AOS
Acquisition of Signal (AOS) is the moment when a spacecraft establishes communication with a ground station or a relay satellite. This is a critical event in any space mission as it marks the beginning of the spacecraft's contact with Earth. During launch and early orbit phase, the spacecraft may not be visible to the ground station due to the curvature of the Earth or other obstacles. As the spacecraft moves into the line of sight of the ground station, it sends out a signal that is received by the ground station's antenna. The ground station then sends a signal back to the spacecraft to confirm the connection. Once the AOS is established, the spacecraft can transmit telemetry data, receive commands, and send scientific data back to Earth.
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