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GENERAL SCIENCE

Telemetry is the process of measuring at one point

and transmitting data t o a distant point for evalua-
tion and use.
Information on the astronaut’s pulse, blood pres-
sure and other physical and operational data about
the spacecraft are transmitted from a manned
spacecraft t o the ground by telemetry. Unmanned
spacecraft transmit data concerning radiation, or

I / TELEMETRY
other phenomena, and also information about the
status of their operating parts, by telemetry.
The measurements are taken by sensors; the in-
formation is then converted into electrical signals.
These signals are transmitted by radio t o the re-
mote earth point receiving the information (See
Fig. 1). At the point of reception, the electrical
signals are reconverted into the original data.
For example, during an orbital flight doctors
need to know the astronaut’s physical condition at
all times. Of particular interest is his heartbeat.
Senscrs taped to the astronaut’s chest report the
I
I
tempo or rhythm of his heart, through delicate
I wires t o the special equipment in the spacecraft
I where it is recorded. Next this information is
I COMMAND
changed into electrical signals. Then the electrical
I
signals are automatically transmitted t o NASA earth
I
stations. As the signals are received they are sent
I
through decoding devices, which produce the rec-
I
I ord of the heartbeat for the listening doctor. This
I entire process is called telemetry.
I Transm itta I of the astronaut heartbeat, however,
I is just one of many different types of information
I
I
telemetered during an orbital flight. Everything
about a particular space flight that is to be studied
by groundbound scientists must be telemetered.
Various instruments are installed aboard a space-
craft t o acquire a wide range of information. The
data radioed to earth and first received by the
NASA telemetry receiving stations are called “raw
data.“ This is because all the information is in
I CONTROL electrical signals, o r coded form. The technique
of decoding, or changing it back into useful in-
formation, is called data reduction.
If the measurements are transmitted t o earth as
they are collected, this is called “real time” report-
ing, but frequently it is more convenient to delay
transmission. Radio contact from earth t o a satel-
lite requires that the satellite be within line of
sight. To solve this problem, the data on the space-
craft are recorded on magnetic tape as they are
observed by the instruments. When the ground
station commands, these data are transmitted, or
as the scientists terms it, read out, at an extremely
rapid rate, while the craft is within line of sight of
the earth station. As the radioed information is
received by a station it is recorded again. This
means a permanent record of the flight data may
be kept to permit scientists unlimited time to de-
code and study the information.
Instruments in the spacecraft are also designed
t o measure such quantities as temperature, pres-
sure, kind of radiation, etc. These measurements
must also be telemetered to the NASA stations.
But, if the instrument used t o measure these quan-
tities does not do so electrically, then their infor-
mation must be converted to electrical signals by
means of a “transducer.”
All the electrical signals are gathered through a
“coding box.” Here they are superimposed on a
number of tones which modulate, or vary, the fre-
quency of the main carrier wave (wave generated at
the point of transmission). We can think of these
“waves” just as we do ocean waves; they travel in
the same manner (See Fig. 2). Just as various sea
disturbances may cause an ocean wave to rise and
fall, so these disturbances or signals create a wave
which “varies” according to the nature of the mes-
sage to be sent. We can picture then a wave
moving with no disturbances, maintaining its steady
pace and motion. In the wave illustrated i n Figure 3,
several features are easily measured-height
(known as amplitude), length of cycle, and fre-
quency (the number of cycles within a given period
of time). So it is easily seen how any electrical
disturbance might change any one or all of these
three characteristic measurements. In Figure 4,
the amplitude obviously varies, though the cycle
and frequency may remain constant. This is the
“AM,” or amplitude modulation, method used in
radio broadcasting. “FM” or frequency modulation
is produced by changes or variations in the fre-
quency. It is by these modulations-the disturb-
ances or variations in what would be a simple wave
-that are read and interpreted by the specially
designed earth equipment. These devices can inter-
pret these changes in terms of the transmitted sig-
nal which caused them, and restore the data into
usable form.
Again in the case of an ocean wave, the rising
and falling action of a wave tends t o become less
and less with distance. For example, a tidal wave
caused by an underwater volcano will lessen in
strength as it passes through miles of ocean.
Similarly, a signal wave sent from a spacecraft
grows weaker with distance. For this reason, the
strength of the signal received on earth is some-
times very weak. Frequency modulation is less
affected by distance and noise interference. Spe-
cially designed earth equipment can interpret the
weak signal and restore the data into usable form.
Therefore, the principle of frequency modulation
generally is more effective for NASA space mis-
sions than is amplitude modulation (see Fig. 5).
 Electronic research scientists work continually Watch the waves spread out around the spot where
in an effort t o improve the telemetry methods and the rock fell in. Note how long they stay visible;
techniques for both manned and unmanned space- also note the size of these waves and how they de-
craft. By means of improved telemetry one day we crease with distance. A radio wave travels through
may see direct, television pictures of the planets earth’s atmosphere from one point to another in
and other heavenly bodies, as clearly as we can much the same manner. The difference in the two
watch a football game televised from a distant city processes is the fact that the radio wave is travel-
to our homes. ing through gaseous air-far less dense than water.
Therefore, air would keep a wave active, or strong
QUESTIONS:
for a much longer distance and period of time.
1. What does the word “telemetry” mean?
2. What activities does the complete process of REFERENCES:
telemetry include?
3. What is a transducer? First Man to the Moon, by Wernher von Braun,
Chapter 2.
4. What is meant by “amplitude modulation”? 0
5. Explain the changes which might take place Sourcebook on the Space Sciences, by Samuel
in a wave as it travels through the atmosphere to Glasstone, Chapter 4.
earth from a satellite.
Dictionary of Guided Missiles and Space Flight
ACTIVITY
and Principles of Guided Missile Design, edited by
Drop a large rock in a small pond or stream. Grayson Merrill.

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