Development Plan for Turbo Encoder Core and Devices Implementing the Updated CCSDS Telemetry Channel Coding Standard

With requirements on increasing data rates for deep space missions, the commonly used standard concatenated ReedSolomon and Convolutional coding is not always adequately meeting the available link budget. A new coding scheme known as Turbo Coding is therefore being introduced in the telemetry channel coding recommendations from the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS). As turbo coding is being considered for several European scientific spacecraft (e.g. Smart-1, Rosetta and Mercury), the development of a turbo encoder core and devices, with the associated ground system, has been undertaken by the European Space Agency (ESA).