Technicians at NASA Glenn Research Center at work on the Space Communications and Navigation Testbed, formerly known as the Communications, Navigation, and Networking reConfigurable Testbed (CoNNeCT) project[1]
The Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program places the three prime NASA space communications networks, Space Network (SN), Near Earth Network (NEN) (previously known as the Ground Network or GN), and the Deep Space Network (DSN), under one Management and Systems Engineering umbrella. It was established in 2006. It was previously known as the Space Communications & Data Systems (SCDS) Program.
Before NASA's administrator Michael D. Griffin created SCaN to direct an integrated networks program, different organizations at NASA Headquarters have managed the Agency's space communications capabilities and functions under separate Programs using a variety of administrative approaches.[2]
The SCaN Office was established by direction of Griffin in a Memorandum entitled "Establishment of a Space Communications and Navigation Office," dated July 19, 2006.[3] SCaN operates as a central organization within the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD):
The Office's responsibilities encompass the management of existing space networks including the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite system, the Deep Space Network, the Ground Network, the NASA Integrated Services Network; implementing any improvements and upgrades to those systems and networks; and developing any future NASA communications and navigation architectures.
The Ground Network (GN) has since been renamed the Near Earth Network.
^NASA. Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program Plan. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
^NASA (January 30, 2009). SCaN Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP). NASA Space Communication and Navigation Program Office. SCaN-SEMP.
^NASA (June 28, 2008). Constellation Design Reference Missions And Operational Concepts (ConOps), Annex 1: Constellation Communications and Tracking Concept of Operations (Baseline ed.). National Aeronautics and Space Administration. CxP 70007, ConOps.
^NASA, Exploration and Space Communications Projects Division; Goddard Space Flight Center (August 2007). Space Network User's Guide (SNUG), 2.3, Elements of the SN (Rev 9 ed.). National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 450-SNUG.
^NASA, Exploration and Space Communications Projects Division; Goddard Space Flight Center (August 2007). Space Network User's Guide (SNUG), 6.2 SSA Forward Services, and 6.2.3 Phase Modulation (PM) Signal Parameters (Rev 9 ed.). National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 450-SNUG.
^NASA, Exploration and Space Communications Projects Division; Goddard Space Flight Center (August 2007). Space Network User's Guide (SNUGx) (Rev 9 ed.). National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 450-SNUG.
