GLOBAL TRANSMISSION SERVICES-1 AND -2 (GTS-1/-2), TWO INVESTIGATIONS
Research Area: Communications and Navigation
Expedition(s): 7-20
Principal Investigator(s): ● Felix Huber, PhD, Steinbeis Transferzentrum Raumfahrt,
Gaufelden - Stuttgart, Germany
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The Global Transmission Services-1 and -2 (GTS-1, GTS-2)
is a technology experiment for the testing, validation and demonstration of radio transmission
techniques for the synchronization of earth-based clocks
and watches from the International Space Station (ISS).
In addition, the GTS data services, based on a unique
coding scheme, could ultimately lead to commercial
services, such as blocking of stolen cars or lost credit
cards, directly from space.
RESULTS
Testing showed a lower than expected signal strength
traced to interference from the hull of the Russian
Service Module on which the GTS antenna was launched
to the ISS, as well as additional field of view blockage
from the Pirs Docking Module and its attached Soyuz
spacecraft (not originally scheduled to be at the ISS
during the GTS testing).
This investigation is ongoing and additional results are pending publication.
Location of the Global Transmission
Services antenna and Electronics Units.
ESA image.