ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network explained

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), over the years, has established a comprehensive global network of ground stations to provide Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TTC) support to satellite and launch vehicle missions. These facilities are grouped under ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) with its headquarters at Bangalore, India.

Facilities

ISTRAC has several facilities as of November 2013:

• ISTRAC facilities in Bangalore consist of TTC ground station (BLR) with full redundancy multi-mission Spacecraft Control Center to carry out and control spacecraft operations and co-ordinate with the network stations. Computer facility with distributed architecture providing independent processors for communications handling, dedicated processors to provide real-time displays for individual spacecraft missions and off-line processors for carrying out spacecraft data archival, analysis and orbit determination.
• Communication Control facility to establish links between SCC and ISTRAC network stations as well as control centers of other participating external space agencies and data receptions stations through dedicated voice, data and TTY links.

Mission

The mission of the ISTRAC includes:

• Tracking, commanding and housekeeping data acquisition as well as health analysis and control, orbit and attitude determination and network co-ordination support to all low Earth orbit satellite missions of ISRO throughout their mission life.
• Telemetry data acquisition support for ISRO launch vehicle missions from liftoff until satellite acquisition and down range tracking support for monitoring and determining the satellite injection parameters.
• Coordinating between spacecraft and launch vehicle teams, supporting ground stations right from planning till the completion of mission for the national and international satellite missions.
• Telemetry, tracking and command support for the International satellite launch projects.

Ground Stations

ISTRAC has the following TTC ground stations:^[1]

India

• Hyderabad^[2]
• Bangalore, also hosts the Indian Spacecraft Control Centre
• Lucknow
• Port Blair
• Sriharikota
• Thiruvananthapuram
• Bharti research station (AGEOS)^[3]

Global Stations

• Port Louis, Mauritius
• Bear Lakes, Russia (Медвежьи Озера, Medvezhi Ozera), operating the RT-64 antenna
• Biak, Indonesia
• Brunei^[4]
• Svalbard, Norway
• Troll, Antarctica^[5]
• Vietnam^{[6] [7]}
• Gatun Lake, Panama^{[8] [9]}
• São Tomé and Príncipe, West Africa^{[10] [11]}

See also

• Indian Deep Space Network
• European Space Tracking
• NASA Deep Space Network
• Near Earth Network
• Space Network

External links

• ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) - Official Website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) . ISRO . 17 January 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131022161359/http://isro.org/chandrayaan/htmls/ground_segment_spacenetwork.htm . 22 October 2013 . dead .
2. Web site: Aboutus_Org_DRS NRSC Web Site . 2023-09-30 . www.nrsc.gov.in . 2023-01-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230116212238/https://www.nrsc.gov.in/Aboutus_NRSC_DRS?language_content_entity=en . live .
3. Web site: Aboutus_Org_DRS NRSC Web Site . 2023-09-30 . www.nrsc.gov.in . 2023-01-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230116212238/https://www.nrsc.gov.in/Aboutus_NRSC_DRS?language_content_entity=en . live .
4. Web site: Brunei, India sign MoU for cooperation in space research field | Borneo Bulletin Online . borneobulletin.com.bn . 14 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180723113544/https://borneobulletin.com.bn/brunei-india-sign-mou-for-cooperation-in-space-research-field/ . 23 July 2018 . dead.
5. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811083318/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-13/india/28284987_1_cartosat-2b-isro-chairman-k-radhakrishnan-synthetic-aperture-radar 10 eyes in the sky give India space edge
6. Web site: ISRO Developing Station in Vietnam. 2021-03-29. pib.gov.in. 2021-11-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20211123021225/https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=137666. live.
7. News: Torode. Sanjeev Miglani, Greg. 2016-01-25. India to build satellite tracking station in Vietnam that offers eye on China. en. Reuters. 2021-03-29. 2021-07-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20210701091713/https://www.reuters.com/article/india-vietnam-satellite-china-idINKCN0V309W. live.
8. Web site: And another ground station for Isro seems to be in works. This time around probably in Panama. : ISRO.
9. Web site: Expression Of Interest . www.isro.gov.in . 2021-04-01 . 2016-10-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161027123740/http://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/files/tenders/EOI%20%20-%20%2011m%20antenna_0.pdf . dead .
10. Web site: Sheldon. John. 2018-09-12. São Tomé And Príncipe Signs Space Agreement With India. 2021-03-29. SpaceWatch.Global. en-US. 2018-09-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20180916202435/https://spacewatch.global/2018/09/sao-tome-and-principe-signs-space-agreement-with-india/. live.
11. Web site: Africa. Space in. 2018-09-09. India and Republic of Sao Tome and Principe sign MoU to set up Space centre. 2021-03-29. Space in Africa. en-US. 2018-09-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20180916202126/https://africanews.space/india-and-republic-of-sao-tomi-and-principe-sign-mou-to-set-up-space-centre/. live.