Ground station

A telecommunications port — or, more commonly, teleport — is a satellite ground station that functions as a hub connecting a satellite or geocentric orbital network with a terrestrial telecommunications network, such as the Internet. Teleports may provide various broadcasting services among other telecommunications functions, such as uploading computer programs or issuing commands over an uplink to a satellite. In May 1984, the Dallas/Fort Worth Teleport became the first American teleport to commence operation. == Earth terminal complexes ==

satellite dish (manufactured by Level 3 Communications) in Boise, Idaho In Federal Standard 1037C, the United States General Services Administration defined an Earth terminal complex as the assemblage of equipment and facilities necessary to integrate an Earth terminal (ground station) into a telecommunications network. FS-1037C has since been subsumed by the ATIS Telecom Glossary, which is maintained by the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS), an international, business-oriented, non-governmental organization. The Telecommunications Industry Association also acknowledges this definition. == Satellite communications standards ==

The ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R), a division of the International Telecommunication Union, codifies international standards agreed-upon through multinational discourse. From 1927 to 1932, the International Consultative Committee for Radio administered standards and regulations now governed by the ITU-R. In addition to the body of standards defined by the ITU-R, each major satellite operator provides technical requirements and standards that ground stations must meet in order to communicate with the operator's satellites. For example, Intelsat publishes the Intelsat Earth Station Standards (IESS) which, among other things, classifies ground stations by the capabilities of their parabolic antennas, and pre-approves certain antenna models. Eutelsat publishes similar standards and requirements, such as the Eutelsat Earth Station Standards (EESS).{{cite web|title=Earth Station Minimum Technical and Operational Requirements (Standard M, EESS 502 Issue 11 Rev. 1)|publisher=Eutelsat The Teleport (originally called a Telecommunications Satellite Park) innovation was conceived and developed by Joseph Milano in 1976 as part of a National Research Council study entitled, Telecommunications for Metropolitan Areas: Near-Term Needs and Opportunities. == Networks ==

A network of ground stations is a group of stations located to support spacecraft communication, tracking, or both. A network is established to provide dedicated support to a specific mission, function, program or organization. Ground station networks include: • United States Space Force Satellite Control Network (SCN) • NASA Near Space Network • NASA Deep Space Network • Russia tracking network • European Space Tracking (ESTRACK) network • ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) • JAXA Near-Earth Tracking and Control Network • China Satellite Launch and Tracking Control (CLTC) • Norway Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) • Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) CONNECT ground station network • RBC Signals Global Ground Station Network • Leaf Space ground station network • Amazon Web Services Ground Station network • SatNOGS Network Other historical networks have included: • Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) Optical Tracking Network • US Minitrack • Applied Physics Laboratory Transit Network (Tranet) • Interkosmos network == Major Earth stations and Earth terminal complexes ==