NASA Architecture for Solar System Time Synchronization and Dissemination: Concept of Operations

NASA requires a standardized approach and infrastructure for disseminating time information and synchronizing time between NASA’s assets distributed throughout the Solar System. These are essential to meet NASA's scientific and exploration requirements, increase interoperability between disparate mission assets, and ensure efficient use of resources. To achieve this objective, a NASA Time Architecture and corresponding Time Concept of Operations (ConOps) must be developed. This paper describes requirements for a conceptual NASA Time Architecture and associated operations concepts based on user needs and requirements abstracted from a survey of current and future missions. The requirements and concepts presented in this paper can serve as the basis for user services in developing an individual mission operations plan, as well as inform and guide the development of standard time synchronization and distribution services provided by NASA via the Space Communications and Navigation infrastructure. The concept of Mission Domains is introduced to differentiate regions of the Solar System within which NASA has or will have sufficient assets for a "local" time infrastructure. Operational concepts are presented to illustrate and discuss methods of time transfer within and between mission domains. The paper concludes with recommendations for improving and gaining a broader understanding of the Time Architecture Requirements and the associated ConOps. This work was supported under NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Contract NNM04AA07C.