Software for Analyzing Telecommunication Link Performance

The Telecom Forecaster Predictor (TFP) is a multi-mission computer program for analyzing deep space telecommunication links. Analysts use the TFP for link planning, performance prediction, and post-pass trending analysis. For each mission, multiple users access a controlled set of TFP software and models, but can customize their own TFP sessions. Built upon the popular MATLAB software platform, the TFP provides an environment for high-performance numerical analysis and display of results. Link configurations are specified through a user-friendly Graphical User Interface (GUI), and navigation inputs are provided through standard JPL NAIF SPICE ephemeris and attitude files, which the TFP can read directly. The TFP's building blocks are models which are created and examined using the TFP's model editing tool. Multi-mission models shared by all TFP users are provided in a carefully managed common library to avoid errors and duplication of effort. Sharing models and modeling architecture greatly accelerates the development of adaptations to support new missions. Software flow is visually traceable using the TFP's model tree. After execution, results are viewable in plot or tabular form using TFP's data visualization tools. Snapshots of link performance at a given time are provided in link budget tables.