Parametric Cost Analysis of NASA's DSN Array

NASA faces a growing demand for increased data return from its deep-space missions. To meet this demand, the agency must increase its ground-based communications capacity. One approach is to add coherent arrays of small-aperture (12m) antennas to the Deep Space Network (DSN) rather than the large-aperture (up to 70m) antennas used now. Cost-effective arrays will combine technologies and implementation strategies to achieve an optimum balance of performance and cost over the expected 30+ year life of the array. A flexible method of cost analysis based on system parameters has been developed for trade studies of the DSN Array.