Characterization and simulation of end-to-end data link performance of the NASA deep space network

This paper contains an end-to-end performance characterization of subsystems which are used in both acquisition and data delivery of the NASA deep space network (DSN). Signal Processing WorkSystem (SPW) simulation runs are conducted to gain insight into the dynamics of the front-end subsystem signal acquisition. Comparisons are made among the mathematical acquisition models, the simulation results and the actual Mars Global Surveyer (MGS) emergency mode test data. The test shows that at high symbol signal-to-noise power ratio (SSNR>3 dB), the measured end-to-end acquisition time is about 12 minutes. This result matches the prediction by the end-to-end link model and by the simulation