Spacecraft Tracking and Data Acquisition Network

The Spacecraft Tracking and Data (Acquisition) Network (STADAN or STDN) was established by NASA in the early 1960s to satisfy the requirement for long-duration, highly-available space-to-ground communications. The network was the “follow-on” to the earlier Minitrack, which tracked the flights of Sputnik, Vanguard, Explorer, and other early space efforts (1957–1962). Real-time operational control and scheduling of the network was provided by the Network Operations Control Center (NOCC) at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, Maryland.[1]

Orroral Valley STADAN control panel, at the National Museum of Australia

Consisting of parabolic dish antennas and telephone switching equipment deployed around the world, the STADAN provided space-to-ground communications for approximately 15 minutes of a 90-minute orbit period. This limited contact period sufficed for unmanned spacecraft, but manned spacecraft require a much higher data collection time. In May 1971 STADAN was consolidated with the Manned Space Flight Network (MSFN) to form the Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network (STDN).[2]

Stations
ETC
ORR
CRO
Cooby
BUR
TAN
EGF
NFL
FtM
QUI
Lima
Chile
ULA
WNK
ROS
GDS
Barstow
Brown
PAK
Crete
Ascension
BDA
STADAN Stations

STADAN stations were located:

Later developments

Most of the STADAN stations were phased out in the early 1980s, as the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRS), took over most of the work of tracking satellites in near earth orbit.[3] Another network, the Deep Space Network (DSN), interacted with manned craft higher than 10,000 miles from Earth, such as the Apollo missions, in addition to its primary mission of data collection from deep space probes.

gollark: In fairness, Google doesn't have much of a reason to look at individuals' data unless they do something.
gollark: And different passwords for each, I hope.
gollark: Hashed, though, if they're sensible.
gollark: Which Google has, mind you. Except the second bit, probably.
gollark: To be fair, individually they probably don't care much.

See also

Notes
  1. STDN User's Guide, Baseline Document, Rev. 2, Goddard Spaceflight Center: Greenbelt, MD, May 1974, p. 1-1
  2. STDN User's Guide, Baseline Document, Rev. 2, Goddard Spaceflight Center: Greenbelt, MD, May 1974, p. 1-9
  3. "Tracking-station closings scheduled," Science News, Vol. 117, No. 2. (Jan. 12, 1980), p. 27.
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