| Telemetry or "remote measurement" is a highly | | | | European Space Agency (ESA) and other international |
| automated communications process by which | | | | space agencies use telemetry transmitters for data |
| measurements are made and other data collected at | | | | collection and transmission from orbiting spacecrafts |
| remote, inaccessible or dangerous places, and then | | | | and satellites. Wireless networking without the |
| relayed by a telemetry transmitter to receiving | | | | encumbrance and restriction of wires connecting the |
| stations for display, monitoring, and recording. The | | | | transmitter and receiver has catapulted the potential |
| original telemetry systems were termed | | | | applications of telemetry. Major applications of |
| "supervisory" because they were used to monitor | | | | telemetry includes automatic monitoring of large, |
| electric power distribution. Communication channels | | | | complex systems such as satellites, chemical plants, |
| form a major part of any telemetry system, as it | | | | oilrigs, electric power plants, gathering meteorological |
| involves measurement of the transmission of data | | | | data, remote meter reading, logistics management, |
| over various mediums. Telemetry transmitter is the | | | | tracking endangered land and marine species, real |
| instrument used for recording the readings of an | | | | time physiological monitoring of patients, and |
| instrument and transmitting them by radio or wireless | | | | monitoring manned and unmanned space flights. |
| frequencies. Technically, when relaying data, it is | | | | Winston Churchill once said, "The price of greatness is |
| necessary for the transmitter to identify the data | | | | responsibility." In the same manner, this great |
| item corresponding to each segment of the bit | | | | technology should be used responsibly. For instance, |
| stream. This is done by inserting a synchronization bit | | | | for many environmental monitoring duties, such as |
| string into the telemetry stream on a regular basis, | | | | stream gauging or automatic weather stations, the |
| usually at the beginning or end of each repeating | | | | measurement values are unlikely to change |
| cycle. This generally corresponds to the beginning or | | | | significantly for many hours at a time. In such cases, |
| end of a minor or major frame of telemetry data. | | | | it would be grossly uneconomical in terms of both |
| Aerospace telemetry initiated in the 1930s with the | | | | electrical power and use of spectrum space to run |
| radiosonde, a instrument that automatically measured | | | | the telemetry transmitter continuously. On the other |
| atmospheric temperature, pressure and humidity by | | | | hand, constant monitoring by medical uses of |
| means of a small, expendable telemetry transmitter | | | | telemetry is often necessary in order to detect |
| from a balloon high in space, and relayed the data | | | | problems as soon as they arise.Keith Londrie II is a |
| back to Earth using radio signals. These days, | | | | well known author. For more information on |
| telemetry is used in testing of moving vehicles such | | | | Telemetry information, please visit Telemetry |
| as cars, aircrafts, missiles and satellites. National | | | | Information for a wealth of information. |
| Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), | | | | |