AADC: KLC Range Safety and Telemetry System

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RSTS Operating at KLC and King Salmon

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The KLC Range Safety and Telemetry System (RSTS) is an integral part of the Kodiak Launch Complex (KLC). It consists of two fully redundant mobile systems which provide range flight safety, command destruct, and telemetry receiving support with GPS. The prime purpose of the RSTS is to provide the range safety and telemetry functions necessary to track and verify a safe rocket flight within prescribed boundaries or safely terminate an errant rocket.

Each of the two mobile RSTS systems consists of a Mobile Operations Center (MOC) and two high gain 5.4 meter Mobile Antenna Systems (MAS). To meet range safety requirements, each MOC is internally redundant. Internal redundancy eliminates single point failure, allowing full operational capability in the event of a component failure.

The two mobile RSTS systems can operate in conjunction with each other, or as independent unit. Under most circumstances, the first RSTS unit is located at the KLC and the second unit is located at mission designated off-axis or down-range site. Under normal operations, the first system at KLC monitors the initial boost phase of flight, then hands off responsibility to the off-axis or down-range system as the rocket booster exhaust plume limits communications between the rocket and the KLC RSTS.

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AADC’s RSTS Highlights

• Integrated mobile system.

• Combines range safety UHF command destruct and S-Band telemetry receiving with
   GPS.

• Consists of two fully redundant MOCs.

• Within each MOC there are two complete systems.

• High gain 5.4 meter Auto-Tracking Antennas.

• Road, aircraft and barge transportable.

• Two systems are presently installed and operating, one at KLC and the other at the
   King Salmon off-axis instrumentation site.

• S-Band Telemetry mobile receiving antennas are 5.4 meter diameter with antenna
   gain/system noise temperature of 17 (dB/°K).

• Telemetry capable of receiving 4 redundant S-band downlinks with data rates to 4 Mbps
   (Expansion capability exists).

• UHF Command Destruct system provides 1kW transmitter power with tunable tones
   between 400 MHz and 450 MHz.

• Omni-directional Command Destruct system antennas cover short range, and
   directional antennas cover long-range flight trajectories (Directional antennas are
   integral with the 5.4 meter auto-tracking antennas).

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