatecT~at t einput to t e Around rece~.~.~.ng antennas,
The purpose of the S acecraft Television Ground Data Handlin S s-
tem is to support space lig t operations by an ing a spacecra t
television data (S/C TV data) and to~roduce accurate_mage ma~-
terial_,for__the scientific .communit o .pacec_ra_ t Television Space-
cr~t~-Sy`s m transmiss~ons_. S/C TV data is all data transmitted
from a-Spacecraft-Television Spacecraft System plus data added to
these transmissions on the ground for the purpose of aiding in future
identification of the transmission or in establishing the configura-
tion and calibration conditions of the SCTV-GDH for correlation with
the image at a lager time. S/C TV data includes spac_ecraft__t.e_1_e--~
vision camera,_._parameter settings,_ camera__engneering _measurements,
--
entification mission number time etc. as well_as_image
Secondary .purgoses_, in the; order of their priorit y,, are : (a) to
__ . _~ .
support the_ efforts__of NASA__expermeriters__arid-_JPL scientists eii-
__ _ ._a _ _
gaged in image_analyss ~(b)^Jto support JPL efforts in Spacecraft
Television Spacecraft System design and analysis, and (c) to pro-
vide experience and knowledge which will contribute to the techno-
logy of spacecraft television ground data handling.
The Spacecraft Television Ground Data Handling System must be capa-
ble of supporting all JPL spacecraft projects which include among
their objectives television observations of the surface of the moon
or planets. The S/C TV Ground S stem is a ma'or e em_~~t wit
J~P_L_ Space Fli t erat Co ex FOC As such, it must ensure
that the requirements of the SFOC related to the handling of space-
craft television data are satisfied.
The Space Flight Operations Complex (SFOC) is the overall complex
of earth-based facilities and personnel required for the conduct
of space flight operations and some spacecraft tests.
The Spacecraft Television Ground Data Handling portion of SFOC is
a centralized system capable of supporting the spacecraft television
objectives of the S~urve~or Lander Project, the Mariner C Project,
and the Ran er Pro,7ec' t beginning with Ranger Bloch In general,
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t~1F~ ._equirements of the system are generated by the Surveyor Lander
Project, and the needs of the other projects can be sratisfied by
selection from the capability configured in response to the Surveyor
needs.
In summar the rinci. al ob'ectives of the s stem are to record___S/C
TV data wit t._ne ~hest._.reasona _._e~qualtiy _and _ o__ensure the c_on
_ __ __ _.
tinuec avaitabiTity__ of these recur ings_"by pro ding Afor "t-heir "storage
Major System requirements are:
a. 7)ata Acquisition
The Spacecraft Television Ground Data Handling System acquires the
spacecraft television data contained in spacecraft transmission at
each DSIF station committed to the support of Surveyor Lander. The
system also provides the DSIF Station with a display of critically
needed S/C TV data in order to permit evaluation of the operation of
the acquisition equipment, operation of the station, and general
cognizance of spaceflight operation progress.
C~>
b~ Data Communication on the Ground `
All spacecraft television data acquired by the Goldstone Deep Space
Stations (DSS) is retransmitted to the Space Flight Operations Fa-
cility (SFOF), including selected non-image spacecraft television
data each as camera parameter settings, camera engineering measure-
ments, time,etc.
~~~c.
Data Recording
Spacecraft television data received at the SFOF and each DSS is re-
corded to assure no significant loss of information from either the
image or non-image data.
Identification information is added to the received spacecraft trans-
missions in order to unequivocably establish the image-taking configu-
ration and to uniquely identify each image.
~~>d. Operational Display
The capability for real time display of selected spacecraft television
data is required in the SFOF in order to support the operation of
spacecraft television experiments and to support other scientific ex-
periments which require observations by a Spacecraft Television Space-
craft System. This includes sufficient data to reveal both S/C Sys-
tem status and progress with respect to the space flight plan.
~I~ 1. Immediate Image Display
Immediate presentation at the SFOF of the image currently being
received by the Goldstone DSS reveals the status of and supports
engineering analysis of the SCTV-SC System.
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C~ / 2. ?Zeal Time Image Display
There is capability for display at t'ne SFOF of each image
received by the Goldstone DSS within one minute of receipt,
of sufficient quality to support limited scientific analy-
sis and attitude stabilized with respect to a standard frame
of reference.
C~) 3 . REa 1 Time Non- Image Display
Such displays facilitate subsequent reference to images ob-
served in real time as well as rapid identification of the
scene shown by and exposure conditions of that image.
C~) 4. Operational Photo rgzaphs
Positive photographs are available within ten minutes of re-
ceipt.
~i) 5. Stereoscopic.Image Viewing
There is capability to utilize the stereopsis present in a
pair of operational photographs for three dimensional view-
ing by one person. The viewing mechanism is capable of re-
moving scale difference between the photographs.
~I~6. Group Image Display
The system provides for the viewing of selected images by
groups of up to 30 persons within thirty minutes of receipt
of the images in the SFOF.
e. Photograph Production
Photographs of the images contained in the spacecraft television
data are also prepared in several categories as follows:
Photographs from Non-Image Recording Media
There is a capability. to produce photographs in the SFOF from
non-imaging recording media. If this type of media represents
the prime recording, such photographs can be produced at the
average rate of 5000 images in 24 hours. If this type of
media represents backup to the prime recording which is of
the imaging type, such photographs can he produced at the
average rate of 500 images in 24 hours.
C 17 2 . ~P~~-3:c Infarma=t ion- C~-n.~
A few selected images can. be for distribution for public infor-
mation purposes.
Photograph Distribution
The system provides for adequate and timely distribution of
spacecraft television data to authorized personnel of the
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scientific and engineering communities who are not actively
engaged in space flight operations, This capability consists
of the pro duction of an average of 100 photographs per day
from any of the data which is stored by the system (without
disruption of space flight operations).
4, General
The capability exists to produce photographs from 20,400 images
received by the SFOF either in real time or otherwise within
one month of real time,
All photographs produced by the system starting with the first
permanent copy and thereafter include a sufficient non-image
identification to reveal the conditions of the SCTV System
when the image was recorded,
Focus Analysis
There is capability within the system to derive information relative
to the focus of the cameras of a Spacecraft Television spacecraft
System by utilization of the stereoscopic information contained in
a pair of operational photographs, This capability is used to assist
in the formulation of succeeding picture taking sequences and, hence
is compatible with both an operational environoment and focus syn-
theses as well as analysis.
(~~ g .
Storage and Retrieval
The system provides for the storage and retrieval of all spacecraft
television data received by the system. The first image of a re-
quested series is available within one hour of a request and that
others follow at the rate of one per 15 minutes thereafter.
Access to spacecraft television data is indexed and cross-indexed.
The system provides for selection of images from storage according
to a flexible, selected list of descriptors.
It is permissible for a delay of up to 30 minutes to exist between
receipt of data for storage and availability of the data for re-
trieval.
Spacecraft Television Analysis Area
ie Spacecraft Television Analysis Area is for the display, ana-
~sis, and interpretation of S/C TV data during space flight opera-
_ons and some postflight analysis of spacecraft television data,
well as a general display of the status of a Spacecraft Television
-acecraft System and the Spacecraft Television Ground Data Handling
stem.
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Photomosaics
This system provides the capability to produce uncontrolled photo-
mosaics of limited quality suitable for viewing by five observers.
These can be compiled at a rate of 5 hours far a mosaic of up to
70 images and 24 hours for a~mosaic of. up to 450 images or simul-
taneous preparation of two such mosaics.
The system shall also permit a limited number of copies of photo-
mosaics to be prepared and distributed,
Additional potential complexities affecting the Plans and Development
Staff Data Link Development Program budgetary estimate.
1. P.I. Adaptations. .Specific component design keyed to the reconnais-
sance exploitation effort.
2. Higher Performance. Increased bandwidth and signal-to-noise ratio;
and possibly color.
~+. F~zndamental Changes. The probability that techniques for the transmis-
sion of images will undergo fundamental changes within the next five years;
such as, holography.
5. Security. Receiving equipment will have to be modified and more
autonomy at the exploitation sites will be required.
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