Challenges and Opportunities Facing TT&C and Communication Systems for China's Manned Space Station Program

A TTC(Tracking,Telemetry and Command) and communication mode combining space-based and ground-based TTC systems is proposed to meet the requirements of high coverage,high reliability,long-time continuous tracking and control,high data rate transmission and multi-target TTC of China's manned space station program.Tracking and data relay satellites are used to facilitate space-based TTC and communication and Beidou satellite navigation system is used for autonomous and controllable high accuracy orbit determination.The layout and scheduling of ground TTC stations shall be optimized to increase telemetry data rate and enhance dual-target support capability and to achieve synergy among the limited number of stations.Space-based and ground-based TTC resources shall be integrated and on-demand scheduling mode shall be established to meet the requirements of long-duration and high reliability TTC and communication.Discussions are given on development of integrated TTC and data transmission,using Ka-band TTC stations for simultaneous transmission of TTC and high rate data.Finally,an inter-networking TTC approach featuring design of an integrated IP(Internet Protocol)-based space and ground system is presented.